Boxing Day Test
The Boxing Day Test is an annual first-class Test cricket match played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Australia, traditionally commencing on December 26, known as Boxing Day, and typically spanning five days until December 30.[1][2] It features the Australian national team against a touring international side, often as part of major series like the Ashes against England or bilateral contests with teams such as India and South Africa.[1] Although cricket matches have been held at the MCG during the summer period since the late 19th century, including a Sheffield Shield domestic fixture between Victoria and New South Wales in 1892 that coincided with the Christmas season, the Boxing Day Test as an international event originated in 1950 with a match against England that began on December 22 but included play on Boxing Day.[3][2] Subsequent Boxing Day Tests occurred sporadically in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, such as in 1952 against South Africa, 1968 and 1975 against West Indies, and 1974 against England, with the latter drawing a record crowd of 85,596 spectators and highlighting the event's growing appeal.[3] The tradition solidified in 1980 when it became an annual fixture, driven by television broadcast rights secured by Kerry Packer's Channel Nine in 1979, and has been held every year since except in 1989, when it was replaced by a One Day International against Sri Lanka.[1][3] This match holds immense cultural and sporting significance in Australia, serving as a cornerstone of the nation's summer cricket calendar and embodying the festive spirit of Boxing Day with its blend of tradition and high-stakes competition.[1] It attracts massive crowds, with daily attendance often reaching 80,000 to 90,000 fans at the MCG's capacity of around 100,000, creating an electric atmosphere fueled by passionate supporters, potential for dramatic plays like boundary sixes, and the summer weather.[2] Beyond Australia, similar Boxing Day Tests occur in other Southern Hemisphere nations like South Africa, such as the 2023 edition at Centurion between India and South Africa, underscoring the format's role in global cricket during the December-January window when conditions are favorable.[1] The event not only boosts Melbourne's economy and tourism but also reinforces cricket's status as a unifying national pastime, with recent editions featuring high-profile rivalries like Australia versus India in 2024.[2]Overview
Definition and Significance
The Boxing Day Test is an annual Test cricket match that begins on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), serving as the traditional opening or second fixture in Australia's home summer series against a touring international team.[1] This event aligns with the five-day format of Test cricket, typically drawing large crowds over the holiday period and featuring high-stakes competition between Australia and prominent opponents such as England, India, or South Africa.[4] The term "Boxing Day" originates from British traditions observed in Australia, where December 26 is a public holiday commemorating the historical practice of wealthy households distributing boxed gifts or alms to servants and the needy the day after Christmas. In the Australian context, this date has evolved into a national celebration that intertwines cricket with festive customs, symbolizing the onset of the summer cricket season and fostering a sense of communal holiday spirit.[1] Culturally, the Boxing Day Test holds profound significance in Australia as a marquee sporting event that blends tradition with national identity, consistently attracting over 80,000 spectators per day and peaking at a single-day record of 91,112 during the 2013 Ashes match against England.[5] It represents a pivotal moment in the domestic calendar, where families and fans converge at the MCG to partake in the holiday atmosphere amid barbecues, fireworks, and post-Christmas festivities.[6] The 2024 match against India set a new record for total Test match attendance in Australia with 373,691 spectators over five days.[4] Globally, the match stands as one of the most viewed Test cricket encounters, amplifying the sport's reach through extensive television broadcasts and underscoring Australia's central role in sustaining Test cricket's prestige during the festive season.Origins in Australian Cricket
The tradition of playing cricket on Boxing Day in Australia dates back to 1865, when an inter-colonial match between Victoria and New South Wales commenced at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) over the Christmas period, providing entertainment during the public holiday.[7] This fixture filled a post-Christmas void in Melbourne's burgeoning sporting calendar, reflecting the city's early passion for organized sports rooted in British colonial influences, where Boxing Day—originally a British holiday for giving gifts to servants and the poor—evolved into a day of communal leisure activities like cricket.[8][9] By the late 19th century, these inter-colonial encounters had formalized into the Sheffield Shield competition, which began in the 1892–93 season among New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.