The iconic Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground came to a surprisingly abrupt halt this year, wrapping up in just two days. While fans often love a fast-paced game, this rapid finish left many feeling short-changed, including Australia’s stand-in captain, Steve Smith. With the match concluding so quickly, the excitement of a Day 3 crowd was lost, along with the revenue it would have brought.

Steve Smith reveals how England turned the tables in two days

Reflecting on the situation, Smith was honest about the downside of such a speedy conclusion. He pointed out that modern aggressive batting plays a role, but losing days of play hurts the bottom line.

“Obviously, finances aren’t great. I think it was a sell-out tomorrow if we got there. So, yeah, disappointing for those who wanted to come along. But it happens sometimes in cricket. It goes quick. A lot of the tests, regardless of the wicket, have been played in fast forward. The way both teams have been playing with the bat quite aggressively and getting scores quickly. But, yeah, this one, over in two. “Would be good if it was a little bit longer and we were able to entertain some fans a bit more.” Smith explained during the post-match press conference.

The pitch itself was a major talking point. With 36 wickets tumbling in such a short span, Steve Smith noted that the surface offered “a bit too much” to the bowlers, making survival difficult for batters on both sides.

Although Australia had already secured the Ashes series, this loss brings the tally to 3–1, ending their hopes of a clean sweep. For England, it was a morale-boosting win, but for the organizers and eager fans, the early finish was a missed opportunity for a classic MCG battle.