MCG confirmed as venue for next three Boxing Day Tests

A new venue hire agreement between the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) and Cricket Australia was announced today, covering the next three Boxing Day Tests through to 2022.

The 31st consecutive Boxing Day Test will be played at the MCG in December this year, with the three-year contract confirmed as Cricket Australia today unveiled its summer schedule - with the Boxing Day Test at the MCG to be the second of four Test matches to be played between Tim Paine’s Australians and Virat Kohli’s Indian team.

The MCG’s new deal with Cricket Australia ensures the 100,000-seat stadium will retain hosting rights to the showpiece Boxing Day Test until at least 2022. Australia is scheduled to host England in 2021 and South Africa in 2022.

It is hoped that as many as 25,000 fans will be able to attend this year’s Boxing Day Test, which would represent a quarter of the MCG’s capacity. Specific crowd numbers will be confirmed closer to the match, with Cricket Australia to work with the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) and the Victorian government on developing a COVID-safe plan to allow fans to attend the Test.

Cricket Australian Chairman Earl Eddings advised “Come Boxing Day, it will be 291 days since the MCG hosted Australia’s win in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final – we can’t wait to host another iconic match at the MCG.”

The Victorian Government, MCC and Cricket Australia will develop a rigorous COVIDSafe plan based on the most up-to-date public health advice to enable a limited number of fans to safely attend the Test this year.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most fiercely contested in cricket and as world number-one Australia will be seeking to take it back from the visitors this summer.

India won the last Boxing Day Test played between the two sides, in 2018 when victory confirmed it would retain the trophy.

Australia is scheduled to play home series against England in 2021 and South Africa in 2022.

Melbourne Cricket Club Chief Executive, Stuart Fox commented “the MCG hosted the first ever Test match in 1877 and holds a special place in the heart of cricket fans – we’re excited to be welcoming the Indian team this year and England and South Africa in the summers to follow.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Martin Pakula notes “Melbourne is Australia’s unchallenged sporting and events capital and the Boxing Day Test is one of the cornerstones of our renowned annual calendar.

“This has been a tough year and it will be just reward for many to have the opportunity to watch the Aussies take on India at our cathedral of sport. And to have the fixture locked in until 2022 is fantastic.”

The first MCG Boxing Day Test was played in 1950, against England. Since 1980 there has been only one year – 1989 – which has not featured a post-Christmas Test match at the ground.

The Boxing Day Test joins a long list of marquee sporting events under contract to Victoria. The AFL Grand Final will be played at the MCG until at least 2058 while the Australian Open is locked in at Melbourne Park for another 16 years - until 2036.

Long-term contracts for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park (2025) and Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island (2026) are also in place.

Image: MCG Boxing Day Test 2019