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Whilst the Melbourne weather threatened to derail the first few days of play, the 2023 Boxing Day Test again provided a thrilling contest which saw Australia claim a 79-run win over Pakistan late on Day 4.
The gloomy weather did not deter the Day 1 crowd on Boxing Day, with 62,167 fans converging on the MCG despite the threat of rain, which did eventuate to delay play in the afternoon.
A total of 164,835 fans visited the MCG throughout the four days of play, making it the largest attendance for a Boxing Day Test between the two countries.
Of this total, more than 56,000 attended the Members’ Reserve. While many soaked up the enthralling content on the field, others took the opportunity to catch up with family and friends and enjoy the festive spirit and the array of fine hospitality facilities available throughout the Reserve.
MCC members were treated to two functions on the first two days of the Test – the ever-popular Boxing Day Breakfast and Women in Cricket Test Breakfast in the Members’ Dining Room which provided insights from cricketing greats and views of the Ground as the MCG Arenas Team set to work with final preparations for the days’ play.
The match also saw fans pay tribute to the late Shane Warne, with attendees encouraged to wear a floppy hat to the MCG and tip their hat at 3.50pm on each day of play, a nod to Warne’s Test cap number.
The Shane Warne Legacy also introduced Shane Wane Legacy Health Tests at multiple locations around the MCG, in which the four-minute test provided patrons with an indication of heart and other health risk factors.
Approximately 7,847 tests were undertaken at the MCG during the Test.
On field, it was a match that was evenly dominated by bat and ball.
The highest score achieved by a batter across the Test was Mitch Marsh in Australia’s second innings, falling agonisingly short of a maiden MCG Test Century with 96 runs.
With the ball, it was a dominant display from the Australian captain, Pat Cummins, which ultimately guided the Australians to victory – claiming two five wicket hauls (5/48 and 5/49) in the match to be awarded the Johnny Mullagh Medal for player of the match.
The hauls also see Cummins etched in MCG history once more, with his name added to the MCG Honour Boards for the third time – his first two entries came in 2018 (6/37) and 2019 (5/28).
The win saw Australia lead the three-match series 2-0, before eventually going on to claim a third and final win in the New Year’s Test in Sydney.
RESULT: Australia won by 79 runs
PLAYER OF THE MATCH (JOHNNY MULLAGH MEDAL): Pat Cummins
DAY 1 ATTENDANCE: 62,167
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 164,835
HONOUR BOARD ADDITIONS:
- Pat Cummins (5/48)
- Pat Cummins (5/49)