Australia players forced to attend unusual event as exhibition talks shut down

The Australian cricket team were forced to return to the MCG on Sunday to meet fans.

The hosts lost the fourth Ashes Test to England in just two days in one of the most bizarre matches in recent memory.

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Record breaking crowds packed out the historic MCG for the Boxing Day Test on Friday and Saturday.

However, 20 wickets fell on the opening day and England wrapped up their first victory Down Under since 2011 on the second.

It is the second time in this Ashes series that a Test has ended in just two days, with the first in Perth also suffering a quick finish.

Cricket Australia estimates the early conclusion of the Boxing Day Test will cost around A$10m in lost revenue.

Food that was destined to be sold for the rest of the match was also donated to charity.

Cricket Australia discussed staging an unusual exhibition over the remaining three days.

Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox said: “There were alternatives discussed and that’s really a matter for Cricket Australia because they provide the content.

“There was talk of players coming out and having a hit today but that didn’t get up, and I know Cricket Australia have responded with having a live site here for fans to come down.”

Instead, players attended an event at Yarra Park, which is home to the MCG, to meet thousands of fans for pictures and autographs.

Speaking at the event Travis Head said he would ‘much rather be playing cricket and hopefully winning a game’.

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Before adding: “But it’s the least we can do.”

Head also quickly dismissed talks of a one-off exhibition.

“I’m not playing these guys (England) in a one-dayer – no chance,” he said.

“Unfortunately it’s just how it falls (a two-day Test match), and we’ve got a lot more time to talk about teams and selection and Sydney and Noosa and all sorts (laughs).

“I don’t know, everyone will talk about something for the next – I don’t know, what day is it today?”

MCG pitch criticisms

The man responsible for the MCG pitch has admitted he was left in ‘a state of shock’ as wickets tumbled during England’s two-day Ashes victory.

“We’re obviously really disappointed that it’s gone for two days,” head curator Matthew Page said.

“I was in a state of shock after the first day. To see everything that happened and 20 wickets in a day, I’ve never been involved in a Test match like it and hopefully will never be involved in a Test match like it again.

“It was a rollercoaster ride for two days, to see everything unfold. A lot of the noise is obviously outside. I personally don’t read papers, I don’t watch the news – but we know that this hasn’t gone as we had planned.”

Rival captains Ben Stokes and Steve Smith both suggested the pitch had been overly helpful for the seamers, while pundits lined up to take shots at it.

Page was hired in the aftermath of the dull 2017/18 draw which saw Sir Alastair Cook make 244 not out in over 10 hours at the crease and one of his main objectives is to prevent a repeat.

The fifth and final Ashes Test will start on January 3 in Sydney.