Overview
- Australia were bowled out for 152 and England for 110 on day one, leaving the hosts 4-0 at stumps with a lead of 46 and a rapid finish considered likely.
- MCG curator Matt Page left 10mm of grass on the pitch, producing lavish seam movement that heavily favoured fast bowlers.
- Former players including Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath, Alastair Cook, Brett Lee and Michael Vaughan criticised the surface as offering too much to the ball.
- Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg signalled the organisation could set firmer expectations or step in on pitch preparation as early as next summer after multimillion-dollar losses from short Tests, including about $4 million in Perth.
- Michael Neser top-scored for Australia with 35 and took 4 for 45, and No.11 Scott Boland acted as nightwatchman to open the second innings before day two began in front of a record 94,199 crowd.