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Stuart Fox, the Chief of Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), recently addressed the intriguing possibility of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) hosting two Test matches in a single season. He emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with Cricket Australia, the governing body for the sport in the country.
There have been murmurs in the Australian media about MCG potentially hosting the traditional Boxing Day Test against New Zealand on December 26, 2026, followed by a special match against England in March 2027 to commemorate the 150th year of Test cricket.
Fox shared insights on this during an interview on SEN Breakfast, stating, “It’s really a question for Cricket Australia. We’ve had discussions; it’s certainly not locked in. We’ve certainly expressed strong interest that we would love to host that game.”
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Expressing enthusiasm for the prospect of two significant Test matches, he added, “It would be just fantastic to have two massive Test matches. We’re in it if Cricket Australia can pull it off, but it’s never easy. The cricketing calendar would be a nightmare. Fingers crossed. The agenda moving forward is India into England into New Zealand and a possible special Test in 2027.”
Looking ahead to this year’s Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, set to commence on December 26, Fox anticipates a robust turnout, especially in the initial two days.
“The tradition and history of the ‘G and Test cricket – I think we’ve had 155 Test matches since 1877. There’s so much history so fans tend to turn up. I’d certainly be hoping for some big numbers. Day 1 you’d want to push over 70,000 and Day 2 (over) 60,000,” he remarked.
Fox remains optimistic about strong attendance for Pakistan’s match, asserting, “I still think we can have really strong numbers for Pakistan. The agenda ahead of Pakistan for the next three or four years is just outstanding, so there’s going to be huge patronage for years to come.”
-IANS
