The 31st consecutive Boxing Day Cricket Test is to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) this December.
Sport and Recreation Victoria announced the decision saying a new venue hire agreement between the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) and Cricket Australia had been signed and would cover the next three Boxing Day Tests.
It said the three-year contract was confirmed as Cricket Australia unveiled its summer schedule which included Melbourne’s iconic December 26-30 fixture as the second of four Test matches to be played between Tim Paine’s Australians and Virat Kohli’s Indian team.
Sport and Recreation said a rigorous COVIDSafe plan would be developed based on the most up-to-date public health advice to enable a limited number of fans to safely attend the Test this year.
“Crowd numbers will be confirmed closer to the match, but will be capped at around 25,000 spectators – a quarter of the MCG’s capacity,” it said.
“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most fiercely contested in cricket and world number-one Australia will be seeking to take it back from the visitors this summer.”
Sport and Recreation said Australia was scheduled to play home series against England in 2021 and South Africa in 2022.
