Up to 30,000 people a day will be allowed to watch the Boxing Day Test live at the MCG, after Victorian health authorities approved an increase in the number of spectators allowed into the stadium.
The previous capacity for the Test match between Australia and India had been set at 25,000 spectators a day, one quarter of the MCG’s total capacity.
Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula made the announcement on Twitter.
He said the decision had been approved by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
“Melbourne is the home of Australia’s biggest and most-loved sporting events and it’s fantastic that we will be able to welcome 30,000 fans to the MCG on each day of the Boxing Day Test,” he said.
“It’s testament to the hard work of all Victorians in fighting the virus that Cricket Australia and the MCC have been able to put together a plan that allows for more supporters than had been originally planned.”
Cricket Australia also tweeted to say public tickets would go on sale from 3pm AEDT Friday.
Just a few months ago it was unclear whether the Boxing Day Test would be able to go ahead in Melbourne, as Victoria struggled through a deadly second wave of coronavirus infections.
At the end of October it was announced the Test would be played at the MCG, however at that point crowd numbers had not been finalised.
The SCG, which hosts the New Year’s Test, is currently allowed to operate at 100 per cent of its 48,000 person capacity.
The MCG has not hosted a cricket match since the Women’s T20 World Cup final against India was held there in March.
