Boxing Day Bonanza! Australian cricket records its highest-ever attendance for a single day

Australian cricket yesterday recorded its highest-ever attendance for a single day. A total of 162,408 fans attended Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the BBL|15 matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Optus Stadium.

Yesterday’s attendance shattered the record set 12 months ago when 152,375 fans came through the gates on Boxing Day 2024. All three matches set attendance records, showcasing the strength and popularity of Australia's national sport.

In Melbourne, a crowd of 94,199 watched

20 wickets fall in the fourth Ashes Test. This was a record attendance for a day of cricket in Australia, surpassing the previous record of 93,013 for the ODI World Cup final in 2015.

The day’s second match saw the Melbourne Stars defeat the Sydney Sixers by seven wickets in front of 25,589 fans, the largest ever crowd at the SCG’s annual Boxing Day fixture. The national single-day attendance record was then sealed at Optus Stadium, as the Perth Scorchers welcomed 42,620 fans – their largest Boxing Day Bash crowd, eclipsing the previous record set in BBL|13 – to watch them host reigning champions Hobart Hurricanes.

The Boxing Day attendance record comes after total and single-day records were set across the opening three Ashes Tests, and with the Big Bash achieving major increases in attendances and broadcast audiences across Foxtel and Seven.

“Boxing Day 2025 has been a landmark day for Australian Cricket, with records tumbling across all three venues to play host to Test and BBL matches. To set a new single day attendance record of 162,408 is a proud moment for Australian Cricket and reflects our sport’s popularity and strength nationwide. The Boxing Day Test is bigger than cricket. It is one of the nation's great events and those who were at the MCG yesterday will cherish the experience forever," Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer, said.

"Similarly, attending Big Bash games is a summer ritual for many Australian families and the buzz around the competition is as loud as it’s ever been. We’re seeing incredible performances, record run chases and a continued a trend of nail-biting finishes every night. The unmissable on-field action has driven record crowds to every Test match, with all formats experiencing attendance and audience growth this summer. We thank all those who watched or attended a match on an incredible day for cricket and look forward to seeing packed venues around the country for the remainder of the summer," he added.