Saturday attracted 83,073 fans, a record for day three at a Boxing Day Test.

It is also the largest day-three Test crowd since January 1937, when 87,798 fans saw Sir Donald Bradman reach 56 not out at stumps.

The record MCG Test crowd is 350,534 in the 1936-37 Ashes series, when Bradman ruled the sport and Tests were played over six days.

Over 83,000 fans were on hand to watch Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his first Test century. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

In terms of Boxing Day Tests, the crowd record is 271,865 in the 2013-14 Ashes series.

Thursday’s baking heat meant the day-one crowd was not quite as high as forecast, but 87,242 fans still attended.

Cooler conditions on Friday meant 85,147 fans – a record for day two of a Boxing Day Test.

With Saturday also cracking 80,000, the Boxing Day Test crowd record looks certain to fall. At 255,462 this is already the third-best attended Boxing Day Test.

The previous record for an Australia-India Boxing Day Test was 194,481 in 2014.

While rain stopped play early on day three, the forecast for days four and five looks promising.

PREVIOUS BEST BOXING DAY TEST ATTENDANCES (ALL ASHES):

* 2013: 271,865

* 2017: 261,335

* 1974: 250,250.