Steve Smith Criticises Two-Day Boxing Day Test for Financial Impact

Australia's cricket captain, Steve Smith, expressed disappointment over the two-day duration of the recent Boxing Day Test against England, asserting that such short matches negatively affect the financial aspects of the sport. The Test, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, concluded in just two days, marking a rapid end to a contest in which 36 wickets fell, as the pitch provided considerable assistance to bowlers.

Despite having already clinched the five-match Ashes series with victories in the first three Tests, the Australian team faced a setback when England claimed their first win of the series, finishing the fourth Test with a four-wicket victory, which brought the series score to 3-1.

Steve Smith, who is filling in for regular captain Pat Cummins, commented during the post-match press conference, "It is disappointing that the match ended so early, especially with a full house expected on the following day. It affects both finances and fans." He noted that while aggressive batting has been a trend in Test cricket, it would have been preferable for the match to extend beyond two days to provide more entertainment for spectators.

"Obviously, finances aren't great. I think it was a sell-out tomorrow if we got there. So, yeah, disappointing for those that wanted to come along. But it happens sometimes in cricket. It goes quick," Smith added. "A lot of the Tests, regardless of the wicket, have been played in fast forward. The way both teams have been playing with the bat quite aggressively and getting scores quickly. But, yeah, this one, over in two days, not ideal. Would be good if it were a little bit longer and we were able to entertain some fans a bit more. But it wasn't to be on this occasion."

In the match itself, England opted to bowl first, leading to the dismissal of Australia for just 152 runs. England then struggled in their innings, managing only 110, leaving them 42 runs behind. Australia faltered again in their second innings, scoring 132 and setting England a target of 175 runs. England's successful chase was aided by solid opening partnerships from Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, with crucial contributions from Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, leading to their win.

This victory concluded Australia's unbeaten streak against England at home, a run that had lasted since 2011, during which they had not lost any of the 18 Test matches played on home soil. England's success in this match was particularly significant, as it marked their first win in the current World Test Championship cycle, breaking a sequence of six consecutive victories for Australia.

In his remarks about England's performance, Smith acknowledged their strong showing, stating, "I thought England came out today and played some really good cricket. They got the ball in the right areas and dismissed us. They were really aggressive, and tried to break the back of a reasonably small chase on a tricky wicket."

With the Ashes series still ongoing, the final Test is scheduled to take place in Sydney from January 4 to January 8, where both teams will compete for the last match of the series.