Last Updated on October 16, 2023 by Alex PT
The Boxing Day Test is a cricket match that takes place annually in Australia, typically on December 26th. It is one of the most significant and traditional events in Australian cricket and is part of the Australian cricket team’s summer schedule.
What Is the Boxing Day Test?
The Boxing Day Test is a Test cricket match played annually on Boxing Day (December 26) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Australia. It is the third Test match of the Australian summer season.
The first Boxing Day Test was played in 1950 between Australia and England. The match has been played every year since then, except for 1989 when an ODI match was played instead.
The Boxing Day Test is one of the most popular sporting events in Australia, and it regularly attracts crowds of over 100,000 people. The record attendance for a Boxing Day Test is 121,993, set in 2013 when Australia played England.
Some of the most memorable moments in the history of the Boxing Day Test include:
- Shane Warne’s “Ball of the Century” to Mike Gatting in 1993
- Steve Waugh’s century on debut in 1988
- The 1981 Test match, which was drawn after both teams were bowled out for 124 in their second innings
- The 2010-11 Test match, which Australia won by 10 wickets to take the Ashes series 5-0
The Boxing Day Test is an important part of Australian cricket culture, and it is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year.
From where it got its name?
The term “Boxing Day” has historical origins in the United Kingdom. It traditionally refers to the day after Christmas, December 26th, when wealthy families would box up leftover food, gifts, and money to distribute to the less fortunate or to servants who had worked on Christmas Day. The custom of giving boxes to those in need became associated with this day, hence the name “Boxing Day.”
In the context of the Boxing Day Test in Australia, the name carries over from this tradition. The match, held on December 26th, is a continuation of the Boxing Day custom, but in the form of a high-profile cricket event. Over time, the term “Boxing Day Test” has become synonymous with the prestigious cricket match played annually in Australia, maintaining the connection to the historical practice of giving to others during the holiday season.
List Of Boxing Day Test Matches
The table below is a comprehensive list of the Boxing Day Test matches, total attendance, opposition team, and date of the sporting events.
| Year | Opposition team | Test Match Winners | Match Results | Total Attendance |
| 1950 | England | Australia won | By 28 runs | 191,197 spectators |
| 1952 | South Africa | South Africa won by 82 runs | By 82 runs | 120,314 spectators |
| 1968 | West Indies | Australia won | by an innings and 30 runs | 113,376 spectators |
| 1974 | England | Draw | 250,750 spectators | |
| 1975 | West Indies | Australia won | By 8 wickets | 222,755 spectators |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Draw | 82,745 spectators | |
| 1981 | West Indies | Australia won | By 58 runs | 134,081 spectators |
| 1982 | England | England won | By 3 runs | 214,882 spectators |
| 1983 | Pakistan | Draw | – | 111,611 spectators |
| 1984 | West Indies | Draw | – | 97,271 spectators |
| 1985 | India | Draw | – | 77,715 spectators |
| 1986 | England | England won | By an innings and 14 runs | 107,817 spectators |
| 1987 | New Zealand | Draw | – | 127,184 spectators |
| 1988 | West Indies | West Indies won by 258 runs | Won by 258 runs | 108,408 spectators |
| 1990 | England | Australia won by 9 wickets | By 9 wickets | 129,530 spectators |
| 1991 | India | Australia won by 8 wickets | By 8 wickets | 89,369 spectators |
| 1992 | West Indies | Australia won by 139 runs | By 139 runs | 83,320 spectators |
| 1993 | South Africa | Draw | – | 48,565 spectators |
| 1994 | England | Australia won by 295 runs | By 295 runs | 144,492 spectators |
| 1995 | Sri Lanka | Australia won by 10 wickets | By 10 wickets | 105,388 spectators |
| 1996 | West Indies | West Indies won by 6 wickets | By 6 wickets | 131,671 spectators |
| 1997 | South Africa | Draw | – | 160,182 spectators |
| 1998 | England | England won by 12 runs | By 12 runs | 159,031 spectators |
| 1999 | India | Australia won by 180 runs | By 180 runs | 134,554 spectators |
| 2000 | West Indies | Australia won by 352 runs | By 352 runs | 133,299 spectators |
| 2001 | South Africa | Australia won by 9 wickets | By 9 wickets | 153,025 spectators |
| 2002 | England | Australia won by 5 wickets | By 5 wickets | 177,658 spectators |
| 2003 | India | Australia won by 9 wickets | By 9 wickets | 179,662 spectators |
| 2004 | Pakistan | Australia won by 9 wickets | By 9 wickets | 129,079 spectators |
| 2005 | South Africa | Australia won by 184 runs | By 184 runs | 192,337 spectators |
| 2006 | England | Australia won by an innings and 99 runs | By an innings and 99 runs | 244,351 spectators |
| 2007 | India | Australia won by 337 runs | By 337 runs | 166,663 spectators |
| 2008 | South Africa | South Africa won by 9 wickets | By 9 wickets | 174,246 spectators |
| 2009 | Pakistan | Australia won by 170 runs | By 170 runs | 156,267 spectators |
| 2010 | England | England won by an innings and 157 runs | By an inning and 157 runs | 240,156 spectators |
| 2011 | India | Australia won by 122 runs | By 122 runs | 189,347 spectators |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | Australia won by an innings and 201 runs | By an inning and 201 runs | 137,455 spectators |
| 2013 | England | Australia won by 8 wickets | By 8 wickets | 271,865 spectators |
| 2014 | India | Draw | – | 194,481 spectators |
| 2015 | West Indies | Australia won by 177 runs | By 177 runs | 127,069 spectators |
| 2016 | Pakistan | Australia won by an innings and 18 runs | By an inning and 18 runs | 142,188 spectators |
| 2017 | England | Draw | – | 261,335 spectators |
| 2018 | India | India won by 137 runs | By 137 runs | 176,539 spectators |
| 2019 | New Zealand | Australia won by 247 runs | By 247 runs | 203,472 spectators |
| 2020 | India | India won by 8 wickets | By 8 wickets | 89,472 spectators |
FAQs
We’ve prepared a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the Boxing Day Test. Let’s check them out!
How Long Does The Boxing Day Test Go For?
5 days! Boxing Day Test matches are held on the 26th of December, which is the day after Christmas, and the sporting event runs over 5 days. The test matches are held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is one of the most popular sports stadiums in Australia.
Has Australia Ever Lost The Boxing Day Test?
Australian cricket team only managed to add just 67 runs to their overnight score of 133 for 6 after losing their last 4 wickets in the extended first session. This set India a paltry target of 70 runs to win the Test.
Why Is It Called A Boxing Day Test?
The Boxing Day Test, as we said earlier, was held at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia on December 26 which is known as Boxing Day when boxes of gifts were given to the servants in Victoria-era England on the second day of Christmas.
In Conclusion
The Boxing Day Test match is a Cricket sporting event held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia involving the Australian cricket team and an opposing national team from the Commonwealth nations that fall under the Southern Hemisphere. It commences annually on Boxing Day, the second day after Christmas, and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). We’ve reached the closing chapter of this informative article. We hope you were able to find good resources in your quest to know what the Boxing Day Test means. If you have any questions or comments about the article topic, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day_Test
https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/what-is-boxing-day-test-when-it-is-played-all-you-need-to-know-1060010
