In the heart of the festive cricket calendar, the iconic Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is under the spotlight as discussions emerge regarding a potential shift in the historic start time for Day 1. The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is entertaining the idea of commencing play at 12:00 pm (local time), a move aimed at accommodating late-arriving fans and maximizing the live audience experience from the very first ball.
The proposal gains traction from compelling statistics indicating a significant surge in crowd numbers at lunch on Day 1 compared to the start of play. Christmas festivities the day before seem to contribute to the delayed arrivals of fans, prompting the consideration of a later start time to ensure a more substantial attendance.
Gerard Whateley, a prominent voice in cricket commentary, raised the prospect of shifting the first ball on Boxing Day to 12:00 pm. The data indeed supports the notion, revealing a remarkable jump in crowd figures from 32,000 to 62,000 between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test.
While acknowledging the cherished tradition of the customary 10:30 am start, Stuart Fox, CEO of the Melbourne Cricket Club, concedes that the data presents a compelling case for discussion. In an interview with SEN radio, Fox expressed openness to exploring the possibility, recognizing the potential for a significantly larger audience if play were to commence around midday.
“I think you’re using the data to run a good case here, and it’s hard to run against,” Fox remarked, adding, “I love the traditional timeslot, and I love the fact that it hasn’t changed, but I think we’ve got to be up for the discussion, and I think that data suggests that if you did start around midday, you’re going to have a lot more people inside the stadium watching the game. I think that’d be really special.”
CA to decide on Boxing Day Test timing
However, the ultimate decision rests with Cricket Australia (CA), and its chief executive, Nick Hockley, has publicly indicated a reluctance to consider a change in the start time anytime soon. Hockley staunchly supports the conventional 10:30 am start to Boxing Day Test emphasizing the significance of upholding established traditions.
In response to arguments surrounding tradition, Gerard Whateley points out that the 10:30 am start is not a long-standing tradition, having been moved from 11:00 am during the television era to avoid interruptions to news broadcasts. Whateley asserts that flexibility in start times exists, emphasizing that convention, not tradition, should guide decision-making.
As the spirited debate unfolds, the future of the Boxing Day Test start time remains uncertain. On Day 4 of the ongoing Test match, the MCG has already seen 146,842 fans, with just 3,598 in attendance at the beginning of Friday’s play, underscoring the potential for a broader fan base if discussions lead to a historic change in the start time.
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