Your guide to the Boxing Day Test

Despite the Commonwealth Bank Ashes series being over as a contest, the MCG is likely to host a world record attendance on day one with all public tickets sold out. However, tickets remain available on other days here.

The highest attendance for day one of an MCG Test was during the famous 2006/07 Ashes whitewash. Who could possibly forget that day?

The all-time record for a daily crowd at the cricket is 90,800, in the match between Australian and West Indies at the 'G in 1961.

England captain Alastair Cook believes the Boxing Day Test is the perfect stage for his side to turn things around, while Australia coach Darren Lehmann says he wants the packed house to see “a team that is full of confidence”.

Both teams will wait until the toss to name their final teams, but England will make at least one change after the sudden retirement of Graeme Swann. England have added two spinners to their squad, but Monty Panesar appears the man most likely to come into the side.

Stuart Broad bowled freely in the England nets in the lead up to the Test and looks likely to take his place in the bowling attack that he has spearheaded in this series.

Jonny Bairstow took the gloves for a majority of the drills at England’s Christmas Day training session and appears set to take the place of Matt Prior.

James Faulkner has recovered from his broken thumb, while Ryan Harris continues to push through his battles with a chronic right knee problem. Michael Clarke says the 12-man squad seem fit and available, with a final decision to be made after an assessment of the conditions on Thursday morning.

Australian Test bowling coach Craig McDermott and former England captain Michael Vaughan both made note of the green MCG wicket in their exclusive pitch report for cricket.com.au, but it seems unlikely to sway either side into electing to bowl first.

Predicting Melbourne’s weather is difficult at the best of times, but the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Boxing Day is a maximum of 29 degrees with a “cool change and a shower or two”. The good news is that any rain should clear by the late morning.

Boxing Day Test Coverage

Channel Nine’s coverage of the fourth Commonwealth Bank Ashes Test will begin at 9:30am AEDT, with the first ball set for 10:30am. Fans can listen to all the action on ABC Grandstand, the Fairfax Radio Network or online via our audio streaming page.

Get free match coverage via live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, radio, video highlights and the latest news on-the-go with Cricket Australia Live: The Official App. Don’t miss a ball and subscribe to watch live via your mobile, tablet or desktop.

Session times (in Melbourne time): Morning session: 10.30am – 12.30pm. Lunch 12.30pm – 1.10pm. Afternoon session: 1.10pm – 3.10pm. Tea: 3.10pm – 3.30pm. Evening session: 3.30pm – 5.30pm.

Follow our Twitter account for the all the latest updates from the MCG. Stay right here on cricket.com.au for all your video highlights, news and end-of-play wrap-up.

We'll be bringing you replays of every wicket, highlights of all the batting milestones, plus extended highlights of every session, as well as a wrap-up at the end of each day's play. We'll also be live streaming the morning net sessions and press conferences from each team after play, and senior writer Andrew Ramsey will analyse the events of the day.