It was like watching a racing thriller movie

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up on the fourth Ashes 2025-26 Check on the Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG). With the Check ending inside two days, Ashwin mentioned it was like watching a “racing thriller film.”

Day 1 of the MCG Check noticed 20 wickets falling as each Australia and England have been bowled out as soon as every. As a result of seam motion on supply, Australia struggled and set 175 for England to win after a 42-run lead. Though England have misplaced the Ashes, they secured a nervy four-wicket win.

Talking to a journalist in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel ‘Ashwin,’ the 39-year-old mirrored on the pitch discourse and mentioned:

“Let’s take for instance how the Check completed at Eden Gardens just lately. We ourselves mentioned it. Having performed cricket for a number of years, we criticize ourselves justly for pitches. However the different countrymen will not be doing the identical. They’re speaking extremely about themselves and lowly about us.”

With the pitch within the fourth Ashes Check coming massively beneath scrutiny as a consequence of excessive seam motion, Ashwin mentioned he will not criticize it. Nonetheless, the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer opined that the pitch situations in each nation must be assessed on an equal scale.

“Australia have produced Shane Warne and Nathan Lyon however New Zealand and England haven’t produced any nice spinner but. The fantastic thing about Check cricket is to adapt to overseas situations. I received’t criticize the MCG pitch both as a result of it’s widespread for each groups. It was enjoyable to look at. It was like watching a racing thriller movie. However I really feel double requirements have to be prevented,” he added.

England captain Ben Stokes and Australian captain Steve Smith each slammed the situations in Melbourne, saying that it isn’t a superb advert for Check cricket. It is usually the second time on this Ashes collection {that a} Check led to lower than two days.

“Brydon Carse’s supply to him was beautiful” – Ravichandran Ashwin on England seamer in 4th Ashes Check

In the identical video, Ashwin mentioned that Brydon Carse’s supply to citadel Travis Head on Day 2 was unplayable, additional underlining the tough nature of the floor.

“Travis Head obtained beauties in each the innings. On Day 2, Brydon Carse’s supply to him was beautiful and all Travis Head may do was stroll off smiling. ICC and match referee will give marks for the pitch, curators will discuss it – all these items will occur. Once more, double requirements have to be prevented,” he mentioned.

“Match officers and referees will discuss concerning the pitch. There have been likeable issues about this pitch but when it was a pitch tried to make the sport sooner, I query that tactic. Australia may need requested for a energetic pitch as a result of England are 0-3 and batters would possibly get out simply,” he added.

The 106-Check veteran recalled how Stokes’ males put strain on India in 2024 with some extravagant strokeplay. Whereas Ashwin argued that England have the weather to bat at a breakneck tempo, he felt they can’t persistently problem oppositions with the ball.

“When England got here to India, Bazball actually got here to life throughout the first Check in Hyderabad. Ollie Pope performed an unimaginable knock. What I seen was, Bazball was capable of pile strain on the opposition. They put strain on the Indian crew. However they have been toothless in bowling. They’ve the factor in batting to tackle the opposition, as they confirmed within the fourth innings at MCG,” Ashwin mentioned.

“They stepped out to Michael Neser and Scott Boland as a result of they don’t bowl that quick. England have been capable of take them on and put strain whereas chasing 175. However they don’t have the bowling tooth to maintain coming incisively over 4-5 days. They need brief video games,” he concluded.

The fifth and ultimate Ashes Check begins on January 4 in Sydney.