How the early Boxing Day Test finish spread far beyond the MCG
The economic and social impact of the Boxing Day Test reaches far past the pitch and the repercussions of the two-day finish rippled all across Melbourne.
MCG staff and England supporters have been left "gutted" after the Boxing Day Test finished within two days.
With 36 wickets falling in six sessions of test cricket, all eyes were on the MCG pitch, but off the field the impact of a two-day Test has been far-reaching.
England's Barmy Army general managing director Chris Millard said a short Test wasn't "ideal" for anyone given the expense and time to travel to Australia.
"It's not an ideal situation for the ground, the fans that travel over just for day three, ourselves, who have lost thousands upon thousands and in merchandise," Millard said.
"It's disappointing because we build forecasts based on four-day Test matches and we've had two two-day Test matches now, so it has been a significant financial impact on the Barmy Army with not being able to retail from our merchandise vendors at Federation Square.
Barmy Army has been financially impacted after early finishes at both Perth and Melbourne. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
"But, ultimately, it's the game of Test cricket over a five-day period and anything can happen, that's what makes the game so special and so unique.
"You can have a Test that goes five days, and you get a draw, [or] you can have a game that finishes in two days. It's a bit of a roller coaster.
"I think Test cricket fans always know that they're in for an unstructured ride."
England fans spoke to the ABC outside the MCG on what was meant to be day three of the Boxing Day Test, many disappointed with the early finish.
"We arrived at 11:00 [Saturday] night, so we got off the plane looked at the score and realised we wouldn't be watching any cricket when we got over here," one fan said.
"We're gutted really, it's a bit of a bucket list thing the MCG Boxing Day Test."
Another support flew in just for day three.
"This was my one day to get to watch some Ashes cricket and to check it off the bucket list, but [I'm] not going to be able to [that now]," he said.
The Boxing Day Test at the MCG is on many supporters' bucket lists. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca)
While another was left "devastated".
"We saw the Perth Test finishing in two days, and I was joking with my friends saying I'll be spending a lot of time around Melbourne Zoo if it's going to be like this because we've got day three and four," he said.