Sydney Cricket Ground rating of ‘satisfactory’ opens the door for ‘hellfire’ decks during next Ashes

The rating of Sydney’s controversial Test pitch as “satisfactory” has opened the door for more hellfire decks and fast bowling blitzes in next summer’s Ashes.

The rating of Sydney’s controversial Test pitch as “satisfactory” has opened the door for more hellfire decks and fast bowling blitzes in next summer’s Ashes.

No pitch in Australia in recent times has so divided opinion as the grassy, seaming SCG deck on which Australia beat India in less than three days to take back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a Test in which neither team topped 200.

When International Cricket Council match referee Andy Pycroft rated the deck “satisfactory” it sent an unspoken message to curators around Australia that the game now gives lively decks a pass mark.

The other four decks – in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne – were all rated “very good’’ by the ICC.

Almost certainly, the new norm will be followed next summer with spicy decks for the Ashes series which could bring England into play if their new pace attack can fire.

Nearly all of the wickets in this year’s summer’s epic five Test series with India were testing for batsmen at some stage, a fact reflected in the series averages.

The SCG pitch was criticised during the final Test between Australia and India. Picture: Santanu Banik/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Australia won the series despite the fact that of its regular batsmen, only one (Travis Head) averaged more than 35.

England feel they have the potential to take advantage of lively decks next summer even though their two long time anchor men, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson, have retired.

Impressive seamer Gus Atkinson took 52 Test wickets at 22 in 2024 and Brydon Carse, the imposing former South African who took 27 wickets in five Tests and is highly rated as a potential Ashes star by former English quick Steve Harmison.

England’s most explosive fast man Jofra Archer has not played a Test for almost four years but has a goal to be part of next summer’s series.

There’s a chance Jofra Archer could be unleashed in Australia next summer. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Debate over the SCG was high-spirited on both sides.

Usman Khawaja called it “a stinker’’ and former skipper Michael Clarke said it was the worst SCG pitch he had seen.

But Indian coach Gautam Gambhir, whose side went belly up on the tricky surface, stridently defended its volatile character.

“It’s good for Test cricket,’’ Gambhir said. “There was enough for the bowlers, and there was enough for the batters as well. But that is what’s going to keep Test cricket alive.’’

Originally published as Sydney Cricket Ground rating of ‘satisfactory’ opens the door for ‘hellfire’ decks during next Ashes