Ashes 2025/26: Cricket Australia suffers big loss after Boxing Day Test ends in two days

The Boxing Day Test at the MCG ended within two days after England chased down a small target of 175 runs in the fourth innings. The quick finish has raised concerns not just about the pitch, but also about the business side of Test cricket.

The fourth Test of the Ashes 2025-26 saw both teams knocked out on the first day, setting the tone for a fast-moving match. A total of 36 wickets fell over two days on a pitch that had plenty to offer the bowlers from the start.

With three full days of matches lost, Cricket Australia will lose around INR 60 crore in revenue. The Boxing Day Test is one of the biggest matches on the calendar, with strong ticket sales across all five days.

CA CEO Todd Greenberg admitted that very short tests hurt the game financially. He said the board has generally taken a hands-off approach to pitch preparation, but this may need to be reconsidered after seeing the commercial impact.

“A simple sentence I would use is: short tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt,” Greenberg said while speaking on SEN Radio.

Australian captain Steven Smith echoed those concerns after the match. He felt that the pitch had a little too much for the bowlers, causing the match to continue without giving the fans enough action.

“The finances aren’t great, and I think it was a sellout tomorrow,” Smith said. “We saw 36 wickets in two days and that shows it was quite a difficult wicket. It probably offered a bit too much.”

Smith added that many Tests in this series have been played in fast forward mode, and finishing such a big match in two days was not ideal for players, fans or organisers.

Despite a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the early finish meant spectators missed three days of cricket, including what was expected to be a sold-out final day.

Attention now shifts to the fifth and final Test, the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on January 4. Stakeholders will be hoping for a pitch that will allow the game to last longer and give fans full value for their tickets.