IND vs AUS: MCG Sets New Attendance Record With Over 3,50,000 Spectators In Boxing Day Test

In a thrilling display of cricket, Australia and India captivated fans during the fourth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed a historic turnout on December 30, as spectators flocked to see the action unfold on Day 5. Both teams entered the final day with high expectations, resulting in an unprecedented crowd.

The MCG's attendance screen displayed a staggering total of 3,50,700 during the first session. This figure surpassed the previous record of 3,50,534 set during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and England in 1937. As more fans joined after lunch, the excitement continued to build at this iconic venue.

Record-Breaking Attendance

Cricket Australia reported that Day 5 alone saw an impressive turnout of 51,371 spectators. The crowd swelled further when India staged a comeback in the second session. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant led India's charge from 33 for 3 to 107 for 3 in just 52 overs, drawing even more fans into the stands.

The first three days of the Test also saw significant attendance figures: 87,242 on Day 1, followed by 85,147 and 83,073 on Days 2 and 3 respectively. However, Day 4 experienced a surprising dip with only 43,867 attendees. Despite this drop, expectations were high for reaching an attendance of over 80,000 as both teams battled fiercely on Day 5.

Teams' Lineups

The Australian team comprised Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland.

Meanwhile, India's lineup included Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.