WORLD Cup chief executive John Harnden is cautiously optimistic the MCG will break cricket’s attendance record of 91 112 in tomorrow’s final between Australia and New Zealand. Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive Stephen Gough is more bullish.

“I expect the interest in the tournament has been so good that we should break the record,” Gough said.
The record crowd for a one-day international match was set in 1992 at the World Cup final at the MCG when 87 182 attended.
The 91 112 record for a single-day attendance dates back to day one of the Boxing Day Ashes Test in 2013 at the MCG.
“Tickets have all sold out,” Harnden said.
“The capacity of the MCG is a bit over 90 000. The reason for the reduction in capacity in cricket mode is around the seats that aren’t available for the sightscreens. There are a few sponsor activations and we also reduce the amount of standing room that you might see at a football game which is of a much shorter duration.
“Certainly the potential’s there (for a crowd of 92 000) and we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out.”
Harnden said tickets for the final went on sale in November 2013. He added he doesn’t expect India fans who have pre-purchased tickets for the final to attempt to sell them following their side’s loss to Australia in Thursday’s semi-final at the SCG.
“There have literally been a few hundred tickets being transacted over the re-sale site because the vast majority of people want to be there to see the World Cup final,” Harnden said.
“I’ve got no doubt it’s going to be a packed house and hopefully we’ll see a few records broken.”
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the 2015 event, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, had been 10 years in the making.
“We dared to dream or even contemplate the fact the two host countries might play in the World Cup final together,” Sutherland said.
“We know our players will be up for the occasion.”
Harnden urged fans to arrive early and to use public transport tomorrow.
The gates will open at 12.30hrs, two hours before play. (Herald Sun)