The Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground witnessed the crowd paying tribute to late Shane Warne. The crowd stood up to applaud one of the best cricketers of all-time and tipped their hats, a gesture to display Warne’s iconic style. Shane Warne’s Kids Jackson and Brooke led the event, adding a deeply personal touch. The moment happened at exactly 3:50 PM local time
The reason behind MCG crowd tipping hats at 3:50 PM
Shane Warne was Australia’s 350th Test player when he made his debut and as a result of this, the MCG crowd gives him a fitting tribute at 3:50 PM. Apart from this, the MCG arranged for a special video of Shane Warne, highlighting his illustrious career and all of his marvellous achievements. The tradition began during the Boxing-Day Test match in 2022 after Shane Warne’s death. Since then it has continued on every 26th of December.
Warne has enjoyed many fine moments at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a stadium at which he took 56 Test wickets including three five-fers and a memorable hat-trick in the Ashes in 1994. It is also the venue where he took his 700th Test wicket, bowling Andrew Strauss through the gate to make the MCG erupt.
Australia dominate India on Day 1
Australia finished day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG with their noses in front. Steve Smith looked solid with an unbeaten 68 as the hosts finished with 311/6 in Melbourne, hoping to add more to the total on day two. Debutant Sam Konstas stole the show with his batting at the top as all of the top four registered half-centuries. However, a few quick wickets for India, including Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Travis Head for a duck, has left the match closer in the balance as stumps approach on day one.
