India, Dec. 30 -- The ICC on Monday rated the pitch used in Melbourne for the fourth Ashes Test between England and Australia as unsatisfactory and handed the venue one demerit point after it was deemed to be "too much in favour of the bowlers" in match referee Jeff Crowe's assessment report. Twenty wickets fell on the opening day of the Test which England eventually won by four wickets inside two days.

"The pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the venue for the fourth Ashes Test, has been deemed 'Unsatisfactory' with the venue handed one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process," read a statement from the ICC. Accumulation of six demerit points leads to a 12-month ban on the venue. Crowe delivered the ve...