[10] The first documented Boxing Day match under this format occurred from December 24 to 29, 1892, pitting Victoria against New South Wales at the MCG, drawing crowds of around 48,000 over five days and solidifying the holiday timing for domestic first-class cricket.[3][11] This annual tradition, barring exceptions, continued for over a century, emphasizing Melbourne's role as Australia's sporting capital and cricket's integration into colonial holiday observances.[7][8] Into the early 20th century, the Boxing Day domestic fixtures persisted amid growing international cricket tours to Australia, with occasional Tests scheduled around the Christmas period but not annually starting on December 26.[3] For instance, the first international match aligning closely with Boxing Day at the MCG occurred in 1950 against England, beginning on December 22, marking a gradual shift from purely domestic rivalries to include global competition during the festive season.[3] This evolution laid the groundwork for the first Boxing Day Test starting on December 26 in 1968, with the fixture becoming annual from 1980 onward (except 1989).[3]Venue and Organization
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), established in 1853 by the Melbourne Cricket Club—founded in 1838 and granted the land after relocating due to the construction of Australia's first steam train route—has long served as a central hub for cricket in Australia.[12] The venue hosted the inaugural Test match in 1877 between Australia and England, solidifying its status as an iconic cricket arena that has drawn global attention through major international fixtures.[13] Over the decades, the MCG underwent significant expansions to accommodate growing crowds, with developments in the 1980s and 1990s introducing individual seating across the ground, reducing its capacity from approximately 125,000 to 100,024 following the 2006 redevelopment.[13] Tailored for Test cricket, the MCG features drop-in pitches introduced to enhance wicket quality and adapt to the venue's dual use for summer cricket and winter Australian rules football, allowing pitches to be prepared off-site in controlled conditions and installed seasonally.[14] These portable wickets, grown on specialized trays, are optimized for the dry, hard summer surfaces typical of Melbourne's climate, providing consistent bounce and pace for international matches.[15] The stadium's seating exceeds 90,000, with the three-tiered Great Southern Stand—completed in 1992—accommodating nearly 50,000 spectators along one boundary, offering covered views and modern amenities like replay screens and food services.[13] Floodlights, installed in 1985, enable extended play during variable summer weather.[13] The first Boxing Day Test to commence on December 26 was played at the MCG in 1968 against West Indies, and the venue has exclusively hosted all such matches since, with the event becoming an annual tradition from 1980 amid Melbourne's warm December conditions, where temperatures can exceed 40°C.[3] Adaptations for these summer elements include protective pitch covers to mitigate heat and dew, alongside the drop-in system that ensures wickets withstand prolonged exposure to sun and wind.[16] The ground's design facilitates large-scale operations, with efficient entry points and shaded areas helping manage spectator comfort during peak heat.[17] Historical incidents at the MCG tied to its Test hosting include recurring pitch controversies, such as the 2017 Ashes Boxing Day Test surface rated "poor" by the International Cricket Council for excessive flatness and low bounce, which drew criticism from players and officials for diminishing match competitiveness.[18] Earlier issues, like the 2019 Sheffield Shield match abandonment due to an unsafe, cracked pitch, highlighted ongoing challenges in preparing durable surfaces under summer stresses.[19] Crowd management has also tested the venue during high-attendance games, with the 2024 Boxing Day Test drawing a record 373,691 spectators over five days—surpassing the 1937 mark—requiring enhanced security, transport coordination, and heat mitigation protocols to handle surges exceeding 80,000 daily.[20] These efforts underscore the MCG's evolution into a resilient facility capable of sustaining major cricket events.[21]Scheduling and Format
The Boxing Day Test is traditionally scheduled to commence on December 26 each year, aligning with the Australian summer cricket season that spans November to January, and it follows the standard five-day format governed by International Cricket Council (ICC) playing conditions for Test matches.[22] This fixture often serves as the opening or pivotal match in a bilateral Test series hosted by Australia, with play typically starting at 10:30 a.m. local time and concluding by December 30, unless affected by weather or other disruptions.[23][24] Cricket Australia (CA) oversees the overall scheduling and organization of the event, collaborating with the ICC to integrate it into the international Future Tours Programme and ensure alignment with visiting teams' calendars.[25] The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Trust, which administers the venue, coordinates logistical aspects such as ground preparation and crowd management in partnership with CA.