AUS vs ENG: MCG crowd shatters attendance record for Ashes 2025-26 Boxing Day Test

The MCG saw a record crowd attending the day one’s play, breaking the record of the ICC World Cup 2015 final.

Australia and England (AUS vs ENG) clashed in the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series. This match began at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 26, 2025, famously known as the Boxing Day Test.

Australia came into this match leading the five-Test series 3-0, having won each of the first two Tests by 8 wickets in Perth and Brisbane, and by 82 runs in the third Test in Adelaide.

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss in the fourth Test and chose to bowl first on a green pitch at the MCG. This led to mayhem with the ball from both sides.

Australia’s top order faltered as Travis Head (12), Jake Weatherald (10), Marnus Labuschagne (6), and captain Steve Smith (9) were blown away by Josh Tongue, taking three wickets.

Usman Khawaja (29), Alex Carey (20), and Michael Neser (35) were the main run-getters for Australia as their first innings folded for 152 runs. Josh Tongue took 5/45, and Gus Atkinson took two wickets.

If England thought that their innings would be an easy one, Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser had something else planned for them. The top four of the England lineup, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, and Joe Root, all fell for single-digit scores, with Root scoring a duck.

Harry Brook made 41, and Gus Atkinson made 28 as England were folded for 110 runs in their first innings. Michael Neser took 4/45, while Scott Boland took three wickets and Starc took two wickets.

MCG sees record-breaking 94,199 fans in attendance

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) attracted the largest attendance ever for a single day of cricket, making history during the Ashes match between Australia and England before the tea break.

The MCG is one of the largest stadiums in the world. Throughout its history, the ‘G has held numerous events attended by well in excess of 100,000 people.

On Day 1 of the Boxing Day Ashes Test between Australia and England, 94,199 fans packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground, setting a new attendance record for the facility.

The historic audience surpassed the previous record of 93,013, established in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Final between Australia and New Zealand.

It also sets a new record for the most people attending a single day of test cricket, surpassing the 91,112 who packed the MCG on Day 1 of the 2013 Boxing Day Test between Australia and England.

The Ashes cumulative attendance record of 271,865 (also set in 2013) is within sight thanks to this year’s record-breaking Day 1 and sold-out Days 2 and 3.

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