The Boxing Day Test match will go ahead at the MCG and in better news for cricket fans, around 25,000 spectators will be able to attend each day.

Just hours after Cricket Australia announced the Australian Test summer schedule – which saw Perth’s Optus Stadium dumped from the line up, Victorian Minister for Sport Martin Pakula confirmed the MCG could be a quarter full.

“The Victorian Government, MCC and Cricket Australia will develop a rigorous COVID-Safe plan based on the most up-to-date public health advice to enable a limited number of fans to safely attend the Test this year,” he said.

“Crowd numbers will be confirmed closer to the match but will be capped at around 25,000 spectators – a quarter of the MCG’s capacity.

“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is one of the most fiercely contested in cricket and world number-one Australia will be seeking to take it back from the visitors this summer.

“India won the last Boxing Day Test played between the two sides, in 2018 when victory confirmed it would retain the trophy.”

The Test match will be the first event held in front of fans at the MCG since Australia defeated India in the Women’s T20 World Cup final in March.

Exactly how the 25,000 tickets are allocated for the Boxing Day Test remains up in the air.

“It’s too early to say what the breakdown will be between MCC members and the paying public,” Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings said on SEN.

“We obviously want to look after our members but at the same time we want to get the balance right for what is the world heavyweight championship of test cricket.”

Mr Pakula said there were plenty of exciting cricket contests to come at the MCG – with the Boxing Day Test match locked in to the venue until at least 2022.

“Australia is scheduled to play home series against England in 2021 and South Africa in 2022, ensuring a mouth-watering menu of international cricket for Melbourne and Victoria,” he said.