[26] This structure has secured the Boxing Day Test at the MCG through at least 2031 via agreements between CA and state governments.[27] Broadcasting of the Boxing Day Test has evolved significantly since its early days, beginning with radio coverage in Australia from the 1920s, including the first ball-by-ball commentary in 1925. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), established in 1932, has since provided ball-by-ball radio commentary for Test matches.[28] Television broadcasts commenced in 1956 on ABC, with color transmission introduced in 1975, before Channel Nine secured exclusive rights in 1977 and held them for four decades, revolutionizing coverage with innovations like multiple camera angles.[29][30] Since 2018, free-to-air rights in Australia have been with Channel Seven, complemented by pay-TV and streaming on Foxtel and Kayo Sports, enabling global reach through ICC media rights deals that include digital platforms.[31][22] In adapting to modern cricket landscapes, the Boxing Day Test remains a traditional day match, unlike day-night Tests trialed successfully at other Australian venues like Adelaide Oval since 2015 using pink balls for better visibility under lights. Scheduling integrates with the Big Bash League (BBL) by positioning T20 matches in evenings or post-Test days to maximize audience engagement without direct overlap during the five-day event.[32]Historical Development
Pre-1968 Era
The annual Boxing Day fixture between Victoria and New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield competition, a tradition rooted in 19th-century domestic cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, persisted through the 1950s and 1960s as a key holiday event. These matches, typically spanning late December, saw steadily increasing attendance and media coverage amid Australia's burgeoning post-war sporting culture. By the mid-1960s, four-day encounters attracted growing crowds, reflecting heightened public enthusiasm for the format during the festive season.[11] Early international exposure to Boxing Day cricket came sporadically, with one-off Test matches scheduled near the holiday but not fixed on December 26. For instance, during the 1950–51 Ashes series, the second Test at the MCG ran from December 22 to 27, featuring play on Boxing Day as the fourth day and drawing substantial holiday crowds to witness Australia's narrow victory by 28 runs. Similarly, the 1951–52 series against the West Indies included a Test at Adelaide Oval from December 22 to 25, ending just before Boxing Day and showcasing competitive international cricket during the Christmas period, though not at Melbourne. These irregular timings highlighted the potential for festive Test fixtures without establishing a consistent Boxing Day tradition at the MCG.[3][33] Several factors facilitated the transition toward formalizing Boxing Day as an international Test date, including the post-World War II boom in Australian cricket, marked by record attendances at major matches and the national team's dominance in series against England and other nations. The 1950s and early 1960s saw Australia's Test side, led by figures like Richie Benaud, secure victories in home series, boosting overall interest and infrastructure investments in venues like the MCG. Melbourne's cricket authorities actively bid for annual international fixtures to leverage the holiday's draw, capitalizing on the city's status as a cricketing hub and the growing commercial appeal of summer sport.[3] The 1967 Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales at the MCG, played from December 22 to 27, was a closely contested affair that Victoria won by 43 runs, drawing 19,168 spectators over the match.[34]Establishment and Growth (1968–Present)
The first Boxing Day Test starting on December 26 was held in 1968, when Australia hosted the West Indies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking a pivotal shift from occasional domestic matches to a prominent Test event. Australia secured a decisive victory by an innings and 30 runs, with Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell forging a 298-run partnership for the second wicket, drawing over 100,000 spectators across the match and underscoring the event's immediate appeal. This inaugural Test transformed the post-Christmas period into a cornerstone of the Australian cricket calendar, building on earlier domestic traditions but elevating the fixture to global status. Following 1968, Boxing Day Tests were held sporadically, including against England in 1974 (draw) and West Indies in 1975 (Australia won by 8 wickets), before becoming annual in 1980.[35][3][36] The event's growth accelerated in the late 1970s and 1980s, driven by lucrative television rights deals secured by Kerry Packer's Channel Nine in 1979, which maximized viewership and revenue by promoting the match as a marquee broadcast. In 1980, Cricket Australia formalized its commitment to an annual Boxing Day Test at the MCG, ensuring consistency and boosting its prestige as a highlight of the summer season. This period saw increased series scheduling against major rivals, including England during the Ashes and India in high-profile bilateral tours, which amplified attendance—often exceeding 80,000 on opening day—and global interest, solidifying the fixture's economic and cultural importance.