It’s that time of year again, and Melbourne is gearing up for the Boxing Day Test match, this year against India. Will the little master, Sachin Tendulkar, become the first man to score 100 international centuries on the hallowed turf of the greatest sporting venue in the world, the MCG?
Will it be the last such appearance for Ricky Ponting? Will the Aussies recover from their devastating loss to New Zealand?
The four-Test series between India and Australia promises to be a cracker: forecasts of a crowd of 80,000 for the first day will guarantee the atmosphere is electric, and the relaxation of rules around the notorious Bay 13 will add some spice to the mix.
Boxing Day cricket has become an institution in the Australian sporting calendar. Since I was a kid, Boxing Day was about four simple things: family, food, drinks, and cricket. It is a match that even non-cricket lovers will tolerate, so ingrained is it into the Australian sports psyche.
The perfect cure for post-Christmas indulgences, the perfect opportunity to chill, kick back, and enjoy a great game at a spectacular venue.
Since the first Boxing Day Test against England back in 1950 (which saw the Aussies beat the motherland by 28 runs), Boxing Day Test cricket rarely fails to deliver memorable moments, moments that those who witnessed remember for years to come. Let’s see if you remember these:
1. Boxing Day 1968 (Australia v West Indies)
No, I was not alive. Yes, I have seen footage of it – over and over. The most Victorian cricketer of all, Bill Lawry, cracked an incredible 205, Ian Chappell chipping in with 165 before being bowled by little-known bowler Garfield Sobers, and Garth McKenzie taking 8/71, all setting up Australia’s victory by an innings and 30 runs.
2. Boxing Day 1975 (Australia v West Indies)
Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh, Max Walker, Denis Lillee and Jeff Thomson playing against Gordon Greenidge, Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd and co. A huge crowd of 85,600-plus on Boxing Day witnessed Gary Cosier on debut for the Aussies score a Test century and help lead Australia to an easy eight wicket victory.
3. Boxing Day 1982 (Australia v England)
Sheer brilliance, with just under 64,000 witnessing England narrowly win. Allan Border and Jeff Thomson teamed up for a massive 70-run last wicket stand to almost deliver the crushing blow to English morale – but fell three runs short of victory. Outstanding.
4. Boxing Day 1983 (Australia v Pakistan)
Graham Yallop made the hallowed turf his own, scoring a breathtaking 268, including 29 fours. The match ended in a draw, but the crowd were enthralled with Yallop’s shot selection, for his third double century of the summer.
5. Boxing Day 1987 (Australia v New Zealand)
Tony Dodemaide made a brilliant Test debut, scoring 50 and with bowling figures of 6/58; Richard Hadlee took a 10-for, and Craig McDermott and Mike Whitney batted out a draw. May sound boring but it gave Australia its first series win in four years – and over the Kiwis? Priceless.
6. Boxing Day 1988 (Australia v West Indies)
Australia were destroyed by one of the slickest Windies teams going around. Richie Richardson amassed 122 with some nifty assistance from Viv Richards (63) and Jeffrey Dujon (46), but it was the bowlers that decimated the Aussies.
An attack of Ambrose, Patterson, Marshall and Walsh was never one to be taken lightly. Marshall took his 300th Test wicket, Ambrose 4/60 and 2/21, Walsh delivered his occasionally vicious bouncer keeping the batsmen on their toes, and Patterson… well, he took a lazy 5/39 off 15 overs.
Not bad for a day’s work from the Calypso Kings.
7. Boxing Day 1991 (Australia v India)
Bruce Reid, one of my favourites, proved what a class bowler he was for the second year in a row. Following up on 1990’s 6/97 and 7/51, Reid cut through the Indians in a fashion that left the team scurrying back defending the impossible.
Finishing with figures of 6/66 and 6/60, Reid destroyed some of India’s best – Ravi Shastri, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammed Azharuddin and Kapil Dev some of his victims. Brilliant display.
8. Boxing Day 1994 (Australia v England)
How can we forget this one? Shane Warne, the local, the saviour of spin bowling in Australia, delivered a second-innings hat-trick, the first Ashes hat-trick by an Australian in 90-odd years.
David Boon completed the feat by holding onto one of the best one-handed catches you will ever see, to dismiss a luckless Devon Malcolm – and did the G erupt! Any win over England is amazing; when it’s by 295 runs, this is one very happy girl.
9. Boxing Day 1995 (Australia v Sri Lanka)
I can’t believe it was 16 years ago, but it will long be remembered for controversial reasons, when umpire Darrell Hair no-balled Sir Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidaran seven times for chucking.
The repercussions filtered throughout the cricketing world and ended with Hair being black-listed for games on the subcontinent, both for his safety and in the spirit of the game.
10. Boxing Day 1999 (Australia v India)
Although rain affected, the Boxing Day Test of 1999 was the debut of the man touted at the time as the fastest bowler in the world, Brett Lee.
‘Binga’ certainly made an impression on the Indian batsmen, taking 5/47 and 2/31, with Sachin Tendulkar giving his own lessons, scoring 166 and 52 in his two innings to take out Man of the Match. It didn’t help though, with the Aussies winning by 180 runs.
11. Boxing Day 2003 (Australia v India)
Again, a battle against the Indians, with a crowd of just over 62,600 on Boxing Day itself. Ricky Ponting scored 257, Virender Sehwag 195, and Australia won by nine wickets, but the most memorable aspect was the crowd’s final farewell to Steve Waugh in his 17th and last Test at the MCG.
12. Boxing Day 2005 (Australia v South Africa)
With a crowd of over 192,000, the Aussies went 1-0 up over the Proteas after winning by 184 runs – but it was the 10th wicket antics of Michael Hussey and Glenn McGrath for a 107-run partnership that helped save the side.
13. Boxing Day 2006 (Australia v England)
Over 244,300 attended what was to be Shane Warne’s last home-ground Test, and he didn’t disappoint. Warnie bowled English opener Andrew Strauss on Boxing Day to claim his 700th Test wicket, at that point a new world record.
The Aussies finished with an easy win, taking a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. Not a bad farewell at all.
14. Boxing Day 2010 (Australia v England)
Although not one of my most favourite memories, England wrapped up the Ashes at the G after winning by an innings and 157 runs.
The English sprinkler dance was performed on the hallowed turf, further cementing the need to win back the Ashes in the hearts of every Australian cricket fan, although Tim Bresnan demonstrated he had ability and co-ordination in performing his exceptional stunts.
So, what will this year’s memorable moments be? Will we have a cracker to start the series? Will the rain hold out? And will Tendulkar do what no man has ever done before and score his much awaited 100th international century?
There’s only one way to find out – tune in from December 26 and become a part of history.
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone.
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