With the excitement and
exhaustion of Christmas Day over, the Boxing Day Test at the MCG is one of
Australia's most popular sporting events. Reasons for this go well beyond the
fact that cricket in Melbourne, and indeed Australia, attracts loyal supporters.
The popularity of the Boxing Day Test also has something to do with Australia's
relaxed outdoor lifestyle, which sees sports lovers appreciate a fine summer's
day spent with friends watching sporting greats battle it out on a
well-manicured field.
The first ever Test match
involving Boxing Day took place in 1950. Prior to that, Boxing Day at the MCG
had been the domain of Sheffield Shield cricket, often the highly popular
Victoria-New South Wales encounters.
Boxing Day test matches at MCG
|
Year
|
Opposition
team
|
Result
|
Boxing Day
Crowd
|
|
1950
|
England
|
Australia won
by 28 runs
|
60,486
|
|
1952
|
South
Africa
|
South
Africa won by 82 runs
|
24,609
|
|
1968
|
West
Indies
|
Australia won
by an innings and 30 runs
|
18,766
|
|
1974
|
England
|
Draw
|
77,167
|
|
1975
|
West
Indies
|
Australia won
by 8 wickets
|
85,661
|
|
1980
|
New
Zealand
|
Draw
|
28,671
|
|
1981
|
West
Indies
|
Australia won
by 58 runs
|
39,982
|
|
1982
|
England
|
England won
by 3 runs
|
63,900
|
|
1983
|
Pakistan
|
Draw
|
40,277
|
|
1984
|
West
Indies
|
Draw
|
15,504
|
|
1985
|
India
|
Draw
|
18,146
|
|
1986
|
England
|
England won
by an innings and 14 runs
|
58,203
|
|
1987
|
New
Zealand
|
Draw
|
51,807
|
|
1988
|
West
Indies
|
West
Indies won by 258 runs
|
26,287
|
|
1990
|
England
|
Australia won
by 9 wickets
|
49,763
|
|
1991
|
India
|
Australia won
by 8 wickets
|
42,494
|
|
1992
|
West
Indies
|
Australia won
by 139 runs
|
28,397
|
|
1993
|
South
Africa
|
Draw
|
15,604
|
|
1994
|
England
|
Australia won
by 295 runs
|
51,620
|
|
1995
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Australia won
by 10 wickets
|
55,239
|
|
1996
|
West
Indies
|
West
Indies won by 6 wickets
|
72,891
|
|
1997
|
South
Africa
|
Draw
|
73,812
|
|
1998
|
England
|
England won
by 12 runs
|
61,580
|
|
1999
|
India
|
Australia won
by 180 runs
|
49,082
|
|
2000
|
West
Indies
|
Australia won
by 352 runs
|
73,233
|
|
2001
|
South
Africa
|
Australia won
by 9 wickets
|
61,796
|
|
2002
|
England
|
Australia won
by 5 wickets
|
64,189
|
|
2003
|
India
|
Australia won
by 9 wickets
|
62,613
|
|
2004
|
Pakistan
|
Australia won
by 9 wickets
|
61,552
|
|
2005
|
South
Africa
|
Australia won
by 184 runs
|
71,910
|
|
2006
|
England
|
Australia won
by an innings and 99 runs
|
89,155
|
|
2007
|
India
|
Australia won
by 337 runs
|
68,465
|
|
2008
|
South
Africa
|
South
Africa won by 9 wickets
|
63,263
|
|
2009
|
Pakistan
|
Australia won
by 170 runs
|
59,206
|
|
2010
|
England
|
England won
by an innings and 157 runs
|
84,345
|
|
2011
|
India
|
Australia won
by 122 runs
|
70,068
|
|
2012
|
Sri
Lanka
|
Australia won
by an innings and 201 runs
|
67,138
|
|
2013
|
England
|
Australia won
by 8 wickets
|
91,112
|
# Most Boxing Day
tests – Steve Waush (15)
# Most wins in Boxing
Day tests – Ricky Ponting (12)
#Most tests as captain
in Boxing Day tests – Allan Border (9)
# Most tests as umpire
in in Boxing Day tests – AR Crafter (8)
# Adam Gilchrist won
all his Boxing Day test matches (1999-2007)
# In 1989 a ODI bw
Australia & Sri Lanka was played on the Boxing Day.
