Boxing Day Test at the MCG

From Darrell Hair calling Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing to Billy Graham’s crusade, plenty has happened at Australia’s biggest stadium.

With the Cricket World Cup currently reaching its final stages, I thought I’d better have a look at what is arguably cricket’s greatest annual event – the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket ground (or MCG) in Australia.

The MCG in Yarra Park, Melbourne, is the biggest stadium in Australia, and the annual cricket match starting on December 26th is something of an institution, with families and friends alike descending on the home of Australian Cricket in the sunshine. I’ve had the privilege to be there to watch Australia play England in an Ashes test, and it’s difficult to match as a sporting spectacle. Many famous events have happened during the Boxing Day Test, including umpire Darrell Hair calling Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for throwing during the 1995 Melbourne Test. Here are some other things that may be of interest about the ground’s history, records, tours and tickets.

Melbourne Cricket Ground History

• The Melbourne Cricket Ground was opened way back in 1854, and it is the home of Australian Rules Football (AFL) as well as cricket. Six teams call it their home ground – the Victoria Bushrangers in cricket and the Collingwood Magpies, Hawthorn Hawks, Essendon Bombers, Melbourne Demons and Richmond Tigers in Aussie Rules.
• Plenty of other sports have been played at the MCG, including athletics during the 1956 Olympics, rugby league, soccer (football for the people who want the sport to be called by its correct name), baseball and rugby union.
• The ground is also used for major rock concerts, and stars such as David Cassidy, Elton John, David Bowie, the Three Tenors and Billy Joel have packed out the MCG in the past.

Melbourne Cricket Ground Records

• The MCG has the highest floodlight towers of any stadium in the world.
• The record attendance at the MCG is not for a cricket or Aussie Rules game – it was for evangelist Billy Graham’s crusade in March, 1995. 130,000 people turned up.
• The first ever international Test cricket match, between Australia and England, started at the MCG on March 15th, 1877. Australia won by 45 runs

Melbourne Cricket Ground Tours

Visitors to the MCG can do a tour of the famous stadium. The itinerary includes the Ponsford Stand, the coaches' box, the players' changing rooms, the cricket viewing room, the Long Room, the Bill Lawry Cricket Centre, the MCC Museum and Library and a walk on the pitch surface.

Melbourne Cricket Ground Tickets

Tickets for most events at the MCG can be bought through the Ticketmaster website.

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