Aussies lose their minds over the MCG's 'woke' Christmas message: 'You're just saying that to provoke people'

The MCG's humorous Christmas Day message has left some cricket fans outraged after they failed to see the funny side of the famous ground's jokey way of marking December 25.

On Wednesday, the MCG's official account on X posted 'Happy Boxing Day Eve to all who celebrate' in what most commenters correctly saw as a gag referring to arguably the most anticipated day on the Australian cricketing calendar, the start of the Boxing Day Test.

However, some people took offence and branded the message 'woke' because it didn't use the term 'Merry Christmas'.

'Why would you say that other than to provoke people? Nobody says Happy New Years Eve, or Happy Birthday Eve, or Happy Easter Eve. You woketards do nothing other than continuously prove beyond doubt what truly horrible people you are,' wrote Omaha_Segmenter.

That drew a stinging reply from the MCG account, which responded with: 'Are you familiar with the sport of cricket, Omaha?'

Another commenter wrote, 'What is it with people in Melbourne not being able to say "Merry Christmas"?'

The MCG's humorous Christmas Day message went over a treat with many cricket fans - but some were left outraged after mistakenly thinking it was political correctness gone mad

One commenter who slammed the famous ground for not using the word 'Christmas' in the message copped a hilarious comeback from the MCG's account on X (pictured)

The Boxing Day Test is a national sporting treasure - and the crowd record could be broken on day one of this year's hotly anticipated clash with India (pictured, the MCG during the Boxing Day Test in 2017)

The stadium's account hit back with, 'We're a cricket ground. We'll let you figure the rest out.'

Dozens of Aussies blasted the anti-woke commenters for failing to get the joke and having a 'whinge' about what they incorrectly saw as another instance of political correctness gone mad.

'The amount of people getting bent out of shape over this is a bit ridiculous. This joke gets rolled out every year by cricket fans. Nothing meant by it, classic dad joke, harmless fun. If this type of stuff offends you, I think it’s best you move on from social media,' one wrote.

'I’ve never watched cricket in my life and I still got this, deeply embarrassing stuff in these replies,' added another.

'People will whinge about anything these days. Tomorrow is Boxing Day last time I checked,' a third commented.

Other replies in the same vein included: 'Deliberately targeting the less able to think among us with a clever, topical post at this time of the year? Chef’s kiss'; 'The people in the comments getting riled up are the EXACT same people that call people snowflakes for getting upset at other things'; 'Geezus. There’s some very simple people in the replies to this. I loathe cricket and even I know what it’s about. Morons; and, 'Oh my god the amount of people, especially Australians, who do not understand this actually baffles me like COME OOOOONNN GUYS.'

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins is pictured running on the Melbourne Cricket Ground with his son Alfie on Christmas Day

Tests have begun on Boxing Day at the MCG since 1974, with the post-Christmas match formally enshrined by the Australian Cricket Board in 1980.

The match has become a national institution and this year's clash between India and Australia is one of the most hotly anticipated Boxing Day clashes ever.

The series is tied at one win apiece after the visitors destroyed the home side in the first Test in Perth, only to fall to a heavy defeat in the second Test at Adelaide Oval.

There's a good chance the Boxing Day crowd record of 91,112 - which was set in 2013 - could be broken on Thursday, despite the forecast of extremely hot weather in Melbourne, with the temperature predicted to reach 40 degrees.

Cricket Australia chief of cricket James Allsopp said his organisation would ensure appropriate messaging is used for those attending.

'The big thing is just making sure we encourage everyone to take proper precautions,' he said, advising fans going to the MCG to bring hats, sunscreen and stay hydrated.

'For the players, they'll probably be additional drinks breaks if it's going to be the temperatures they're expecting.'

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