The Boxing Day Test: Cricket's Premier Annual Fixture
The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is the most-attended day in Test cricket history, drawing crowds of 90,000+ and forming the centrepiece of Australia's summer cricket calendar.
Cricket's Christmas Institution
The Boxing Day Test is a Test match played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) beginning on 26 December — Boxing Day — each year as part of Australia's summer schedule. It has been a fixture of the Australian cricket calendar for decades and consistently attracts crowds of 70,000 to 90,000 on the opening day, making it the most-attended single day of Test cricket in the world. The MCG's capacity of 100,024 means it provides an atmosphere unlike any other venue in the game.
The Record Attendance
The first day of the 1961 Boxing Day Test attracted 90,800 spectators — the largest attendance ever recorded for a single day of Test cricket. The MCG regularly fills to near-capacity for the opening day, with the combination of the holiday period, the school summer break in Australia and the tradition of attending the Test making it a cultural event rather than simply a cricket match.
Memorable Boxing Day Tests
Some of the most dramatic moments in Test history have been played out at the MCG on Boxing Day. The 1982 Ashes Boxing Day Test saw Allan Border play a match-saving innings; the 1997 edition saw Michael Bevan's extraordinary lower-order batting; and the 2010-11 Ashes Boxing Day Test saw England draw to within one Test of retaining the Ashes before losing the series at Sydney. Sachin Tendulkar scored a century there on his first visit in 1992, beginning a long association with the ground.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Boxing Day Test start?
The Boxing Day Test begins on December 26 each year at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It typically lasts five days and is part of Australia's home international schedule.
How big is the crowd at the Boxing Day Test?
The opening day of the Boxing Day Test regularly attracts 70,000 to 90,000 spectators. The MCG holds over 100,000 people and is consistently the most-attended Test match ground in the world.