'Unfair' MCG pitch has 'done too much' - Vaughan

The Ashes Tournament 2025 - 26

The pitch for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne has "done too much" and has resulted in an "unfair" contest between bat and ball, says former England captain Michael Vaughan.

Twenty wickets fell at the MCG on a chaotic opening day of the Boxing Day Test as Australia were bowled out for 152 before England were skittled for 110.

It was the most wickets to fall on the first day of an Ashes Test since 1909, and eclipsed the 19 on the first day of the first Test of this series in Perth.

Analysts CricViz calculated 48% of the deliveries seamed more than 0.75 degrees on day one in Melbourne.

In the last decade of Test cricket in Australia, only four Tests have seen a larger amount of high-seaming deliveries on the first day.

Vaughan acknowledged the 94,199 crowd at the venue will have "gone home royally entertained" but said it "isn't Test cricket on this type of pitch".

"We're always looking for a fair balance between bat and ball. I thought that was unfair for the batters," Vaughan told Test Match Special.

"The pitch has done plenty. There's been plenty of movement out there. It's not been easy for both sides but I don't like seeing a pitch do so much."

The overall PitchViz rating of the day's play at the MCG was 8.7 out of 10 (higher number equals more difficult to bat) - making it the second toughest day-one pitch in Australia in the past 101 Tests when there have been 40-plus overs played.

Australia have a 46-run lead but Vaughan said this is England's "best chance" of winning a Test during what has been a difficult series.

"They are a good chasing side. We have had three heavy rollers already and there will be another one tomorrow morning," he said.

"This England team can chase. Australia are favourites, but don't rule England out."