“If This Happened in India, There Would Be an Uproar!” – Kevin Pietersen Questions MCG Pitch and Double Standards

Melbourne: The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on 27 December 2025 has entered cricket history, with 20 wickets falling on the very first day, equalling a rare 123-year-old record. This marked the first time in Ashes history since 1902 that so many wickets fell on day one. The historic clash drew a record-breaking crowd of 94,199 spectators, setting a new world record for a single day attendance at an international cricket match, surpassing the previous record of 93,013 during the 2015 World Cup final.

Kevin Pietersen Criticises Pitch and Raises Double Standard Concerns

The challenging Melbourne pitch has sparked controversy. Former England star Kevin Pietersen criticised the surface and highlighted what he called “double standards”. Posting on social media, Pietersen remarked that if such a scenario occurred in India, the pitch would face severe criticism. He emphasised fairness, stating that “what is right is right”, and expressed hope that Australia would face the same scrutiny that India often experiences for similar situations.

Josh Tong’s Dominance and Australia’s Collapse

Winning the toss, England opted to bowl first, and their pacer Josh Tong wreaked havoc. Tong took 5 wickets for just 45 runs, preventing big names like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne from settling at the crease. Despite minor resistance from Usman Khawaja (29) and Michael Neser (35), the Australian team was bowled out for 152 in the first innings, marking their lowest Boxing Day score since 2010-11. On the second day, Australia managed only 132 runs, completing a humiliating collapse and reaffirming the MCG’s difficult conditions for batsmen.