Mumbai: Cricket Australia revealed that the first day of the ongoing Boxing Day Test between Australia and New Zealand saw the biggest rush for the match between the two countries.
A total of 80,473 spectators came to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to witness Boxing Day today.
The previous day 1 record for the Australia-New Zealand Test at the MCG was 51,087 in 1987–88. “Thank you very much to the Australian and New Zealand fans who made history at the MCG today.
CA Ball CEO Kevin Roberts said in an official statement, “The atmosphere at Ball One was fantastic and there was a huge rivalry between our two countries and close ties between us on the field.”
“We can’t wait to return to the MCG on 8 March next year, as we are trying to eclipse today’s crowd in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup Australia 2020 on International Women’s Day,” she said.
The appearance is the biggest rush of the second day at the Boxing Day Test for a non-Ashes fixture – behind only 85,661 who watched Australia play the West Indies in 1975–76.
Overall, it is a Boxing Day Test crowd of the sixth day including the Ashes Test at the MCG. In the ongoing match, New Zealand won the toss and was selected to bowl first. Trent Boult removed Australia opener Joe Burns in the first over.
However, Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both scored half-centuries. The first match of the series was won by Australia and this enabled them to consolidate to second place in the World Test Championship standings.
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