Cricket Australia (CA) has announced that ticket sales for this year’s Boxing Day Test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) have smashed previous records, reflecting unprecedented demand for the highly anticipated clash.
The opening day sales have tripled compared to the 2018/19 series, and sales for days two to four have also surged, marking a 5.5-fold increase from the last time India toured Australia pre-pandemic. During the COVID-19 restricted 2020/21 series, only 30,000 fans were allowed into the 100,000-plus capacity MCG.
Joel Morrison, Executive General Manager of Events & Operations at CA, highlighted the immense interest in the series:
“The Border-Gavaskar series is always a highlight of the cricket calendar, and this year is no different. Ticket sales reflect the enormous excitement surrounding the contest between Australia and India.”
Morrison also urged fans to secure their seats early as tickets for all five Tests are selling fast.
“We’re encouraging fans to buy tickets now to ensure they don’t miss out on the action.”
In a notable trend, ticket purchases from Indian fans have jumped to 3.9% of total sales, compared to just 0.7% in 2018/19. Morrison emphasised that this surge presents a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the strong ties between Australia and India, both on and off the field. A large contingent of Indian fans is expected to attend the Tests across the summer, further enhancing the atmosphere.
The five-match Border-Gavaskar series, which is part of the World Test Championship cycle, kicks off on 22 November in Perth. The Boxing Day Test, scheduled from 26 December at the MCG, is the fourth match of the series. It will be followed by the traditional New Year’s Test in Sydney, beginning on 3 January 2024.
With India having won the last two Test series Down Under, fans are eagerly anticipating a thrilling showdown this summer.
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