The press conference took place outside the members\u2019 entrance, which would have been jam-packed had there been play on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Instead of an expected crowd of 90,000 scanning tickets at the turnstiles, about 1500 to 2000 fans attended a fan zone in the neighbouring Yarra Park where players mingled with fans and signed autographs in a one-hour appearance.<\/p>\n
As of Sunday afternoon, the ICC had not released match referee Jeff Crowe\u2019s assessment, but CA is not expecting a favourable finding. The most likely rating is \u201cunsatisfactory\u201d, which, according to ICC guidelines, is given for a pitch that \u201cdoes not allow an even contest between bat and ball\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wouldn\u2019t surprise me if it doesn\u2019t get a very good marking,\u201d Greenberg said on Sunday. \u201cThat\u2019s my early intelligence.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/37bd17a4c4f5ec9cc45286cd22f764ff486ae0ae.jpeg\")
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An inquisition on what should have been day three of the Boxing Day Test.Credit: Wayne Taylor<\/p>\n
An unsatisfactory rating carries with it one demerit point but, with six needed over a rolling five-year period for the MCG to be suspended from international cricket, the real cost of such a penalty would be the reputation damage.<\/p>\n
Despite the serious ramifications for cricket and the famous venue, Fox publicly backed Page, who had played the chief role in turning an MCG pitch which had become a graveyard for bowlers into arguably the best Test strip in the country before this week\u2019s turbocharged match.<\/p>\n
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At the start of the summer, the MCG was the only Australian venue to have received the top rating from the ICC in the previous three seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe brought Matt on eight years ago because he\u2019s considered one of the best in the country, if not the best,\u201d Fox said. \u201cI still believe that and I always will.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job. Him and his team work tirelessly to get this right. You can see he\u2019s disappointed. He carries that responsibility. My job as a leader is to support people. When you believe in your people, you get behind them and support them. I know he\u2019ll respond and the team will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fox and a forlorn-looking Page both conceded the pitch had not allowed for an even contest between bat and ball.<\/p>\n