80,000 IN FOR MCG TEST

THE Boxing Day Test against England could have a crowd of more 80,000, a senior official said Sunday as Melbourne emerged from lockdown.

Spectator numbers allowed into the MCG for the third Ashes Test has long been up in the air.

But with the city reopening on Friday, Victoria Premier Dan Andrews was hopeful it would be jam-packed.

“I want to see 80,000-plus people at the Boxing Day Test on day one, that’s what I want to see,” Andrews said.

“We are determined to deliver that. It won’t be easy. I think selling the tickets will be pretty easy. But we are very confident that we will be able to deliver that.”

The comments will encourage Australian Open organisers, with the first tennis grand slam of 2022 due to start on January 17 at Melbourne Park.