MEDIA RELEASE
December 4, 2024
Festival Atmosphere to Takeover Yarra Park for NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test Match at the MCG
source: Cricket Australia – CA Multicultural Media (eLanka)
Melbourne’s iconic NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test Match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be a cauldron of colour and sound when Australia takes on India in the fourth Test of the five-test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
In partnership with the Victorian Government, the Boxing Day Test will be bigger and better than ever with a Summer Festival in Yarra Park before history is made in January with a CommBank Women’s Ashes Test between Australia and England at the MCG.
The Summer Festival, which is free entry for fans, will be delivered by Cricket Australia across the first three days of the Boxing Day Test (26-28 December 2024), helping celebrate the rich connections between India and Australia, with a focus on food, music, art, cricket and community.
The last time India travelled to Australia for a Test series with full capacity available at the MCG was in 2018 when more than 176,000 fans attended.
Total ticket sales are more than double than at the same stage in 2018, with a full house expected for day one at the MCG. Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets early across all days of the Test match from cricket.com.au/tickets.
Outside of the Boxing Day Test, Melbourne’s calendar of cricket includes men’s KFC Big Bash League action throughout December and January and a CommBank Women’s Ashes one day international leading to the historic women’s test match.
The Ashes Test from 30 January to 2 February 2025 will be the first women’s Test played at the MCG since 1949 and will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the inaugural women’s Ashes series in 1934-35.
It will also be the first time the Australian women’s cricket team will play at the MCG since their heroic victory over India in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 Final played in front of 86,174 fans.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, said:
“The Boxing Day Test at the MCG is globally recognised as one of the most iconic fixtures on the cricket calendar. The rivalry between Australia and India just gets bigger and bigger and we can’t wait to see the MCG full on Boxing Day.
“We’d like to thank the Victorian Government for its support of the Indian-inspired Summer Festival in Yarra Park, which will certainly add to the experience of fans coming to the MCG. We encourage everyone to secure their tickets as soon as possible to be part of this historic and memorable occasion.
“We are also counting down to the Women’s Ashes, which will culminate with the Pink Ball Test from January 30. Similar to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final in 2020, this will be a celebration of another milestone moment for cricket with the first ever day-night Test at the MCG.”
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, said:
“This partnership with Cricket Australia to deliver blockbuster cricket action all summer highlighted by a huge Boxing Day Test Match against India and culminating in an historic women’s Ashes Test Match in January.”
“The Boxing Day Test against India will be the ideal way to celebrate our state’s strong relationship with India, providing a huge boost to our local economy, filling our hotels, bars and restaurants as some of the world’s most passionate cricket fans come to Melbourne to pack the MCG.”
ENDS
