Australia Cricket Board Won't Control Test Pitches After Ashes Disasters

MELBOURNE, March 23 : Australia's cricket board will resist calls to control test wickets after two-day Ashes matches caused financial losses.

The first Ashes test at Perth Stadium and the fourth at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ended quickly, drawing criticism of the pitches. The MCG pitch was rated 'unsatisfactory' for favoring bowlers.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said two-day matches are bad for business, but CA's head of operations Peter Roach stated the board will not get more involved. He cited Australia's varied conditions as a reason.

Roach said centralizing pitch preparation is impractical due to differences in climate and soil across the country.

The lost days of cricket in Perth and Melbourne cost nearly A$15 million in ticket refunds and other costs.

CA recently announced its home summer schedule, including a four-test series against New Zealand starting in Perth on December 9.