[3][37] Expansion to diverse opponents further enhanced the Test's scope, welcoming teams beyond traditional foes; South Africa's return from apartheid isolation culminated in their first Boxing Day appearance in 1993, a rain-affected draw that symbolized cricket's reconciliation efforts and drew strong crowds. Pakistan's inaugural Boxing Day Test came in 2009, where Australia prevailed by 170 runs, introducing fresh rivalries and broadening the event's international footprint. These inclusions reflected cricket's evolving landscape, with the fixture adapting to host emerging powerhouses while maintaining its core appeal.[38][39] Recent developments have tested the event's resilience, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic; the 2020 match against India proceeded under strict health protocols with no full bio-secure bubble but limited crowds to 25,000 per day at the MCG, yet India stunned Australia with an eight-wicket win, highlighting the fixture's enduring competitiveness. In 2024, Australia reclaimed momentum against India, securing a 184-run victory to take a 2-1 series lead, with over 373,691 total attendees reaffirming the Test's status as Australia's premier cricketing spectacle despite global challenges.[40][41][20]Key Milestones
The underarm bowling incident during the 1981 one-day international between Australia and New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) marked a pivotal controversy in Australian cricket, where captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother Trevor to deliver the final ball underarm to prevent a tie, sparking widespread outrage over sportsmanship.[42] This event, occurring amid broader turmoil in Australian cricket including disputes over player payments and administration, damaged the nation's cricketing reputation and led to amendments in the Laws of Cricket to ban underarm deliveries in limited-overs formats, heightening scrutiny on fair play in all MCG matches, including the Boxing Day Test fixture.[43] The incident's legacy contributed to a tense atmosphere in high-stakes encounters at the venue, underscoring the fixture's role in embodying cricket's ethical challenges. In the 1990s, the Boxing Day Test underwent significant commercialization through infrastructure upgrades at the MCG, notably the opening of the Great Southern Stand in 1992, which introduced extensive corporate boxes and hospitality facilities as part of a major redevelopment funded by government and league agreements.[44] This expansion, including sponsorship integrations like the Mitsubishi Diamond Vision scoreboard, enhanced revenue streams from premium seating and corporate partnerships, transforming the event into a major economic driver for Australian cricket while attracting larger, more diverse audiences to the annual fixture.[44] The changes solidified the Boxing Day Test's status as a commercial spectacle, with events like the 1992 World Cup final at the newly revamped ground drawing record crowds of 87,182 and demonstrating the venue's growing appeal.[44] The 2013 Boxing Day Test against England during the Ashes series achieved a historic milestone with a world-record single-day attendance of 91,092 on the opening day, surpassing previous benchmarks and totaling 271,865 over five days, reflecting the fixture's peak popularity amid intense rivalry.[45] This turnout not only boosted gate revenues but also highlighted the event's cultural significance, as fans packed the MCG to witness Australia's dominant 8-wicket victory in retaining the Ashes.[46] A landmark step in Indigenous recognition came in 2020 with the introduction of the Johnny Mullagh Medal, awarded to the player of the match in the Boxing Day Test to honor Johnny Mullagh, the standout performer of the 1868 Aboriginal cricket team that toured England—the first Australian sporting side to do so internationally.[47] Announced by Cricket Australia in December 2019, the medal acknowledges the overlooked contributions of Indigenous cricketers and promotes reconciliation, with Marnus Labuschagne receiving the inaugural award for his performance against India.[48] This initiative elevated the fixture's social impact, aligning it with broader efforts to celebrate Australia's diverse cricketing heritage. In 2024, the Boxing Day Test faced pre-match concerns over potential attendance dips due to scheduling overlaps with Big Bash League (BBL) matches in other cities, raising questions about the T20 format's competition eroding the traditional Test's appeal amid shifting fan preferences.[49] Despite these worries, the fixture drew a robust Day 1 crowd of 87,242 against India—a record for Australia-India Tests—and a cumulative 373,691 over five days, breaking the all-time Australian Test attendance mark previously set in 1937.[4] This outcome underscored ongoing challenges to sustain the event's dominance in a multi-format era, even as combined Test and BBL viewership hit historic highs of 152,375 on opening day across venues.[50]Matches and Records
List of Matches
