The Boxing Day Test is being transformed into a Bollywood blockbuster as Cricket Australia rolls out the welcome mat for fans.
MCG officials are bracing for a bumper crowd, with Melbourne’s Indian community set to help fill the stands.
We are just 22 days out from the Boxing Day Test, and the State Government has revealed its party plans which have a strong taste of India.
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There will be a three-day summer festival outside the MCG, with minister for tourism, sport and major events Steve Dimopoulos confirming the Indian vibes and flavour on Wednesday.
There will be celebrity chefs doing spontaneous cook-ups. There will be cricket pitches to try out. There’ll be Indian Bollywood dancing, and there’ll be a broader music offering.
According to Dimopoulos, the free event will be like nothing we have seen before.
“It’ll be a huge boost to our local economy, filling hotels, bars, and restaurants as passionate cricket fans flock to Melbourne to pack the MCG,” Dimopoulos said.
“This year, there will be as much action outside the MCG as inside, with the summer festival offering fun for fans of all ages.
“We know people love this sport, but we’re giving them an experience like no other. The colours of India will be in Melbourne.”
Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said world cricket had been been waiting for the rivalry between the undisputed No.1 and No.2 teams.
“The rivalry between Australia and India just gets bigger and bigger, and we can’t wait to see the MCG full on Boxing Day,” Hockley said.
The series is also the first time India and Australia have played a five match Test series since 1991.
Hockley predicted that it would be the most watched Test series in history with audiences in India set to skyrocket.
He also expected about 10 per cent of spectators to travel to Melbourne from overseas to watch the Test live and the MCG would be a “full house”.
It will mark a big change from the last Boxing Day Test against india in 2020 when crowds were capped because of COVID restrictions.
That Test was also a letdown because India won by a comfortable eight wickets.
Ticket sales are so far are doubling the last non-COVID Test against india.