View source for Boxing Day Test

{{Short description|Annual cricket match between Australia and a visiting international team}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Others}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name         = Boxing Day Test
| native_name  = 
| native_name_lang = 
| logo         = 
| logo_caption = 
| image        = Boxing Day Test 2015.jpg
| caption      = The [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] during the first day of the 2015 Boxing Day Test match
| status       = Active
| genre        = Sporting event
| date         = 
| begins       = 26 December 
| ends         = On or before 30 December 
| frequency    = Annual
| venue        = [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]]
| location     = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]]
| coordinates  = 
| country      = [[Australia]]
| years_active = 
| first        = {{Start date|1968|df=y}}
| founder_name = 
| last         = 
| prev         = 
| next         = 
| participants = 
| attendance   = 
| area         = 
| budget       = 
| activity     = 
| patron       = 
| organised    = 
| filing       = 
| people       = 
| member       = 
| sponsor      =
| website      = 
| footnotes    = 
}}
The '''Boxing Day Test match''' is a [[cricket]] [[Test cricket|Test match]] held in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], Australia, involving the [[Australia national cricket team]] and an opposing national team that is touring Australia during the southern summer. It begins annually on [[Boxing Day]] (26 December) and is played at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] (MCG).

==History==
[[Image:Boxingaday.jpg|thumb|250px|Cricket crowd at the Boxing Day Test in 2007]]
By long tradition, a [[Sheffield Shield]] match between [[Victoria cricket team|Victoria]] and [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]] had been played at the MCG over the [[Christmas]] period dating back as far as 1865. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1860S/1865-66/AUS_LOCAL/VIC_NSW_26-28DEC1865.html |title=Victoria vs New South Wales, 1865-66 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date= 2021-01-03}}</ref> It included Boxing Day as one of the scheduled days of play, much to the chagrin of the NSW players who missed spending Christmas with their families as a result. The Melbourne Test was usually held over the New Year period, often starting on 1 January.

During the [[1950–51 Ashes series]], the Melbourne Test was played from 22 to 27 December, with the fourth day's play being on Boxing Day, but no Test matches were played on Boxing Day in Melbourne between 1953 and 1967. Because there were six Tests in the [[1974–75 Ashes series]], in order to fit them all in to the overall schedule, the Third Test at Melbourne was scheduled to start on [[Boxing Day]]. 

That was the origin of the modern tradition, although it was not until 1980 that it was formalised by the Australian Cricket Board, alongside the recent acquisition of its television rights by the [[Nine Network]], and Melbourne emphasising its hosting of major sporting events (such as the [[AFL Grand Final]] and [[Australian Open]]) to offset the decline of its manufacturing industry.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-12-24 |title=The surprisingly short history of the Boxing Day Test |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-25/boxing-day-test-match-tradition-has-short-history-at-mcg/8135852 |access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref>

