Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey
The 2024 Boxing Day Test was special in more ways than one. Not only was it a cracking match that was decided in the final hour, but the total attendance was a mammoth 373,691, making it the most attended MCG Test ever. The day five crowd was also an MCG record, with 74,362 fans flocking through the gates.
The previous highest total was 350,534 in a six-day Test between Australia and England way back in 1937. Sir Donald Bradman hit 270 as the hosts won by a significant 365 runs.
The attendance in this Australia-India Test could have been even higher. Day one was a sell out with over 90,000 fans expected, but temperatures touching 40 degrees may have kept some away, culminating in the Boxing Day figure of 87,242.
| Day | Crowd |
| 1 | 87,242 |
| 2 | 85,147 |
| 3 | 83,073 |
| 4 | 43,867 |
| 5 | 74,362 |
Where does the 2024 MCG Test rank among the most attended matches ever?
This 2024 Boxing Day match is officially the second-most attended Test ever. India vs Pakistan at Kolkata in 1998-99 saw a total attendance of 465,000 in a match marred by crowd trouble.
Most attended Tests ever:
| Match | Total Attendance | Year |
| India vs Pakistan | 465,000 | 1999 |
| Australia vs India | 373,691 | 2024 |
| Australia vs England | 350,534 | 1937 |
Pat Cummins’ team sealed victory in the final hour, taking a 2-1 series lead heading into Sydney. Also, Australia need just one more win to seal their qualification to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final.
This record-breaking summer of Australian Test cricket follows a strong season 12 months ago as well. There was a total attendance of 164,835 in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, with millions also tuning in to watch on Channel Seven and Foxtel.
