Australian cricket’s unlikely summer of Ashes success helped generate a world record crowd on day one of the Boxing Day Test.
After plenty of media coaxing, Cricket Australia announced just after 4pm AEDT on Thursday that the day-one MCG attendance was 90,831.
That beat the previous mark of 90,800, set at the same ground during the famous 1960-61 series against the West Indies.
The day’s final figure was 91,092.
“When we saw that, the hype about it coming in, we weren’t sure they’d get that many here,” said Australian paceman Ryan Harris.
“But when the figure came up (on the scoreboard) and we saw that …
“The noise out there was unbelievable. The boys in the change room now, they’re just so pumped that they played in front of that many people.
“The noise at the end when Mitch (Johnson) was charging in was just enormous.”
The occasion was just as memorable for English vice-captain Ian Bell.
“It was brilliant – to play in front of 90,000 people is something you don’t do every day,” he said.
“As a player, it’s something you’ll never forget.
“Any opportunity you get to come here and play at the MCG is a great one.”
There is some debate about the record, given unofficial Test crowds in India have broken 100,000.
But Cricket Australia happily claimed the official mark in a summer where the Test team has reclaimed the Ashes.
“It’s yet further evidence of the sustained drawing power of Test cricket and Melbourne’s undisputed reputation as the capital of Australian sport,” said Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.
“Throughout the years, the Boxing Day Test has developed a privileged place in the Australian conscience – it’s become a landmark event.
“We don’t take that for granted.”
Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stephen Gough noted the record followed a crowd of 100,000 at this year’s AFL grand final and 95,000 fans at a Liverpool FC soccer friendly in July.
“As the birthplace of Test cricket, it is fitting that the MCG has again broken the attendance record for a single day of Test match cricket,” Gough said.
“This year has again proven beyond doubt that the MCG is the home of Australian sport and an iconic destination in our city.”
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