Aussie Test crowd record in sight for Boxing Day epic

by Admin
December 29, 2024

Officials have not ruled out the possibility of this Boxing Day Test breaking Australia’s all-time Test match crowd record.

And MCG chief executive Stuart Fox says “there is no doubt” part of the unprecedented national interest is thanks to the blistering day-one performance of teenage debutant Sam Konstas.

The fourth Test of the blockbuster series with India is on Sunday poised to become the best attended Boxing Day match ever. That record was held by the 2013 Ashes Test.

It comes after a series of crowd records were broken at Optus Stadium during The West Test to start the series, which is the first between the two nations to be played across five matches.

And the captive audience has translated to television too, with Channel 7 recording its biggest-ever audience for the opening day of a Test match.

The network’s ratings for the Boxing Day Test are up 67 per cent on last year.

A bumper crowd of 255,462 has flocked to the first three days and the match is within reach of the biggest-ever Test crowd in Australia.

That record has been held for almost 90 years, by the 1936-37 Ashes Test here, although that was played across six days.

350,534 came to watch Don Bradman score a second-innings 270.

Fox tipped the day four crowd could climb towards 70,000, with the help of perfect Melbourne weather, although an early start to make up overs lost to rain the previous day has made for a slow start.

“I wouldn’t rule it out, it really depends how today goes,” he said.

“But if (the match) is well-placed tonight, then day five could be fantastic. It’s a possibility.

“I’ve not seen anything like it at a cricket match. Just the spirit in the stadium.”

Konstas set the match alight on the opening morning when he struck 60 off just 60 balls, including an onslaught against Jasprit Bumrah, as the youngest-ever man to open the batting for Australia in a Test.

Sam Konstas claps with the crowd. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“It’s a name that we’ve heard for the last three or four years and he’s a very special talent,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said.

“The exciting thing I think is there is going to be those beaches, backyards, kids wanting to emulate and be there.”

And the MCG is still in love with hometown hero Scott Boland, who is playing his third Boxing Day Test after a famous debut against England in 2021.

“It’s been great, obviously my home ground. This is my third Boxing Day Test, but every time I come onto bowl there is a really nice cheer and it gives me a bit of a pep in my step,” he said.

“Even walking out on the ground, every time you walk out, there is no better place to play than the ‘G.”