The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been contested 45 times from 1968 to 2024, featuring Australia against touring teams from various nations. England has been the most common opponent with 12 matches, followed by India (10), West Indies (7), South Africa (6), Pakistan (5), New Zealand (3), and Sri Lanka (2). No matches in this period were abandoned, though some draws were influenced by rain interruptions.[51] The following table lists all Boxing Day Tests in chronological order, including the year, opponent, result, captains (Australian and opposing where documented), and total crowd attendance.| Year | Opponent | Result | Australian Captain | Opposing Captain | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | West Indies | Australia won by an innings and 30 runs | W. Lawry | G. Sobers | 113,376 |
| 1974 | England | Drawn | I. Chappell | M. Denness | 250,750 |
| 1975 | West Indies | Australia won by 8 wickets | G. Chappell | C. Lloyd | 222,755 |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Drawn | G. Chappell | G. Hadlee | 82,745 |
| 1981 | West Indies | Australia won by 58 runs | K. Hughes | C. Lloyd | 134,081 |
| 1982 | England | England won by 3 runs | G. Chappell | B. Willis | 214,882 |
| 1983 | Pakistan | Drawn | K. Hughes | Kapil Dev | 111,611 |
| 1985 | India | Drawn | A. Border | Kapil Dev | 77,715 |
| 1986 | England | England won by an innings and 14 runs | A. Border | M. Gatting | 107,817 |
| 1987 | New Zealand | Drawn | A. Border | J. Wright | 127,184 |
| 1990 | England | Australia won by 9 wickets | A. Border | G. Gooch | 129,530 |
| 1991 | India | Australia won by 8 wickets | A. Border | M. Azharuddin | 89,369 |
| 1992 | West Indies | Australia won by 139 runs | A. Border | R. Richardson | 83,320 |
| 1993 | South Africa | Drawn | A. Border | K. Wessels | 48,565 |
| 1994 | England | Australia won by 295 runs | M. Taylor | M. Atherton | 144,492 |
| 1995 | Sri Lanka | Australia won by 10 wickets | M. Taylor | A. Ranatunga | 105,388 |
| 1996 | West Indies | West Indies won by 6 wickets | M. Taylor | C. Walsh | 131,671 |
| 1997 | South Africa | Drawn | M. Taylor | W. Cronje | 160,182 |
| 1998 | England | England won by 12 runs | M. Taylor | A. Stewart | 159,031 |
| 1999 | India | Australia won by 180 runs | S. Waugh | S. Tendulkar | 134,554 |
| 2000 | West Indies | Australia won by 352 runs | S. Waugh | J. Adams | 133,299 |
| 2001 | South Africa | Australia won by 9 wickets | S. Waugh | S. Pollock | 153,025 |
| 2002 | England | Australia won by 5 wickets | S. Waugh | N. Hussain | 177,658 |
| 2003 | India | Australia won by 9 wickets | S. Waugh | S. Ganguly | 179,662 |
| 2004 | Pakistan | Australia won by 9 wickets | R. Ponting | Y. Youhana | 129,079 |
| 2005 | South Africa | Australia won by 184 runs | R. Ponting | G. Smith | 192,337 |
| 2006 | England | Australia won by an innings and 99 runs | R. Ponting | A. Flintoff | 244,351 |
| 2007 | India | Australia won by 337 runs | R. Ponting | A. Kumble | 166,159 |
| 2008 | South Africa | South Africa won by 9 wickets | R. Ponting | G. Smith | 174,246 |
| 2009 | Pakistan | Australia won by 170 runs | R. Ponting | M. Yousuf | 156,267 |
| 2010 | England | England won by an innings and 157 runs | R. Ponting | A. Strauss | 240,116 |
| 2011 | India | Australia won by 122 runs | M. Clarke | M. S. Dhoni | 189,347 |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | Australia won by an innings and 201 runs | M. Clarke | M. Jayawardene | 137,455 |
| 2013 | England | Australia won by 8 wickets | M. Clarke | A. Cook | 271,865 |
| 2014 | India | Drawn | S. Smith | M. S. Dhoni | 194,481 |
| 2015 | West Indies | Australia won by 177 runs | S. Smith | J. Holder | 127,069 |
| 2016 | Pakistan | Australia won by an innings and 18 runs | S. Smith | Misbah-ul-Haq | 142,187 |
| 2017 | England | Drawn | S. Smith | J. Root | 261,335 |
| 2018 | India | India won by 137 runs | T. Paine | V. Kohli | 176,539 |
| 2019 | New Zealand | Australia won by 247 runs | T. Paine | K. Williamson | 203,471 |
| 2020 | India | India won by 8 wickets | T. Paine | A. Rahane | 89,472 |
| 2021 | England | Australia won by an innings and 14 runs | P. Cummins | J. Root | 140,671 |
| 2022 | South Africa | Australia won by an innings and 182 runs | P. Cummins | D. Elgar | 155,773 |
| 2023 | Pakistan | Australia won by 79 runs | P. Cummins | S. Masood | 164,835 |
| 2024 | India | Australia won by 184 runs | P. Cummins | R. Sharma | 373,691 |
Performance Statistics
The Boxing Day Test has seen Australia secure 28 victories, 8 defeats, and 9 draws across 45 matches played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 1968 to 2024.[52] This equates to a win percentage of approximately 62.2%, slightly higher than Australia's overall 57.8% win rate in 116 Test matches at the MCG.[53] The robust home advantage is tempered in Boxing Day fixtures by the caliber of touring teams, often at peak strength early in series.| Opponent | Matches | Australia Wins | Australia Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| India | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| West Indies | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| South Africa | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Pakistan | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |