5 most memorable Boxing Day Tests

Just like every other year, the traditional Boxing Day Test is all set to commence at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26. Though it is the MCG that is often associated with Boxing Day matches, the first ever Boxing Day Test was played between South Africa and England at the Old Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. England won that Test by a convincing margin of an innings and 12 runs.There is a very interesting story behind how the modern-day Boxing Day Tests took shape. Earlier, Boxing Day used to be one of the days of a 6-day Test. However, players were not really happy about this, as they did not get to spend Christmas with their families. The first Test to commence on Boxing Day at the MCG was the 2nd Test of the Frank-Worrell trophy in 1968. Australia thumped the West Indies in that game by an innings and 30 runs.For the next 6 years, however, there was no Boxing Day Test. It returned in 1974, only to vanish for a further 5 years. In 1980, the MCG and the Australian cricket team secured the rights to play this Test annually and thus began the tradition of the Boxing Day Test.Spare 1989, when a Boxing Day ODI was played, the Boxing Day Test has been played every year at the MCG. Over the years, it has acquired a special place in the hearts of fans. It’s popularity can be gauged from the fact that it featured in The Observer’s list of 50 sporting things to do before dying. New Zealand and South Africa, two more teams in the Southern Hemisphere, also organize Boxing Day Tests.Now that we have a brief idea about the history of this much-anticipated event, let’s take a look at 5 of the most memorable Boxing Day Tests that have been played:

#5 4th Test, The Ashes, 2013-14, MCG

Going into this Test, England were completely rattled having surrendered the Ashes in the previous Test at Perth. Their star tweaker Graeme Swann had also announced his sudden retirement from cricket just days before. With Mitchell Johnson looking absolutely unstoppable, Australia were expected to ‘Cook’ England’s goose.

Captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to field. In front of a record Boxing Day crowd, Johnson starred with the ball yet again picking up another fifer. None of the visitors’ batsmen got going as they were all out for a below par total of 255. Courtesy of an inspired bowling performance by the English bowlers, led efficiently by James Anderson, the Aussies were dismissed for 204, thereby handing England a vital lead of 51 runs.

However, England blew the lead away unable to tackle off-spinner Nathan Lyon. With no other batsman except for Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen offering much resistance, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 179, thereby setting Clarke’s men a target of 231 runs.

Chris Rogers, who was having a pretty average series thus far, put his hand up as he scored a quick century and took the Baggie Greens to the cusp of victory. Thereafter, Clarke and Shane Watson did not waste much time as they inflicted another humiliating defeat on Cook’s men and, in the process, also tasted revenge for their loss at the same venue three years ago.

#4 2nd Test, South Africa vs India, 2010-11, Kingsmead, Durban

Indian players celebrating after the win

Team India came into this series as the World No.1 Test team. However, given their tame surrender in the 1st Test at Centurion, many started questioning their World No.1 credentials. Given that this game was being played at Kingsmead, Durban, one of the fastest pitches in the world, the odds were heavily stacked against MS Dhoni’s men.

Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to field in conditions conducive for the bowlers. Dale Steyn picked up 6 wickets as India were bundled out for 205 on the first day. The Indian bowlers, however, put on a spirited team effort as they made full use of the assistance from the pitch and dismissed the Proteas for 131, thereby gaining a crucial lead of 74 runs.

India were in dire straits in their second innings, as well, as the scoreboard read 56/4 when Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed by Steyn. However, VVS Laxman, the second innings specialist, had something special in store, to help India to a total of 228 with the help of the lower order batsmen. The Hyderabad batsman missed out on a well-deserved century, though, when he was caught behind off Steyn’s bowling.

With a stiff target of 303 to chase, Smith’s men were under pressure from the word go. However, they decided to counter the pressure by attacking the Indian bowlers as they romped to 63/0 in just 12 overs. That is exactly when Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, coming in as a first change bowler, gave India a vital breakthrough, getting rid of Smith. It was that wicket that opened the floodgates as the Proteas kept losing batsmen at regular intervals.

The highlight of the innings was the absolute snorter that Sreesanth bowled to Jacques Kallis. The ball just kicked up from length as Kallis struggled to fend it away and ended up lobbing it to Virender Sehwag. Eventually, South Africa were dismissed for 215, losing the match by 87 runs.

