All-time attendance record at the MCG shattered during BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Day 5 of the fourth Test against India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed a record attendance, making it the highest for any Test Down Under. The MCG fixture has surpassed the previous record of 350,534 set during the 1936-37 Ashes as the figure touched 350,700.

Cricket Australia, on Monday, confirmed that 51,571 had already arrived in the first session of Day 5 with more to mark their presence in the afternoon. The spectator count has indeed been spectacular for the marquee fixture as the numbers have been 87,242, 85,147, 83,073, 43,867, 51,371 and counting.

Team India had also attracted massive numbers during their T20 World Cup 2022 fixture vs Pakistan at the iconic venue as 90,293 turned up while 82, 507 watched the Men in Blue play Zimbabwe.

MCG Test between India and Australia at knife's edge

Australia national cricket team. (Credits: Getty)

Meanwhile, the ongoing fixture between India and Australia remains at a knife's edge on day five, with the hosts setting the opposition a daunting 340 to win. Jasprit Bumrah struck early on day five to dismiss Nathan Lyon, breaking the 61-run stand between him and Scott Boland. Later, Pat Cummins led a brilliant bowling effort by dismissing Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, while Mitchell Starc nipped out Virat Kohli in the final ball before lunch.

Nevertheless, Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal have looked resolute thus far, spending a wicketless session and not allowing the home side a way back in. While the first two days of the Boxing Day Test belonged to the hosts, India clawed their way back as Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his maiden century and shared a partnership of 127 with Washington Sundar.

Despite finishing with a 105-run lead, Australia struggled to get going in their second innings, with the lower-order batters requiring to bail them out.