The Boxing Day Test has cultural significance and often draws large crowds,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Boaz |first1=Judd |last2=Gordon |first2=Oliver |title=Capacity crowds at Boxing Day Test and Australian Open still planned despite Omicron fears |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-22/victoria-covid-crowds-allowed-boxing-day-test-australian-open/100718546 |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=ABC News |date=22 December 2021 |language=en-AU}}</ref> although increased competition from [[Twenty20]] fixtures in the [[Big Bash League]] has led to variances in attendance; the MCG hosted its largest Boxing Day crowd in 2013, the fourth Test of the [[2013–14 Ashes series]] against England.<ref name=":0" /> 
=== Individual awards ===
Since 1975, there has been an official Player of the Match named in each Boxing Day Test. Since 2020, the man of the match has received the Mullagh Medal, named in honour of Indigenous Australian cricketer [[Johnny Mullagh]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-09/johnny-mullagh-medal-at-boxing-day-test-from-2020/11779184|title='You get told about Bradman but not our mob': Test medal to honour Indigenous cricketing icon|last=Wales|first=Sean|date=2019-12-09|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29396207/the-indigenous-hole-australian-cricket-heart |title=The Indigenous hole at Australian cricket's heart |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Boxing Day Test 2024 panorama full.jpg|center|thumb|630x630px|A [[panorama]] of the MCG for day one of the 2024 Boxing Day Test.]]
==List of Boxing Day Test matches==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" text-align:centre" | Year
! scope="col" | Opposition team
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" | Boxing Day Crowd
! scope="col" | Total Attendance
! scope="col" | Player of the Match: Mullagh Medal
|-
| 1968
| {{cr|West Indies}}
| {{cr|Australia}} won by an innings and 30 runs
| 18,766
| 113,376
|
|-
| 1974
| {{cr|England}}
| Draw
| 77,167
| 250,750<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|
|-
| 1975
| {{cr|West Indies}}
| {{cr|Australia}} won by 8 wickets
| 85,661
| 222,755<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Jeff Thomson]]
|-
| 1980
| {{cr|New Zealand}}
| Draw
| 28,671
| 82,745
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Richard Hadlee]]
|-
| 1981
| {{cr|West Indies}}
| {{cr|Australia}} won by 58 runs
| 39,982
| 134,081<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Kim Hughes]]
|-
| 1982
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|England}} won by 3 runs
| 63,900
| 214,882<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Norman Cowans]]
|-
| 1983
| {{cr|Pakistan}}
| Draw
| 40,277
| 111,611<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Graham Yallop]]
|-
| 1985
| {{cr|India}}
| Draw
| 18,146
| 77,715<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Allan Border]]
|-
| 1986
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|England}} won by an innings and 14 runs
| 58,203
| 107,817<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|{{flagicon|England}} [[Gladstone Small]]
|-
| 1987
| {{cr|New Zealand}}
| Draw
| 51,807
| 127,184<ref name=MCGrecords/>
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Richard Hadlee]]
|-
| 1990
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[English cricket team in Australia in 1990–91#2nd Test|won by 9 wickets]]
| 49,763
| 129,530<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Bruce Reid]]
|-
| 1991
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 1991–92#Second Test|won by 8 wickets]]
| 42,494
| 89,369<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Bruce Reid]]
|-
| 1992
| {{cr|West Indies}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[West Indian cricket team in Australia in 1992–93#Second Test|won by 139 runs]]
| 28,397
| 83,320<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Shane Warne]]
|-
| 1993
| {{cr|South Africa|1928}}
| [[South African cricket team in Australia in 1993–94#1st Test|Draw]]
| 15,604{{efn|name=rained|It rained on Boxing Day.}}
| 48,565<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Taylor (cricketer)|Mark Taylor]]
|-
| 1995
| {{cr|Sri Lanka}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 1995–96#2nd Test|won by 10 wickets]]
| 55,239
| 105,388<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Glenn McGrath]]
|-
| 1996
| {{cr|West Indies}}
| {{cr|West Indies}} [[West Indian cricket team in Australia in 1996–97#Third Test|won by 6 wickets]]
| 72,891
| 131,671<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|West Indies}} [[Curtly Ambrose]]
|-
| 1997
| {{cr|South Africa}}
| [[South African cricket team in Australia in 1997–98#1st Test|Draw]]
| 73,812
| 160,182<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Jacques Kallis]]
|-
| 1998
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|England}} [[English cricket team in Australia in 1998–99#4th Test|won by 12 runs]]
| 61,580
| 159,031<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Dean Headley]]
|-
| 1999
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[1999–2000 Border–Gavaskar Trophy#Second Test|won by 180 runs]]
| 49,082{{efn|name=rained}}
| 134,554<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Sachin Tendulkar]]
|-
| 2000
| {{cr|West Indies}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[West Indian cricket team in Australia in 2000–01#4th Test|won by 352 runs]]
| 73,233
| 133,299<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Steve Waugh]]
|-
| 2001
| {{cr|South Africa}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[South African cricket team in Australia in 2001–02#2nd Test|won by 9 wickets]]
| 61,796
| 153,025<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Matthew Hayden]]
|-
| 2002
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[English cricket team in Australia in 2002–03#4th Test|won by 5 wickets]]
| 64,189{{efn|name=capacity|Capacity of ground reduced due to redevelopment for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.}}
| 177,658<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Justin Langer]]
|-
| 2003
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[2003–04 Border–Gavaskar Trophy#Third Test|won by 9 wickets]]
| 62,613{{efn|name=capacity}}
| 179,662<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ricky Ponting]]
|-
| 2004
| {{cr|Pakistan}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2004–05#2nd Test|won by 9 wickets]]
| 61,552{{efn|name=capacity}}
| 129,079<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Damien Martyn]]
|-
| 2005
| {{cr|South Africa}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[South African cricket team in Australia in 2005–06#Second Test, Australia v South Africa, 26 December–30 December|won by 184 runs]]
| 71,910{{efn|name=capacity}}
| 192,338<ref name="MCGrecords" />
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Michael Hussey]]
|-
| 2006
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[2006–07 Ashes series#Fourth Test|won by an innings and 99 runs]]
| 89,155<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances.aspx |title=Melbourne Cricket Ground Attendances |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329085210/http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances.aspx |archive-date=29 March 2015}}</ref>
