The all-time Test match attendance record at the MCG was broken on Monday, as a raucous crowd of 74,362 lapped up an epic and tense end to the Boxing Day Test, surpassing an attendance figure that has stood since the era of Don Bradman.
A total of 373,691 people attended the MCG across the five days of the 2024 Boxing Day Test. This included record-breaking crowds each day, including on the fifth and final day as Australia stormed home late to a memorable victory.
Fans fill the MCG on the first day of the 2024 Boxing Day Test. Credit: Chris Hopkins
The previous record was set during the 1936-37 Ashes series, with 350,534 fans attending the MCG to watch Don Bradman’s team against England. This was at the height of his popularity, and before television.
“We knew this Test against India was going to be incredible – one of the most anticipated in recent memory,” Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stuart Fox said.
“Now we can proudly say it has been the highest-ever attended Test match held at the beloved MCG … crowd figures we would have previously only associated with an Ashes series.
The “unprecedented nature” of the Test meant that extra measures were put in place on Monday, including increased staff and more food and beverage services.
The MCG Test of January 1937 previously held the record for the largest crowd at a cricket Test in Australia.Credit: The Age/NLA
More seating areas were opened up in anticipation of big crowds, and extra security guards were called in to account for the increased numbers.
Almost 75,000 people ventured to East Melbourne to catch a glimpse of the action as Australia defeated India to take a 2-1 series lead ahead of the final Test in Sydney starting on January 3.
Jack Bisas and son Louie were watching from home on Sunday, when the six-year-old asked if they could head down to the ground for the final day.
“I haven’t been for about 10 years, so that was an easy question,” Bisas said.
Jack and Louie Bisas outside the MCG before day five.Credit: Gemma Grant
“It’s good to see day five. Last week, they were saying Test cricket should be four days, and that today shouldn’t exist. But I’m a traditionalist.”
Steve Hunt said he wouldn’t normally attend the final day of a Test, but he was excited as the match went down to the wire in the final session.
“Here we are [before play on day five], and we don’t know what the answer will be,” Steve said before play started. “The weather’s been pretty good. The Indian crowd always turn out, and it’s been an enthralling Test … anything could happen.”
The world record for a Test match overall attendance is the estimated 465,000 who watched India play Pakistan at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens in 1999.
But this series is becoming noteworthy for the monster crowds it is drawing, and is quickly closing in on some of the biggest tallies for a five-match Test series.
The record attendance for a series was 957,550 during the Ashes in the 1936-37 series, with the 2017-18 Ashes next best, with 865,451.
The bumper crowds at the MCG over the past five days took the total crowd from the first four Tests of this series to 692,855.
Teams are now casting their eyes forward to the fifth Test at the SCG. Stadium management is expecting a capacity crowd – that’s 46,000 people – across the first three days.
Record crowds have attended the cricket across the five days of the MCG Test. Credit: Justin McManus
“What a series so far, and we can’t wait for Australia and India to arrive at the SCG for the new year’s Test,” SCG chief executive Kerrie Mather said. “We’re expecting … a lot of support around the ground for both teams.”
