Boxing Day Test: Capped crowd of 25,000 will be allowed at MCG

A new three-year deal to lock in the Boxing Day Test will keep the wolves from Western Australia at bay for now, with 25,000 set to attend this year.

The Boxing Day Test at the MCG is an iconic part of summer. Picture: Michael Klein

Any talk of the MCG losing the Boxing Day Test can disappear for at least the next three years.

After Cricket Australia on Wednesday confirmed the summer schedule against India would include the traditional Test in Melbourne, with a capped crowd of 25,000 set to attend, a new deal between the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Victorian government was locked in.

The summer’s iconic Test will remain at Australia’s premier sporting venue for the next three summers, with India, England and then finally South Africa to feature.

It’s understood the arrangement is in line with the current Future Tours Program, which finishes in 2023, with the potential for another deal to be done in the meantime to safeguard the game being played at the MCG beyond that time.

Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula couldn’t rule out more than 25,000 but said things would need to go “exceedingly well” with COVID-19 numbers for that to happen.

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“The 25,000 at this stage is an estimate. We’ll make final decisions about numbers closer to the day,” he said.

”That’s what we believe is the safe and appropriate number. It’s probably going to be a while before you see 100,000 people at the MCG. This is a really good start.

“This has been a tough year and it will be just reward for many to have the opportunity to watch the Aussies take on India at our cathedral of sport. And to have the fixture locked in until 2022 is fantastic.”

Pakula also said there was no “back-up plan” should Melbourne suffer a third wave of infections.

This summer is gonna be EPIC 💪 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/jq5yKVslUv

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 28, 2020

“I’m very confident we won’t need to be sending the Boxing Day Test anywhere,” he said.

A one-year rollover deal between CA and the MCC for the Boxing Day Test to be played in Melbourne expired last summer, and the three parties have been working towards finding common ground for some time.

Issues with the MCG pitch, before last summer, created calls for the game to be moved.

Western Australian officials have long chased the game, with Optus Stadium boss Mike McKenna throwing his hat in the ring on countless occasions.

“The opportunity for us to take the Boxing Day Test this year is a real long shot,” McKenna said last year.

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“But next year is not out of the question. Both the venue and the state government would be very keen to talk to Cricket Australia about a Boxing Day or New Year’s Test.’’

The potential for COVID-19 to rid the Boxing Day Test of crowds this year also put the Adelaide Oval in the frame to host it.

But that idea has been knocked on the head, and MCG boss Stuart Fox said “a lot of work” had gone in to the centre wickets to ensure there were no issues any more.

This year’s Boxing Day Test will be the only international cricket in Melbourne, and it won’t host Big Bash games until after Christmas.