Epic Boxing Day encounters – Part 2

In the extension to the Epic Boxing Day encounters – Part 1, here are a few other encounters that have etched themselves in cricketing folklore, to be reminisced in the future. This part is more on the contemporary side that most would be able to relate to if you have been keen enough to follow careers and games Down Under.

While 49,414 spectators looked on, Mark Waugh and Allan Border scored great centuries, but Shane Warne stole the show – as he did many a times during his career – with a wily 7/52 on the fifth day to lead Australia to victory in 1992.

In 1994, The Ashes had 51,620 watching while Shane Warne starred again with a second innings’ hat-trick and a 6/64 in the first. The game was a good one for David Boon, who scored 131 and Craig McDermott who took 8 wickets for the match.

Sri Lanka’s previous visit to Australia for a Boxing Day Test was 17 years ago and will not be remembered fondly by the visitors. 55,239 astonished fans watched on as umpire Darrell Hair called 7 no-balls off Muralitharan in 3 overs for throwing (with an illegal action). It was ugly and left a bitter taste in the mouth of the touring Sri Lankans. But centuries from Steve Waugh and David Boon accompanied by some brilliance from Glenn McGrath gave Australia a 10-wicket victory. Gurusinha, however, scored a gritty century in the second innings.

In 1996, the West Indies demolished the Australians, wrapping up the Test inside 3 days. 77,891 fans were present on Boxing Day while Curtly Ambrose decimated the Australian lineup with figures of 5/55 and 4/17.

On the Boxing Day Test of 1997, 73.812 fans saw Ponting (105) and Waugh (96) take an early advantage over South Africa. They were only denied of a victory due to Jacques Kallis’ maiden Test century.

The Boxing Day of 1998 would be remembered for no play, despite 61,580 people turning up for the game! That game, however, was one of its kind where England snatched an unbelievable win by 12 runs. The day’s play was the longest in the history of Test cricket and the match officially ended at 7:33 pm. Steve Waugh almost took Australia home, but Gough and Headley were the stars for England.

Speedster Brett Lee made his debut on Boxing Day in 1999 against India who struck off his fourth ball in Test cricket; he ended the match with figures of 5/47 and 2/31. Although the game was affected by rain, Australia comfortably managed to win by 180 runs.

Boxing Day of 2000 gave Australia a massive 352-run victory against the West Indies despite Marlon Samuels offering solid resistance. In 2001, Jacques Kallis was run out on 99. But what was special about that game was the 202-run partnership between Hayden and Langer and Australia won by 9 wickets.

In 2003, the Boxing Day Test – all days combined – attracted 1,79,662 spectators! Australia beat India by 9 wickets while Ricky Ponting notched up a career-best 257. The Test was also Steve Waugh’s last Test match and 29,262 spectators bid farewell to him in his 17^th MCG Test.

In 2005, MCG saw the highest attendance since 1982-83 when more than 1,92,000 people attended the match. This Test would have had an altered ending had it not been for the 107-run stand between Mike Hussey and McGrath for the 10^th wicket in the first innings. Australia ultimately beat the Proteas by 184 runs.

The Boxing Day in 2006 was also very special for the Australians, for more than one reason. It was MCG’s 100^th Test match and produced a crowd of 244,351 over the 3 days that it took Australia to beat England. It was also special for Shane Warne who took his 700^th Test while nearly a crowd of 90,000 watched on, while he bid farewell to his home crowd.

The 2008 Test against South Africa was one of the most enthralling matches: South Africa beat Australia by 9 wickets, but the game saw many plucky innings. Dale Steyn bagged 10 wickets for the match, Ponting scored a valiant 99, and the then-new kid on the block, JP Duminy scored a dazzling century.

In the 2010 Ashes, the tables were turned and Australia had a nightmare when the English had them wrapped up for 98, while the visitors piled on 157 by stumps. The Boxing Day Test saw England retain the Ashes for the first time in 24 years after a massive victory of an innings and 157 runs. A crowd of 2,40,116 turned up over 4 days of the Test. Australia scored a record-low 98 on the opening day of the Test while 84,345 looked on.

In last year’s Boxing Day Test against India, a crowd of 1,89,347 was witnessed over 4 days of the match, which was the highest aggregate for any Test between Australia and India. Pattinson, Hilfenhaus and Siddle ripped through the Indian batting and delivered a 122-run win on the 4^th day.

As we have seen over the last 2 posts, the Boxing Day Tests have provided some unparalleled action and have lived up to the hype. The ongoing Boxing Day Test between Australia and Sri Lanka has also had an interesting couple of days. Here’s hoping the tradition of Boxing Day continues and we get to watch greater games in the future.