| 244,351<ref name=MCGrecords/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Shane Warne]]
|-
| 2007
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2007–08#1st Test|won by 337 runs]]
| 68,465<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| 166,663<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Matthew Hayden]]
|-
| 2008
| {{cr|South Africa}}
| {{cr|South Africa}} [[South African cricket team in Australia in 2008–09#2nd Test|won by 9 wickets]] 
| 63,263<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| 174,246<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Dale Steyn]]
|-
| 2009
| {{cr|Pakistan}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2009–10#1st Test|won by 170 runs]]
| 59,206<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| 156,267<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Shane Watson]]
|-
| 2010
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|England}} [[2010–11 Ashes series#Fourth Test|won by an innings and 157 runs]]
| 84,345<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| 240,156<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jonathan Trott]]
|-
| 2011
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2011–12#1st Test|won by 122 runs]]<ref name=CI2011>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2011/engine/match/518950.html
|title=India tour of Australia, 2011/12 (1st Test)
|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd.
|access-date= 2012-01-03}}</ref>
| 70,068<ref name=MCGrecent>
{{cite web|url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances/~/media/Files/Cricket%20Attendances.ashx
|title=Recent MCG Cricket Attendances
|access-date= 2012-01-03}}</ref>
| 189,347<ref name=CI2011/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[James Pattinson]]
|-
| 2012
| {{cr|Sri Lanka}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 2012–13#2nd Test|won by an innings and 201 runs]]
| 67,138<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| 137,455<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mitchell Johnson]]
|-
| 2013
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[2013–14 Ashes series#Fourth Test|won by 8 wickets]]
| 91,112<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| 271,865<ref name=MCGrecent/>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mitchell Johnson]]
|-
| 2014
| {{cr|India}}
| [[2014–15 Border–Gavaskar Trophy#3rd Test|Draw]]
| 69,993
| 194,481
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ryan Harris (cricketer)|Ryan Harris]]
|-
| 2015
| {{cr|West Indies}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[West Indian cricket team in Australia in 2015–16#2nd Test|won by 177 runs]]
| 53,389
| 127,069<ref>[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680651308555046912 OFFICIAL CROWD FIGURE: 53,389 #AUSvWI] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680994672760602625 Official attendance today: 40,516. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/681359556933373952 Official attendance today: 26,003. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/681720065998209024 Today's attendance for Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test is 7,161 #AUSvWI] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015</ref>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Nathan Lyon]]
|-
| 2016
| {{cr|Pakistan}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2016–17#2nd Test|won by an innings and 18 runs]]
| 63,478{{efn|name=rained}}
| 142,188<ref>{{cite tweet|number=813274295426134016|user=MCG|title=Today's official attendance at the MCG: 63,478. #AusvPak|date=26 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=813641621971443712|user=MCG|title=Official Attendance on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test: 39,339 #AUSvPAK|date=27 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=814002855778467840|user=MCG|title=Official attendance at the 'G for Day 3 of the Test is 25,393 #AUSvPAK|date=28 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=814348253009473536|user=MCG|title=For those playing at home, the official attendance for today was 7789. #AusvPak|date=29 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|number=814732996418871297|user=MCG|title=@ozrobbo: It was 6189.|date=30 December 2016}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Steve Smith (cricketer)|Steve Smith]]
|-
| 2017
| {{cr|England}}
| [[2017–18 Ashes series#4th Test|Draw]]
| 88,173
| 261,335
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Alastair Cook]]
|-
| 2018
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|India}} [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2018–19#3rd Test|won by 137 runs]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18693/game/1144995/australia-vs-india-3rd-test-india-in-aus-2018-19 |title=Australia vs India, 3rd Test - India in Aus 2018-19 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date= 2019-12-28}}</ref>
| 73,516
| 176,539
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jasprit Bumrah]]
|-
| 2019
| {{cr|New Zealand}}
| {{Cr|AUS}} [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2019–20#2nd Test|won by 247 runs]]
| 80,473<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/boxing-day-test-australia-vs-new-zealand-second-test-melbourne-80000-fans-record-attendance/article30400902.ece |title=Boxing Day Test: 80,000 fans turn up in record attendance at Melbourne |access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
| 203,472<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.austadiums.com/sport/event.php?eventid=22329 |title=2nd Test: Australia d New Zealand (d4) |publisher=austadiums.com |access-date= 2019-12-28}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Travis Head]]
|-
| 2020
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|India}} [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2020–21#2nd Test|won by 8 wickets]]
| 27,615{{efn|name=covid2020|A maximum of 30,000 people were allowed to attend each day due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcc.org.au/whats-on/latest-news/2020/december/boxing-day-test-attendance-increased |title= Boxing Day Test attendance increased |publisher=Melbourne Cricket Club |access-date= 2020-12-26}}</ref>}}
| 89,472<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.austadiums.com/sport/cricket/results |title=Cricket Results & Crowds |publisher=austadiums.com |access-date= 2021-01-16}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Ajinkya Rahane]]
|- 
| 2021
| {{cr|England}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[2021–22 Ashes series#Third Test|won by an innings and 14 runs]]
| 57,100
| 140,671
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Scott Boland]]
|- 
| 2022
| {{cr|South Africa}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[South African cricket team in Australia in 2022–23#2nd Test|won by an innings and 182 runs]]
| 64,876
| 155,714
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[David Warner (cricketer)|David Warner]]
|-
| 2023
| {{cr|Pakistan}}
| {{cr|AUS}} [[Pakistani cricket team in Australia in 2023–24#2nd Test|won by 79 runs]]
| 62,167
| 164,835
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Pat Cummins]]
|-
|2024
| {{cr|India}}
| {{cr|Australia}} [[Indian cricket team in Australia in 2024–25#4th Test|won by 184 runs]]
|87,242
|373,691
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Pat Cummins]]
|-
|2025
| {{cr|England}}
|
|
|
|
|-
|2026
| {{cr|New Zealand}}
|
|
|
|
|}