 |
Umpires Ronald Wright and George Cooper walk on to the field on Boxing Day, Australia v England, MCG, 3rd day, December 26, 1950 |
Most runs in Boxing Day tests
|
PLAYER
|
Tests
|
Inngs
|
Runs
|
Avg
|
100s/50s
|
Best
|
|
R Ponting
|
15
|
28
|
1338
|
58.17
|
4/7
|
257
|
|
S Waugh
|
16
|
28
|
1261
|
57.31
|
3/6
|
131*
|
|
M Hayden
|
10
|
19
|
1103
|
68.93
|
6/3
|
153
|
|
A Border
|
13
|
23
|
796
|
37.9
|
2/4
|
163
|
|
M Waugh
|
11
|
18
|
735
|
45.93
|
1/5
|
112
|
|
David Boon
|
10
|
18
|
696
|
43.5
|
2/2
|
131
|
|
J Langer
|
9
|
17
|
678
|
39.88
|
1/3
|
250
|
|
Mark Taylor
|
9
|
17
|
546
|
34.12
|
1/3
|
170
|
|
M Clarke
|
9
|
15
|
487
|
40.58
|
1/2
|
106
|
|
S Tendulkar
|
5
|
10
|
449
|
44.9
|
1/3
|
116
|
# Matthew Hayden
scored centuries in all Boxing Day tests from 2001 to 2007 except in 2004.
Highest individual scores in Boxing Day tests
|
Player
|
Team
|
Vs
|
Runs
|
Runs on Boxing Day
|
Year
|
|
G Yallop
|
Aus
|
Pak
|
268
|
DNB
|
1983
|
|
R Ponting
|
Aus
|
Ind
|
257
|
DNB
|
2003
|
|
J Langer
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
250
|
146
|
2002
|
|
Viv Richards
|
WI
|
Aus
|
208
|
0
|
1984
|
|
Bill Lawry
|
Aus
|
WI
|
205
|
DNB
|
1968
|
|
V Sehwag
|
Ind
|
Aus
|
195
|
195
|
2003
|
|
M Taylor
|
Aus
|
SA
|
170
|
30
|
1993
|
|
J Trott
|
Eng
|
Aus
|
168*
|
DNB
|
2010
|
|
JP Duminy
|
SA
|
Aus
|
166
|
DNB
|
2008
|
|
I Chappell
|
Aus
|
WI
|
165
|
DNB
|
1968
|
# Richards scored 208
in the 1st inngs & on 26 Dec he was dismissed for a duck in the 2nd inngs.
