Boxing Day Test the start of Victoria’s summer of cricket

Melbourne’s iconic Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be a cauldron of colour and sound as Australia takes on fierce rivals India in the fourth Test of the 5 test Border-Gavaskar series.

Thanks to Victorian Government support, 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 Women’s Ashes Test between Australia and England.

To match the excitement inside the ground with fun and family friendly activities just outside, the Summer Festival will be delivered by Cricket Australia across the first 3 days of the Boxing Day Test match.

The free festival will celebrate the rich connections between India and Victoria, with a focus on 5 key pillars – food, music, art, cricket and community.

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley is inviting every Victorian cricket fan to grab their tickets for the Boxing Day Test to experience world class cricket and off-field entertainment to match.

‘The Indian-inspired Summer Festival in Yarra Park 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.’

The last time India travelled to Australia for the summer Test series with full capacity available at the MCG was in 2018, with more than 176,000 cricket fans from Australia and overseas filling the ‘G across the 5 days.

Total ticket sales are more than double than at the same stage in 2018/19, with the Boxing Day Test again proving the most popular for travelling fans with more than 10%of ticket sales from international purchasers. A full house is expected for day one at the MCG.

As an added bonus after stumps on day 3, fans will also have the opportunity to walk across to John Cain Arena to see the first ever professional kabaddi matches played in Australia with Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid featuring some of the world’s best kabaddi players.

Outside of the Boxing Day Test, Victoria’s calendar of cricket includes men’s Big Bash League action throughout December and January and a 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 90^th anniversary of the inaugural women’s Ashes series in 1934-35.

Mr Hockley said the Women’s Ashes Test match will capture the incredible excitement of past Australian glory at the MCG.

‘Similar to the 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.’

That final saw 86,174 fans pack Australia’s home of cricket as the Aussies defeated India to capture its fifth Women’s T20 World Cup title.

To book your seat at the Boxing Day Test and the Women’s Ashes Test, visit the Ticketek website.

For tickets to Pro Melbourne Raid, visit the John Cain Arena website.