A historic milestone was achieved during the fifth day of the Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). For the first time in the history of Boxing Day Tests, over 3,50,700 spectators turned up to watch the game live, setting a new record for attendance at a Test match in Australia.
This remarkable turnout surpassed the previous record from 1937, when legendary cricketer Don Bradman scored his highest Test score of 270 runs, attracting 350,374 fans across a six-day Test. The current match, spread over five days, saw the highest ever single-day crowd for a Boxing Day Test.
Key Performances
- Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant offered some resistance, forming a crucial partnership. However, Pant fell to Mitchell Marsh after scoring 30 runs.
- Ravindra Jadeja managed only 2 runs before being dismissed by Scott Boland, while Nitish Reddy, the star of the first innings, was dismissed for just 1 run by Nathan Lyon.
- Jaiswal, the standout performer for India, fought valiantly but missed out on a century, departing for a well-fought 84 runs.
The record-breaking crowd at the MCG witnessed not only a historic moment in cricket attendance but also the resilience and determination of players battling it out on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Despite India’s defeat, the match will be remembered for its electrifying atmosphere and the unparalleled enthusiasm of cricket fans.