Cricket Australia (CA) has revealed that ticket sales for the 2024 Boxing Day Test between India and Australia have surged to record-breaking levels, marking unprecedented demand for this iconic fixture at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Unprecedented Demand for Boxing Day Test Tickets
Ticket sales for Day 1 have tripled in comparison to the 2018/19 series. During the COVID-19-impacted 2020/21 series, MCG could only host 30,000 spectators due to restrictions, but this year, the demand has skyrocketed, with full capacity expected. Sales for days 2 to 4 have also seen a 5.5 times increase compared to the 2018/19 India tour, highlighting the massive interest in the series.
Joel Morrison, Executive General Manager of Events & Operations at Cricket Australia, expressed his excitement:
“The Border Gavaskar series is always a big event, and ticket sales show the huge anticipation for this contest between Australia and India.”
Morrison encouraged fans to act quickly:
“With tickets selling fast for all five Tests, we urge fans to book early to avoid missing out on any of the action.”
Increased Interest from Indian Fans
A significant factor driving the record sales is the growing interest from Indian fans. In the 2018/19 series, only 0.7% of tickets were purchased by Indian supporters. That number has jumped to 3.9% for this year’s series, showcasing the increasing enthusiasm of Indian cricket fans to attend matches in Australia.
Morrison acknowledged the importance of this trend:
“We’re seeing strong sales from both Indian and Australian fans. This offers a wonderful chance to celebrate the long-standing connection between the two nations, both on and off the field.”
India Tour of Australia 2024-25 Schedule
Here’s the full schedule for the much-anticipated Test series between India and Australia:
- 1st Test: Fri, 22 Nov 2024 – Tue, 26 Nov 2024, Perth Stadium
Start Time: 8:00 AM (GMT: 2:30 AM | Local: 10:30 AM) - 2nd Test: Fri, 6 Dec 2024 – Tue, 10 Dec 2024, Adelaide Oval
Start Time: 9:30 AM (GMT: 4:00 AM | Local: 2:30 PM) - 3rd Test: Sat, 14 Dec 2024 – Wed, 18 Dec 2024, The Gabba, Brisbane
Start Time: 5:30 AM (GMT: 12:00 AM | Local: 10:00 AM) - 4th Test: Thu, 26 Dec 2024 – Mon, 30 Dec 2024, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Start Time: 5:30 AM (GMT: 12:00 AM | Local: 11:00 AM) - 5th Test: Fri, 3 Jan 2025 – Tue, 7 Jan 2025, Sydney Cricket Ground
Start Time: 5:30 AM (GMT: 12:00 AM | Local: 11:00 AM)
With growing excitement around the Boxing Day Test and high ticket demand, the India-Australia Test series promises to be an unforgettable chapter in their storied rivalry.
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