The ongoing India vs Australia 4th Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has etched its name in history by breaking the crowd attendance record on Day 5 of the Boxing Day clash. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025/25 has captivated the cricket world, with the MCG witnessing unprecedented turnout across all five days of the thrilling Test match.
According to Fox Cricket, the total attendance for the entire match has reached a remarkable 350,700, surpassing the previous record of 350,534 set back in the 1936/37 Ashes series between England and Australia. This feat was achieved on the final day of the game, cementing the MCG as the venue for the highest attendance in Test cricket history. The 1936/37 record was set during a six-day Test, making this achievement even more significant, as this match spanned only five days.
Cricket Australia also confirmed that this record-breaking crowd is now the largest for any Test match played in Australia, further underlining the growing popularity of the format. The Melbourne Cricket Ground shared the exciting news on its official X account, stating that they had officially surpassed the attendance record set during the 1936/37 Test between Australia and England. The tweet highlighted how the historic MCG continues to be a venue of firsts and milestones for the sport.
The incredible turnout was witnessed despite the challenging start for Team India on Day 5. Going into lunch, India found themselves in a precarious position in their chase of 340 runs, having already lost three major wickets—Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli—in the first session. As they stood at 33/3, the MCG crowd was on edge, but their passionate support for both teams never waned.
The attendance record began to take shape on Day 4 of the Test, when the MCG saw 299,329 spectators by the end of the day, surpassing the previous Boxing Day Test record of 271,865 set in 2013. This new record demonstrated the growing interest in Test cricket, a format that has traditionally been viewed as slow-paced but has seen a resurgence in fan interest, especially with the intensity of the ongoing India-Australia series.
The record crowd has also caught the attention of cricket officials, with ICC Chairman Jay Shah taking to social media to celebrate the remarkable feat. In his post, he praised the growing enthusiasm for Test cricket, calling the interest in the format "terrific." Shah’s message reflected the broader sentiment within the cricketing community, which is excited to see Test cricket draw large crowds and continue to generate global attention.
This achievement is a testament to the enduring appeal of Test cricket, as well as the significant role that the India-Australia rivalry plays in attracting fans to the stadium. The MCG, known for its massive crowd capacity, continues to be a global cricketing landmark. The record-breaking crowd not only highlights the passion and commitment of cricket fans but also sets the stage for future Test matches to draw even larger audiences in Australia and beyond.
