Cricket attendance at 'dead rubber' MCG Test sets world record on opening day

Melbourne, Dec 26 (ANI): The 'dead rubber' fourth Ashes Test has reportedly come to life at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with a world record cricket crowd turning up for the opening day on Thursday and still increasing. The previous record attendance of 90,800, which was also set at the MCG, on February 11, 1961, for the second day of the fifth Test against West Indies during the classic 1960-61 series, was beaten midway through the final session of day one. According to the official Cricket Australia (CA) website, the West Indies' visit to the MCG for the 1975-76 tour produced the fourth-highest crowd for a cricket match, but all other places in the top 10 at the ground on the highest attendance table have featured England In 2006, with Australia 3-0 up in the Ashes , 89,155 fans came in at the MCG to watch Australia march on towards a series whitewash and witness Shane Warne taking his 700th Test wicket, while the 1936-37 Ashes series drew three of the biggest crowds seen for a cricket match at the MCG. (ANI)