Perth, Nov. 27 -- The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rated the Perth Stadium surface used for the shortest Ashes Test in 137 years as "very good" despite the match ending inside two days with 19 wickets tumbling on the opening day, as per Cricket Australia.
Australia sealed a dominant win over England in just 847 balls, the second-fewest delivered in an Ashes Test since 1887. But the ICC made clear that the rapid finish was not a reflection of poor pitch quality.
A "very good" rating, the highest in the ICC's four-tier pitch evaluation system, is reserved for surfaces that offer "good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match" to ensure a fair contest between bat and ball.
While bowlers dominated the...