This year’s iconic Boxing Day Test will feature action both inside and outside the MCG, with the Summer Festival to take place in Yarra Park.
On Wednesday, Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos joined Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley, Melbourne Renegades WBBL champion Nicole Faltum and Victoria player Todd Murphy at the MCG to announce the three-day festival.
Coinciding with the first three days of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India, the Summer Festival will have a strong Indian theme, with live music, Bollywood dance performances, celebrity chef demonstrations, food trucks and pitches for pop-up cricket games.
Each morning before the start of play, experts will provide a preview of the day’s play and big screens will show all the action from inside the ground.
As an added bonus after stumps on day three, fans will also have the opportunity to walk across to John Cain Arena to see the first ever professional Kabaddi matches played in Australia.
The second biggest sport in India behind cricket, Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid will feature a double header with Indian and Australian sporting superstars.
Mr Dimopoulos said this year’s Boxing Day Test would be a celebration of Victoria’s strong ties with India.
“It’ll be a huge boost to our local economy, filling our hotels, bars and restaurants as some of the world’s most passionate cricket fans come to Melbourne to pack the MCG,” Mr Dimopoulos said.
Test cricket will return to the MCG early next year, when the day-night Women’s Ashes Test between Australia and England takes place from January 30 to February 2.
It will be both the first women’s test match and first day-night test match to be played at the MCG.