*''{{small|In 1989, instead of a Test match, a One Day International was held on 26 December at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and Sri Lanka. Australia won by 30 runs in front of a crowd of 45,012.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/benson-hedges-world-series-1989-90-60900/australia-vs-sri-lanka-1st-match-65451/full-scorecard |title=Australia vs Sri Lanka, 1st Match - Benson & Hedges World Series 1989-90 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date= 2021-01-03}}</ref>}}''

== Overall Record — Australia vs Visitors ==
[[File:Beer cup stacking at the MCG.jpg|thumb|right|[[Beer snake|Beer cup snake]] during the 2021 Boxing Day Test]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Opposition Team
! GP
! W
! D
! L
! width=60px|Win %
! Recent Test
|-
| {{cr|England}}
{{WDL|decimals=2|11|4|2|5}}
| Boxing Day 2021
|-
| {{cr|India}}
{{WDL|decimals=2|10|2|2|6}}
| Boxing Day 2024
|-
| {{cr|New Zealand}}
{{WDL|decimals=2|3|0|2|1}}
| Boxing Day 2019
|-
| {{cr|Pakistan}}
{{WDL|decimals=2|5|0|1|4}}
| Boxing Day 2023
|-
| {{cr|South Africa}}
{{WDL|decimals=2|6|1|2|3}}
| Boxing Day 2022
|-
| {{cr|Sri Lanka}}
{{WDL|decimals=2|2|0|0|2}}
| Boxing Day 2012
|-
| {{cr|West Indies}}
{{WDL|decimals=2|7|1|0|6}}
| Boxing Day 2015
|-
! Total
{{WDLtot|decimals=2|44|8|9|27}}
|'''Boxing Day 2024'''
|}

==See also==
*[[Boxing Day Test (South Africa)]]
*[[Boxing Day Test (New Zealand)]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=MCGrecords>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Cricket/~/media/Files/Cricket%20Records%20%20%20MCG%20Tests.ashx |title=Records – MCG Test Matches |publisher=Melbourne Cricket Ground |access-date= 2012-01-03 }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080914143943/http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Cricket/Boxing%20Day%20Test.aspx  History of MCG Boxing Day Tests]
* [http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63029.html Scoreboard: 1968 Boxing Day Test]
* [http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63138.html Scoreboard: 1974 Boxing Day Test]
* [http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63152.html Scoreboard: 1975 Boxing Day Test]
* [http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63278.html Scoreboard: 1980 Boxing Day Test]

{{Cricket in Australia}}
{{Melbourne events}}

{{Coord|37|49|12|S|144|59|00|E|display=title|region:AU-VIC_type:event}}

[[Category:Australia in international cricket]]
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[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1950]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Melbourne]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Australia]]
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[[Category:January in sports]]
[[Category:Christmas traditions]]
[[Category:Boxing Day]]
[[Category:Melbourne Cricket Ground]]