It is a "relief for administrators" that Australians appear to "love the blood of an English team," according to Peter Lalor of THE AUSTRALIAN. For the third time in four series, "the Ashes contest is done before the two biggest Tests." The scoreline renders the matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground a "glorified victory parade" for Aussie captain Steve Smith’s side, but administrators are "hoping there will be a record crowd on Boxing Day." Ticket sales for the Ashes "were strong before the contest began." Boxing Day sold out quickly and so did the first four days in Sydney, "which has only half the capacity." Cricket Australia is "hoping to edge past" the MCG record crowd of 93,103 for the World Cup final in '15. The previous record of 90,800 was set on day two of the '60-61 game against the West Indies. Crowd size is "dictated by how many members turn up, but projections suggest that a crowd of 91-93,000 is possible." All general public tickets have been sold. Sydney was the "second fastest selling match" in the series even though it is the last. Tickets for the first three days sold out quickly and reports on Wednesday indicated only 500 public seats are available for day four (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/22).
SAFETY CHECK: In London, Scyld Berry reported Victorian police said that the public "can be confident about security" for the fourth test between Australia and England starting on Boxing Day. But there is "a limit to what more can be done" around the MCG to stop cars from running over pedestrians, as a 32-year-old Afghan driver did at Flinders Street in the city center, injuring at least 14 people. Jolimont Street is the only public road that comes within 100m of the MCG. Between the street and the ground are "bollards and barricades which formed part of a perimeter fence police erected for last year’s Test against Pakistan." The main increase in security will be more "intensive bag-checks," and extra delays, for the crowd which is expected to number between 80,000 and 90,000 (TELEGRAPH, 12/21).
