THE Indian team looks all set to embark on much-awaited tour of Australia after the successful conclusion of IPL 2020 in UAE. The squad, along with the support staff, will board a flight from Dubai to Sydney. Adding much buzz to the tour, Melbourne is set to ‘allow crowd’ at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the Boxing Day Test between the two heavyweights.

India will lock horns with the hosts for three ODIs and as many T20Is along with four Tests from November to January. Cricket Australia (CA) is yet to officially announce the schedule. In the same context, Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews stated that MCG is set to allow the spectators, but it is not sure how big will it be.

In the wake of coronavirus, Melbourne was under lockdown and lifted it recently under stringent protocols.
Though no new case or death has been reported thereafter, it remains a thing to watch how many people are allowed in the stadium. The beautiful city of Australia is also looking forward to allowing the crowd for the Melbourne Cup horse race, which is coming up next week.

“The Boxing Day Test of course, is very different (to the Melbourne Cup) because that is some way off. I am very confident that we will get a crowd at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test. I don’t know how big it will be, but there will be a crowd, that’s the advice that I have, that’s what we’re working towards,” said Daniel Andrews as quoted by India Today.

When Virat Kohli and the company roared up against Australia the last time in the Boxing Day Test in 2018, more than 73,000 fans gathered to witness the splendid action. With COVID-19 shaking the world in all terms, cricketing activities have been taking place only behind the closed doors.

Even the ongoing IPL season is taking place in empty stadiums. Cricket Australia has reserved Adelaide as a backup option to host the Boxing day Test between the cricketing giants. (CricTracker)