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ictorian health authorities have approved up to 30,000 spectators per day for Australia’s Boxing Day Test cricket match against India at the MCG.

The maximum capacity originally set was 25,000 fans, a quarter of the MCG’s total capacity, after Victoria recently reduced its COVID-19 restrictions after an extended period of lockdowns due to a second wave of infections.

Victorian Sports Minister, Martin Pakula, announced the increase in spectators on Twitter, saying the decision was approved by Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton.

“Melbourne is the home of Australia’s biggest and most-loved sporting events and it’s fantastic that we will be able to welcome 30,000 fans to the MCG on each day of the Boxing Day Test,” Pakula said.

“It’s testament to the hard work of all Victorians in fighting the virus that Cricket Australia and the MCC have been able to put together a plan that allows for more supporters than had been originally planned,” he said.

The test match against India will mark the first cricket match the MCG has hosted since the successful Women’s T20 World Cup final in March, which had 86,000 fans in attendance.

Following the announcement, Cricket Australia has warned fans not to purchase tickets from third-party scalping sites for the event due to contact tracing measures.

As the Boxing Day Test is a declared event under the Major Events Act, the resale or advertisement for resale of tickets more than 10% above the face value of the ticket can result in penalties ranging from $826 for individuals, to $495,660 for corporations, depending on the offences.

Cricket Australia confirmed making up the 30,000 will be 6,900 MCC members each day, with the remainder of the allocations going to the general public, and AFL members.

Cricket Australia interim CEO, Nick Hockley, said fans will be required to provide their name and phone number before being allocated specific seats under the COVID-safe protocols.

“We can’t wait to see 30,000 fans each day at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test,” Hockley said.

“It will be the first time fans have been able to attend a sporting event at the MCG since the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final, and we’re so excited to be able to welcome so many fans in what’s been such a challenging year for Victorians.

“We’re very grateful to the Victorian government and the MCC who have put in a lot of hard work to ensure we can host fans in a safe manner,” he said.