The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) welcomed a massive crowd of 94,199 fans on the first day of the Boxing Day Test, marking the highest attendance ever for a cricket match at the venue. This historic turnout surpassed the previous record of 93,013, which was set during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Final between Australia and New Zealand.
The record-breaking attendance also established a new milestone for the highest single-day attendance at a Test cricket match, surpassing the 91,112 spectators who attended the MCG for Day 1 of the 2013 Boxing Day Test between Australia and England. With a sold-out Day 2 and Day 3 following the remarkable Day 1, the Ashes cumulative attendance record of 271,865 from 2013 is now within reach.
Australia is currently leading the Ashes series 3–0, with only one Test remaining in Sydney after the Boxing Day Test. The MCG, which hosted the first Boxing Day Test in 1950, has contractual rights held by CA to use the venue until the end of March each summer, despite its frequent use for Australian Rules football during that period. Earlier this year, CA extended its venue hire agreement with the MCG until the summer of 2030-31.
In a significant development, the iconic MCG will host a special day-night Test match between traditional rivals Australia and England in March 2027 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Test match. This match will mark Australia’s men’s team playing a pink-ball Test at the MCG for the first time. Anticipating massive crowds for the historic 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England in March 2027, CA has initiated a ticket ballot for the first time in its history, open from December 23 to February 6, 2026. Successful applicants will be randomly selected and notified by February 13.