Take a look at that unplayable delivery from Sreesanth in the video below:

#3 4th Test, The Ashes, 1998-99. MCG

Australia dominated the Ashes all through the 90s. This edition was no different as the Aussies had taken a lead of 2-0 going into the Boxing Day Test. With the Kangaroos in top form and the Poms looking hapless, Australia were expected to trounce England yet again. However, there was a twist in the tale as the visitors beat Australia by 12 runs on the fourth day.

Mark Taylor won the toss and put the visitors in with the hope that his bowlers would continue in the same vein of form as the previous Tests. The Poms, though, looked a little more determined this time as they reached a total of 270, courtesy of skipper Alec Stewart’s century and a useful contribution of 63 from Mark Ramprakash. Steve Waugh scored a gritty unbeaten 122, guiding the Aussies to a total of 340 to get a handy lead of 70 runs.

With useful fifties from Stewart, Nasser Hussain and Graeme Hick, the visitors huffed and puffed their way to a total of 244, thereby setting the Aussies a relatively easy target of 175. At 130/3, things were looking rosy for the home team. It was then that Dean Headley decided to give one of his best performances in his England shirt, running through the middle and lower order. Once again Steve Waugh ran out of partners as the Kangaroos were dismissed for 162, a mere 12 runs shy of the English total.

Watch the highlights of that riveting Test in the video below:

#2 1st Test, Frank Worrell Trophy, 1981-82, MCG

Dennis Lillee reacts after dismissing King Viv

Given that the Calypso Kings were still a dominant force in world cricket and the Aussies were on the rise, this was expected to be an absolute cracker of a contest. And it certainly lived upto its expectations.

Having won the toss, Australia opted to bat first. However, they ran into a certain Michael Holding who was on a rampage. Kim Hughes, who was in the form of his life, provided stiff resistance as he scored an unbeaten 100 and, with the help of the lower order batsmen, took Australia to 198. Holding finished with figures of 5/45.

The batting heavy West Indies line-up was expected to take a huge lead. However, Dennis Lillee paid the West Indies back in their own coin, picking up 7 wickets. With some useful contributions down the order, the then World Champs barely managed to scamper past the Australian total before, eventually getting bundled out for 201. At 184/3 in their second innings, it looked as if the Baggie Greens were on course for setting a huge target for the West Indies. However, Whispering Death, as Holding is nicknamed, returned for another whirlwind spell to bundle out the Aussies for 222. He finished with 6 wickets and match figures of 11/107.

With a target of 220 runs, it was expected that, at least, this time the West Indies batting will click. However, courtesy of an excellent team effort by the Australian bowlers wherein they hunted in packs, the men from the Caribbean were bowled out for 161, and the Aussies romped home by 58 runs. For his gritty hundred in the first innings, Kim Hughes was declared as the Man-of-the-Match.

Take a look at the excellent innings from Hughes in the video below:

#1 4th Test, The Ashes, 1982-83, MCG

After the high of winning the Ashes in their backyard in a sensational style in 1981, the Poms had been brought down to the ground by the Aussies and were trailing 0-2 going into this one. With the way that England had lost those 2 games and with Botham woefully out of form, not many fancied England’s chances. However, a determined England side got the better of the high-flying Australians by a slender margin of 3 runs and took the Ashes into the decider at Sydney.

England scored 284 runs in their first innings, thanks mainly to Chris Tavare’s 89 and Allan Lamb’s 83. Riding on useful contributions from Kepler Wessels, Kim Hughes, David Hookes and Rodney Marsh, Australia just about managed to go past England’s total, scoring 287. In the second innings, too, a number of English batsmen got starts, but none of them were able to capitalise as they were bundled out for 294, thereby setting the Aussies a stiff target of 292.

Australia were looking in control of the chase at 171/3. However, England clawed their way back into the game, courtesy Norman Cowan’s terrific spell to reduce the Aussies to 218/9. Allan Border, however, found an able partner in Jeff Thomson as the duo took Australia to within 4 runs of a famous victory. Ian Botham, though, would have none of that as he dismissed Thomson and broke Australian hearts, thereby securing a victory for England by 3 runs.

Watch the nailbiting finish to that game in the video below: