Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes that two-day Test matches are not healthy for Test cricket. The fourth Test between Australia and England finished in two days, which has sparked a widespread debate around the pitches dished out during the Ashes, especially the one at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the penultimate Test.
“What I’m trying to say is, if cricket is to survive, then you shouldn’t have two-day Test matches,” Panesar told Hindustan Times. “This is not good for the Ashes brand, nor is it good for Test cricket. And then the other argument is, well, if the ball turns on the first day, and I’m from a spinner’s point of view, then please don’t complain the ball’s turning too much, because today, it’s seaming way too much.”
England won the fourth Test by four wickets against Australia in the ongoing Ashes series 2025/26 in a low scoring affair at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 20 wickets fell on the first day as Australia were bundled out for 152 while England could only manage 110. Australia scored 132 in the second innings and England chased that with four wickets to spare and the match finished on the second day itself, triggering criticism around the world by cricket experts.
Panesar said that we should get four or five day matches in Ashes series for the betterment of Test cricket. “When in India, we can see wickets falling, let’s say, 15-16 wickets in a day. Everyone says, ‘Oh! The ball shouldn’t be turning on day one’. Then why is the ball seaming so much? And this is not great for Ashes cricket,” Panesar said. “If Test cricket is to survive, Ashes cricket needs to last at least four to five days. And if you’re going to have, like, a two-day Test match, it’s like, the Perth Test match and the Brisbane Test match, in record, are the two top games where we lost 18-19 wickets, where the Australian comes in the top five.”
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