Centuries scored on Boxing Day
|
Player
|
Team
|
Vs
|
Runs on Boxing Day
|
Total
|
Year
|
|
V Sehwag
|
Ind
|
Aus
|
195
|
195
|
2003
|
|
Mohsin Khan
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
152
|
152
|
1983
|
|
J Langer
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
146
|
250
|
2002
|
|
M Hayden
|
Aus
|
Ind
|
124
|
124
|
2003
|
|
R Ponting
|
Aus
|
WI
|
117
|
117
|
2005
|
|
Y Youhana
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
111
|
111
|
2004
|
|
M Hayden
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
102
|
102
|
2002
|
|
R Ponting
|
Aus
|
SA
|
101
|
101
|
2008
|
|
K Hughes
|
Aus
|
WI
|
100
|
100
|
1981
|
 |
| Matthew Hayden celebrates after reaching his 100 against India, MCG, 2007 |
Most runs scored in a day’s play in Boxing Day
|
Team
|
Vs
|
Runs
|
Wkts
|
Year
|
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
356
|
3
|
2002
|
|
Aus
|
Ind
|
337
|
9
|
2007
|
|
Ind
|
Aus
|
329
|
4
|
2003
|
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
318
|
6
|
2004
|
|
Pak
|
Aus
|
308
|
5
|
1983
|
|
SL/Aus
|
Aus/SL
|
306
|
13
|
2012
|
|
Aus
|
Pak
|
305
|
3
|
2009
|
|
Aus
|
WI
|
295
|
7
|
1990
|
|
Eng
|
Aus
|
284
|
10
|
1982
|
|
WI
|
Aus
|
280
|
6
|
1981
|
|
Aus
|
SA
|
280
|
6
|
2008
|
Most wickets in Boxing Day tests
|
PLAYER
|
Tests
|
Inngs
|
Wkts
|
Avg
|
5-fers
|
BBI
|
BBM
|
|
Shane Warne
|
11
|
21
|
56
|
22.92
|
3
|
7/52
|
9/80
|
|
G McGrath
|
11
|
22
|
42
|
22.78
|
2
|
5/40
|
8/91
|
|
C McDermott
|
10
|
18
|
41
|
29.29
|
2
|
5/42
|
8/114
|
|
Bruce Reid
|
4
|
7
|
35
|
13.57
|
4
|
7/51
|
13/148
|
|
Brett Lee
|
8
|
16
|
34
|
28.47
|
1
|
5/47
|
7/78
|
|
M Johnson
|
6
|
11
|
27
|
21.92
|
1
|
5/63
|
8/88
|
|
P Siddle
|
6
|
11
|
23
|
24.43
|
1
|
6/75
|
6/75
|
|
J Gillespie
|
4
|
7
|
21
|
13.38
|
1
|
6/40
|
9/88
|
|
S MacGill
|
4
|
8
|
21
|
29
|
1
|
5/152
|
7/142
|
|
C Ambrose
|
3
|
6
|
20
|
14
|
1
|
5/55
|
9/72
|
# Richard Hadlee has also taken 3 5-fers in Boxing Day tests.
Best Bowling Figures in a Boxing Day tests
|
Player
|
Team
|
vs
|
Figures
|
Year
|
|
G McKenzie
|
Aus
|
WI
|
8/71
|
1968
|
|
Bruce Reid
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
7/51
|
1990
|
|
S Warne
|
Aus
|
WI
|
7/52
|
1992
|
|
H Tayfield
|
SA
|
Aus
|
7/81
|
1952
|
|
D Lilleee
|
Aus
|
WI
|
7/83
|
1981
|
|
J Gillespie
|
Aus
|
WI
|
6/40
|
2000
|
|
R Hadlee
|
NZ
|
Aus
|
6/57
|
1980
|
|
A Dodemaide
|
Aus
|
NZ
|
6/58
|
1987
|
|
A Donald
|
SA
|
Aus
|
6/59
|
1997
|
Most wickets on a Boxing Day for a bowler
|
Player
|
Team
|
vs
|
Wkts on Boxing Day
|
Figures
|
Year
|
|
Bruce Reid
|
Aus
|
Ind
|
5
|
6/66
|
1991
|
|
S Warne
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
5
|
5/39
|
2006
|
|
M Holding
|
WI
|
Aus
|
5
|
5/45
|
1981
|
|
I Botham
|
Eng
|
Aus
|
5
|
5/41
|
1986
|
|
G Small
|
Eng
|
Aus
|
5
|
5/48
|
1986
|
|
C Ambrose
|
WI
|
Aus
|
5
|
5/55
|
1996
|
|
J Thomson
|
Aus
|
WI
|
5
|
5/62
|
1975
|
|
A Kumble
|
Ind
|
Aus
|
5
|
5/84
|
2007
|
 |
| Shane Warne taking his 700th test wkt, against Eng, 2006 |
Most wickets on a Boxing Day
|
Team
|
Vs
|
Wkts
|
Year
|
|
Aus
|
WI
|
14
|
1981
|
|
Aus
|
SL
|
13
|
2012
|
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
12
|
2006
|
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
12
|
1950
|
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
11
|
1986
|
|
Aus
|
WI
|
11
|
1996
|
|
Aus
|
Eng
|
10
|
2010
|
|
Aus
|
SA
|
10
|
1952
|
|
Aus
|
WI
|
10
|
1975
|
Most catches in Boxing Day tests
|
PLAYER
|
Tests
|
Catches
|
Stumpings
|
Total Dismissals
|
|
Ian Healey
|
10
|
35
|
4
|
39
|
|
A Gilchrist
|
9
|
35
|
3
|
38
|
|
R Ponting
|
15
|
18
|
0
|
18
|
|
B Haddin
|
5
|
16
|
1
|
17
|
|
M Waugh
|
11
|
17
|
0
|
17
|
|
M Taylor
|
9
|
17
|
0
|
17
|
 |
| Darrell Hair calling Muralitharan for chucking in the Boxing Day test of 1995 |
Boxing Day test matches are also
played at Basin Reserve in Wellington involving New Zealand as one of the
competing sides. It has been lately replaced by ODI.
|
Year
|
Opposition team
|
Result
|
|
1998
|
India
|
NZ won by 4 wickets
|
|
1999
|
West Indies
|
NZ won by innings & 105
runs
|
|
2000
|
Zimbabwe
|
Draw
|
|
2001
|
Bangladesh
|
NZ won by innings & 74 runs
|
|
2003
|
Pakistan
|
Pak won by 7 wickets
|
|
Year
|
Opposition team
|
Result
|
|
1913
|
Eng
|
Eng won by inngs & 12 runs
|
|
1961
|
NZ
|
Draw
|
|
1992
|
Ind
|
SA won by 9 wkts
|
|
1994
|
NZ
|
SA won by 8 wkts
|
|
1995
|
Eng
|
Draw
|
|
1996
|
Ind
|
SA won by 328 runs
|
|
1998
|
WI
|
SA won by 9 wkts
|
|
1999
|
Eng
|
Draw
|
|
2000
|
SL
|
Draw
|
|
2002
|
Pak
|
SA won by 10 wkts
|
|
2003
|
WI
|
SA won by inngs & 65 runs
|
|
2004
|
Eng
|
Draw
|
|
2006
|
Ind
|
SA won by 174 runs
|
|
2007
|
WI
|
WI won by 128 runs
|
|
2009
|
Eng
|
Eng won by inngs & 98 runs
|
|
2010
|
Ind
|
Ind won by 87 runs
|
|
2011
|
SL
|
SL won by 208 runs
|
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