Melbourne: The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) set a new attendance record for a Test match in Australia during the fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash, surpassing a mark that stood for nearly 87 years.
Over 373,691 fans flocked to the venue over five days, breaking the previous record of 350,534, set in 1937 during a Test between Australia and England led by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman.
The final day of the blockbuster Test against India drew an extraordinary crowd, with 51,371 fans entering the gates by the first session and more expected later in the afternoon.
This figure exceeded the 43,867 fans who attended day four—a rare occurrence that surprised the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), the organization managing the MCG.
The attendance breakdown across the five days included daily figures of 87,242, 85,147, 83,073, 43,867 and 74,362.
The MCC underestimated the crowd for the fifth day, leading to logistical challenges, including significant traffic congestion due to limited gate access.
Yarra Park, typically reserved for special events, was opened for public parking to accommodate the influx.
This historic turnout follows India's impressive draw at the MCG during the 2022 T20 World Cup, where 90,293 fans witnessed the thrilling match against Pakistan and 82,507 attended the clash against Zimbabwe.
It is pertinent to mention that the ongoing five-match Test series remains tied at 1-1, with Australia setting a target of 340 runs for India to chase.
However, India faces a daunting task as they teeter on the brink of defeat, having lost seven wickets for fewer than 150 runs on the final day.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.
