'State of shock': MCC backs curator after two-day Test

MCG staff admit they erred in preparing a pitch that favoured the bowlers too heavily in the rapid-fire Boxing Day Test, but the stadium's chief executive is standing by the under-fire curator.

Cricket Australia is bracing for a heavy financial loss after England won the Boxing Day Test inside two days, only a month after the Ashes opener in Perth also ended with three days to spare.

Australia players returned to the MCG on Sunday to sign autographs and meet fans who would have preferred to watch them play out in the middle.

It is the first time the same series has had multiple two-day Tests in 129 years.

Millions of dollars in refunds will be handed to patrons who had purchased tickets for day three, which had been sold out and could have attracted a third successive crowd of more than 90,000.

MCC curator Matt Page left 10 mm of grass on the pitch, up from 7 mm last year when Australia famously beat India late on day five.

"We're trying to balance that contest between bat and ball throughout, over the four or five days, to provide that captivating Test for all," Page said in front of a heaving press conference at the MCG on Sunday.

"We left it longer because we knew we were going to get (hot) weather at the back end that we knew we needed our grass (for).

"You look back at it and you go, 'well, it's favoured the bowlers too much days one and two'.

"If that doesn't happen, then we set ourselves up really good for day three and four."

This pitch was treacherous to bat on for both sides, prompting criticism even from fast-bowling greats such as Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee that it was unfair for batters.

England captain Ben Stokes, even after securing his country's first Test win in Australia for 15 years, slammed the state of the pitch.

Page admitted he was in a "state of shock" when the wickets fell so quickly on Boxing Day.

"I've never been involved in a Test match like it and hopefully never involved in a Test match like that again," he said.

"It was a roller coaster ride for two days to see everything unfold.

Bitterly disappointed the Test ended so quickly, MCC boss Stuart Fox has full faith in Page and his ground staff.

Page was poached from the WACA after the MCG pitch received a poor rating when only 24 wickets fell across five days in a dull 2017 draw.

Fox suggested not all of the blame should be on Page, saying aggressive batting also contributed to the landslide in wickets.

"We bought Matt on eight years ago because he's considered one of the best in the country, if not the best," Fox said.

"I still believe that, and I always will.

"He's done a great job; him and his team worked tirelessly to get this right.

"You can see he's disappointed. He carries that responsibility and my job as a leader is to support people.

"When you believe in your people, you get behind them and support them and I know he'll respond."

Australia star Travis Head, who top-scored in the match with 46, felt sorry for Page.

"I feel for him, it's bloody tough," Head said on Sunday.

"You leave one or two millimetres (of grass) on with high quality bowling, and you find yourself short, and you take two or three mills off with high quality batting, and you go the other way.

"We try and find the perfect result to try to build a product that looks amazing.

"You ideally get it to late day four, early day five, you don't flirt with draws, I think everyone wants to see someone win."

Both teams thought so little of the pitch they decided the best way to bat was to attack rather than wait for an unplayable delivery.

Smith praised the batting of England blaster Harry Brook, who regularly charged down the pitch and looked to play outrageously aggressive shots.

Brook followed up a first-innings 41 with an unbeaten 18 in the successful run chase.

Australia Cricketers' Association boss Paul Marsh believed curators needed to adapt to the aggressive batting of the modern game rather than expect players to change their approach.

"I think we need to see pitches more like what we saw in Adelaide, as opposed to what we saw here and in Perth," Marsh told SEN.