Can India conjure magic at MCG?

Four of their 10 wins in Australia have come in Melbourne, but the India batters will be tested in the Boxing Day Test

- By Vivek Kohli

MELBOURNE: The Melbourne Cricket Ground is steeped in history. The city was founded in 1835 and by 1846, members of the Melbourne Cricket Club began using a site on the south side of the Yarra River, opposite King Street, on October 3. This became the first Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In 1877, teams representing Australia and England played what is regarded as the first Test match (March 15-19). During the match, Charles Bannerman scored the first century in Test cricket. In 1879, Fred Spofforth took the first Test hat-trick on the opening day of the only Test that summer (v England, January 2-4). Spofforth took 13 wickets for the match, becoming the first player to take 10 wickets in a Test.

In 1881, a scoreboard, reputed to be the first of its type in the world, was erected. It showed the batsman's name and how he was dismissed. In 1895, the fifth Test between Australia and England from March 1-6 drew a total match attendance of 103,636 over the five days. It was the first time in Australia that a cricket match attracted over 100,000 spectators. So many firsts. This is what history feels like.

It started with that, but the MCG has hosted everything from the Olympics in 1956, athletics, bowling, baseball, bicycling and Australian Rules Football. And as you walk towards the stadium, you first see the concourse which pays tribute to some of Australia's greatest athletes to grace the stadium – from sprinter Betty Cuthbert and Don Bradman to Shane Warne. And all this is just on the outside.