Another huge crowd attend Big Bash derby

A general view is seen during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photo / Getty

Melbourne's Big Bash derby crowd wasn't quite record-breaking but Renegades spinner Brad Hogg reckons it was still pretty special.

A bumper crowd of 71,162 attended the MCG on Sunday as Hogg's three wickets helped the Renegades claim a seven-run victory over the Stars.

Officials had hoped for an even better crowd number than last season's New Year's Day fixture, when 80,883 fans turned out at the MCG.

It's likely the persistent rain that plagued Sunday's clash and led to the Stars facing a revised 18 overs had some impact on attendance.

But as far as Hogg was concerned, the atmosphere was up there with the best he had experienced.

"It was an awesome feeling," the 45-year-old said.

"I was fortunate enough to play in a Boxing Day Test match on day one (against India in 2007). That was a special feeling as well but it just gets better.

"When the fans are loving it and enjoying the contest out in the middle and players are putting on a good show, it's just a win-win for everyone."

Last year's BBL derby had one of the highest attendances of any sporting event at the MCG in recent years.

Only one home-and-away AFL game at the MCG had an attendance better than 80,000 in 2016, with 85,082 turning out for the Anzac Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon.

The huge New Year's Day crowd again shows the growing lure of the BBL compared to Test cricket.

More than 63,000 people turned up at the MCG for day one of the Boxing Day Test but the numbers were well down through the remainder of the rain-interrupted match.

Just 6189 fans were on hand to witness Australia's remarkable victory over Pakistan on day five, taking the total match attendance to 142,188.BBL crowds continue to grow, with Adelaide Oval in particular attracting consistently big numbers.

Friday's clash between the Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes set a new attendance record for a BBL match at the Gabba of 34,601 and was the first at the venue to sell out prior to matchday.

BIG BASH LEAGUE ATTENDANCE RECORDS
*80,883 - Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades, MCG, New Year's Day 2016
*71,162 - Melbourne Stars v Melbourne Renegades, MCG, New Year's Day 2017
*52,633 - Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers semi-final, Adelaide Oval, Jan 2015
*49,115 - Adelaide Strikers v Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Oval, Jan 2016
*48,699 - Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Thunder semi-final, Adelaide Oval, Jan 2016