Fourth Orange Test highlighted by sell-out crowd

Melbourne's cricket fans have turned out in their tens of thousands for the first day of the Fourth Orange Test between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), with the Boxing Day spectacle declared a sell-out.

More than 40,000 public tickets were sold for the Ashes blockbuster, prompting the game's hosts, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) to approve a rare live Channel Nine telecast of the match into Melbourne.

ACB Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the sell-out crowd continued the common trend of strong attendances to international fixtures throughout the 2002-03 season.

"We have witnessed a fantastic atmosphere in the ground today, given the fine weather, exciting cricket and an outstanding attendance," Mr Sutherland said.

"With a good weather forecast predicted for the next few days, we encourage patrons to help create a repeat of this atmosphere throughout the remainder of the Test.

"The overall crowds this season are clear indicators of the health of the game in this country and the sheer enjoyment Australians receive from international cricket, in particular an Ashes series," he said.

Despite the sell-out, the official attendance of 64,189 was not a capacity crowd. Capacity at the MCG is reached when the MCC and Australian Football League members' reserves are full.

"All remaining public seating for today's play was purchased within the first 30 minutes of the match, including more than 8000 walk-up sales," added Mr Sutherland.

"As such, the decision was made between Cricket Victoria, the MCC and the ACB to approve Channel Nine's Boxing Day coverage live into Melbourne and that occurred from 1200," he said.

The Test will not be televised live into Melbourne for the remainder of the match, unless another sell-out occurs, except for the final two hours of each day's play.

Tickets for the remainder of the Fourth Orange Test can be bought through Ticketmaster7 on 1300 13 61 22 or at www.ticketmaster7.com.au.