Sam Konstas discovery to help shatter MCG Test crowd record

A record set in the 1930s could tumble on Monday as cricket crowds go wild for a debutant and knife-edge finish to the fourth Test.

The all-time MCG Test attendance figure could be toppled on Monday despite the record being set in a six-day match during Sir Donald Bradman’s prime.

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy potentially at stake on the final day of the Boxing Day Test, a crowd of less than 40,000 could be required to shatter the record set in January 1937.

The cumulative crowd over the first three days of the Test was 255,462 – only 95,072 shy of the 350,534 who came to watch Bradman captain Australia against England in the third match of the 1936-37 Ashes series.

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox predicted a crowd of anywhere between 50 and 70 thousand could attend on Sunday’s penultimate day as he credited passionate Indian fans and a 1-1 series scoreline with filling the stands in Melbourne.

Test debutant Sam Konstas has played a key role in drawing big crowds, and firing them up whiule on the field. Picture: Michael Klein

Asked if debutant Sam Konstas’ fireworks in the opening session of the match had also played a significant part, Fox said: “no doubt”.

The prospect of the 19-year-old batting on day three helped shatter the projected attendance figure by more than 20,000, as fans stuck around through an hour-long rain delay in the late afternoon with Nitish Kumar Reddy on the brink of a maiden century and Konstas only three wickets away from returning to the crease.

His much anticipated second innings came to an early end on Sunday when he was clean bowled by Jasprit Bumrah for 8.

I’ve not seen anything like it at a cricket match – just the spirit in the stadium, all of our staff on day one just said how happy the crowd were, and how easy they were to work with,” Fox said before day four.

“The Indians have such a big impact on that atmosphere, and seeing the hundred scored yesterday as a storm was coming in and they were nine-for … all these epic moments in this Test have been something else.

Indian fan Manujul Sharma plays the saxophone for a packed section of supporters at the MCG. Picture: Tony Gough

“I wouldn’t rule it out (breaking the six-day Test record). It really depends how (Sunday) goes, but if it’s well placed tonight, then day five could be fantastic, so it’s a possibility.”

Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley, who will depart at the summer’s end, said tickets would be $10 for adults with free entry for kids on Monday’s final day.

“It’s just been irresistible, the storyline, so I think that’s helped,” Hockley said.

“I think the selectors deserve a great deal of credit (for picking Konstas).

“To see a kid enjoying themselves, for mine, I was watching him (on Saturday) in the field in the change of overs … running with such a spring in his step and in his absolute element out there.

“The exciting thing is there’s going to be beaches, backyards with kids wanting to emulate (him) and be him, and just hearing from his family, what it means, it’s a brilliant story.”

Originally published as Sam Konstas discovery to help shatter MCG Test crowd record