BGT 2024-25 Test series: Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch history and Test records

The much-awaited Boxing Day Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series 2024/25 will begin on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The five-match series currently stands tied at 1-1 ahead of the fourth Test in Melbourne.

India won the first Test in Perth quite comfortably, but after that, the Aussies bounced back with a 10-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval. The third Test ended in a draw in Brisbane.

The upcoming match is crucial for both teams in their quest to reach the World Test Championship final. Here's a look at the pitch history of the MCG ahead of the fourth Test.

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Melbourne Cricket Ground Test records

116 Test matches have been played at the iconic MCG. Australia have an impressive 67-32 win-loss record on this ground. The last time MCG hosted a Test was in December 2023, when Australia defeated Pakistan.

Here are some other important numbers to know from the previous Tests played in Melbourne:

Test matches played: 116

Won by teams batting first: 57

Won by teams batting second: 42

Drawn: 17

Highest individual score: 307 - Robert Cowper (AUS) vs England, 1966

Best bowling figures (innings): 9/86 - Sarfaraz Nawaz (PAK) vs Australia, 1979

Best bowling figures (match): 15/124 - Wilfred Rhodes (ENG) vs Australia, 1904

Highest team total: 624/8 dec - Australia vs Pakistan, 2018

Lowest team total: 36 - South Africa vs Australia, 1932

Average first innings score: 306.

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Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch report

The MCG pitch report will be telecast live from Melbourne on the Star Sports Network in India before Pat Cummins and Rohit Sharma walk out for the toss. The Melbourne pitch has been decent for batting, with the average first innings score being more than 300.

India have fond recent memories of playing Test cricket in Melbourne. In 2020, India defeated Australia in the Boxing Day Test under Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy. Notably, the Men in Blue have won their last two Tests at MCG, winning the Melbourne Test on the 2018-19 tour as well.

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Melbourne Cricket Ground last Test match

Australia defeated Pakistan by 79 runs in the last Test played at the MCG. It was the Boxing Day Test of 2023, where Mitchell Marsh's 96-run knock in the second innings helped the home team come out victorious.

Not a single batter scored a century in the match. Fast bowler Pat Cummins took 10 wickets for Australia. Here is the match summary:

Brief scores: Australia 318 (Marnus Labuschagne 63, Aamer Jamal 3/64) & 262 (Mitchell Marsh 96, Mir Hamza 4/32) beat Pakistan 264 (Abdullah Shafique 62, Pat Cummins 5/48) & 237 (Shan Masood 60, Pat Cummins 5/49) by 79 runs.