Boxing Day test: Bumper MCG crowds prompt comparisons to Bradman era of cricket
The bumper crowds for the Boxing Day Test have prompted Australian cricket’s highest compliment: a comparison to the Bradman era.
Saturday’s raucous day-three crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the state of play in the fourth Test, mean the game is on course to break the Boxing Day aggregate attendance record.
Saturday attracted 83,073 fans, a record for day three at a Boxing Day Test.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.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.
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
