mcg-breaks-87-year-attendance-record-in-india-australia-test

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has set a new record for attendance, surpassing its 87-year-old benchmark with an astonishing 350,700 spectators attending the fourth Test match between India and Australia.

The previous attendance high of 350,535 was set during the 1937 Ashes, when the legendary Don Bradman graced the field.

The landmark attendance was first reached on day five, with 51,371 spectators filling the stands at lunch. This number soared beyond 60,000 after the break, as India pursued an imposing 340-run target.

According to Cricket Australia, this is now the highest attendance for any Test match at the MCG, eclipsing the 1937 Ashes record.

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Cricket Australia confirmed the milestone in a statement: “Day 5 current attendance is 51,371. The total attendance of 350,700 is the greatest for any Test match at the MCG, exceeding the total of 350,534 against England in 1937 over six days. This is also the greatest attendance for any Test match played in Australia.”

The match has now also become the second most attended Test match in history, trailing only the 1999 India-Pakistan encounter at Eden Gardens, which drew a staggering 465,000 spectators.

The crowd numbers for each day of the ongoing Test have been nothing short of remarkable. On day one, 87,242 fans were present, followed by record turnouts of 85,147 on day two and 83,073 on day three.

On Sunday, the number stood at 43,867. Monday’s match, where tickets were priced at just 10 Australian dollars, was no exception, as the crowd swelled to an unprecedented size.

MCG Chief Executive Stuart Fox expressed his amazement at the turnout, telling cricket.com.au, “I’ve not seen anything like it at a cricket match. I think that just the spirit in the stadium … all of our staff on day one just said how happy the crowd were. I thought Taylor Swift was big, but this has been something else."

Fox also added, "But I think with Taylor Swift coming in, a fantastic AFL season, then this Boxing Day Test, it's (2024) going to be hard to beat, I can assure you."