The opening Ashes Test in Perth ended in only two days, but the Perth pitch gets a ‘very good’ rating from the ICC. The game became the fastest Ashes match in more than one hundred years. The game moved at a high pace from the first session. Bowlers took control right away as thirty two wickets fell across both days. The match felt tense, quick and dramatic.
England suffered the first blow. Nineteen of their wickets fell on the opening day. Their batters struggled to settle on the surface. The ball moved, bounced and tested every player who walked in. The pressure grew with each over. Australia then used the momentum to close the match early on the second day. They claimed a simple win and moved 1-0 ahead in the series.
Even with such a short match, the International Cricket Council rated the Perth pitch as “very good”. The ICC used its four-tier system to judge the surface. The rating placed the pitch in the second-highest group. It showed that the officials did not see major faults in the conditions.
The ICC said the pitch helped the bowlers but still gave a fair chance to batters when they played with care. They believed it offered balance through the two days. The quick finish did not change their final view. They felt the pitch behaved within an acceptable range.
The verdict surprised many supporters. They expected questions after such a rapid match. Some thought the short Test would lead to strong debate. But the ICC kept its stance. Their decision showed steady support for the surface and closed the discussion for now.
