ICC Awards Perth Pitch “Very Good” Rating After Two-Day Ashes Test
The pitch used for the dramatic two-day Ashes Test at Perth Stadium has received the highest possible assessment under the ICC’s current surface rating system, with match referee Ranjan Madugalle labelling it “very good.”
The match, which produced 19 wickets on the opening day and concluded late on day two, was the second-shortest completed Test ever played in Australia, lasting just 847 deliveries. It was also the briefest Ashes Test by balls bowled since 1888. Despite the rapid result, the ICC deemed the surface to have offered a fair contest between bat and ball, noting “good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match.”
Pace bowling dominated much of the game’s early stages. Mitchell Starc claimed 7 for 58 as England collapsed from a promising 160 for 5 before tea on day one. England struck back strongly, reducing Australia to 123 for 9 by stumps, with Ben Stokes taking five wickets in a relentless spell.
On day two, England extended their lead to 105 with nine wickets in hand, only for Scott Boland to spark a middle-order slide. Set 205 for victory, Australia chased the target in just 29 overs, led by a blistering 123 off 83 balls from Travis Head, who was promoted to open in place of the injured Usman Khawaja. Captain Steven Smith suggested the pitch reached its most batter-friendly phase late on day two, mirroring conditions during last year’s Perth Test against India.
The rapid finish is expected to cost Cricket Australia an estimated AU$3–4 million in lost ticket revenue from days three and four. However, CA’s chief of cricket, James Allsopp, welcomed the ICC’s assessment.
“The match referee’s ‘very good’ rating justifies our belief that Perth Stadium produced a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball,” Allsopp said. “While the early finish was disappointing for fans, the contest featured some brilliant fast bowling and gripping moments that captured huge audiences.”
Attention now turns to Brisbane, where preparations are underway for next week’s day-night Test at the Gabba. Curator Dave Sandurski said he is confident the surface will offer an even contest.
“With the heat around, the wicket will dry quicker, so we need to keep enough moisture in it to last five days,” he said. “We aim to prepare wickets where all players have a chance to showcase their skills.”
The Gabba drew criticism in 2022-23 when a two-day Test against South Africa produced an excessively green surface and earned a “below average” rating under the ICC’s former system. Since then, pitches for Tests against West Indies and India have attracted no concerns.
Australia’s only defeat in a pink-ball Test on home soil came against West Indies in the 2023-24 season, while last summer’s day-night match against India was heavily affected by rain.