Historic Crowd Turns Up for Boxing Day Test: The Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed an unforgettable Boxing Day as 93,442 fans packed the stands during Day 1 of the 4th Ashes Test between Australia and England.
This turnout surpassed the previous mega-event hosted at the venue, including the 2015 World Cup final, and set a new attendance benchmark for the iconic stadium.
Even though Australia already have a 3–0 lead in the series, the festive atmosphere and expectation of a potential 5–0 clean sweep brought fans in huge numbers.
MCG’s official capacity sits around 1,24,000, with roughly 95,000 seating spaces and additional standing-room areas—meaning the stadium was almost 95% full.
England Collapse After Australia Post 152
England won the toss on a green MCG pitch and sent Australia in, hoping to make early inroads. The decision paid off as Australian batters struggled throughout the first session.
Australia 1st Innings – 152 All Out (45.2 Overs)
A combination of disciplined bowling and sharp fielding saw England bowl out Australia for 152, with Josh Tongue delivering a stunning five-wicket haul.
Read Also: Pat Cummins Ruled Out of Final Ashes Tests
Australia Innings Summary
| Batter | Runs | Balls | SR | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usman Khawaja | 29 | 52 | 55.77 | 2 | 0 |
| Michael Neser | 35 | 49 | 71.43 | 7 | 0 |
| Alex Carey | 20 | 35 | 57.14 | 0 | 0 |
| Travis Head | 12 | 22 | 54.55 | 2 | 0 |
| Steve Smith (c) | 9 | 31 | 29.03 | 2 | 0 |
England Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Tongue | 11.2 | 45 | 5 | 4.00 |
| Gus Atkinson | 14 | 28 | 2 | 2.00 |
| Brydon Carse | 12 | 42 | 1 | 3.50 |
| Ben Stokes | 8 | 25 | 1 | 3.10 |
Australia’s innings was kept alive through a gritty partnership between Alex Carey, Cameron Green, and a counterattacking effort by Michael Neser.
England Suffer Major Collapse Under Pressure
If Australia’s innings was shaky, England’s response was a complete disaster.
England crumbled to 76/6 by stumps, trailing by 76 runs.
Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Michael Neser ripped through the English top order with relentless accuracy.
England 1st Innings – 76/6 (19.4 Overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Brook | 41 | 34 | 120.59 | lbw b Boland |
| Ben Stokes (c) | 16* | 36 | 44.44 | not out |
| Zak Crawley | 5 | 14 | 35.71 | c Smith b Starc |
| Joe Root | 0 | 15 | 0.00 | c Carey b Neser |
Australian Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Boland | 5 | 16 | 2 | 3.20 |
| Michael Neser | 6 | 29 | 2 | 4.80 |
| Mitchell Starc | 5 | 20 | 2 | 4.00 |
| Jhye Richardson | 3.4 | 7 | 0 | 1.90 |
England lost wickets in clusters:
- 7/1, 8/2, 8/3
- Root’s duck made it 16/4
- Brook’s counterattack ended at 66/5
- Jamie Smith’s fall made it 68/6
Only Brook showed some fight, while Stokes tried to steady the innings as the collapse unfolded around him.
Why the MCG Crowd Was So Huge
Two big reasons lifted the atmosphere:
Boxing Day Festivity
Families and fans traditionally spend December 26 at the MCG, making it one of cricket’s biggest annual events.
Possibility of a 5–0 Ashes Whitewash
With Australia already ahead 3–0, the excitement of witnessing another dominant display drew thousands more.
Match Situation at Stumps – Day 1
Australia Lead by 76 Runs
Despite posting only 152, Australia now hold a commanding lead after dismantling England’s batting.
Chances of a Result Before Day 5
With 16 wickets falling on Day 1 and the pitch assisting bowlers, the match appears unlikely to go the full distance.
A result within three days looks possible.
Highlights of the Day
- 93,442 crowd — new MCG attendance record.
- Australia bowled out for 152 after a shaky start.
- England collapsed to 76/6, trailing by 76 runs.
- Josh Tongue stole the show with a brilliant 5-wicket haul.
- Starc, Neser, Boland dominated the England top order.
- High-paced, result-oriented cricket thrilled fans throughout the day.
