An M.C.G. men’s Test match has coincided with Boxing Day every year since 1990, when Australia defeated England by eight wickets. The Ashes combatants have contested the most such fixtures over that time, with eight test matches, but India are set to equal that mark when they face off against the Australians come December 26th. Indeed, India were victorious (by 137 runs) the last time they played in the festive event in 2018, so will not be lacking in confidence this time around. There’ll also be little in the way of surprises for this touring side this time around.
Pakistan (L3) and Sri Lanka (L2) are the only teams to have participated in the fixture multiple times since 1990 without tasting victory against Australia. Australia’s record at the MCG during Boxing Day Men’s Tests is unsurprisingly dominant:
Australia’s Record in MCG Boxing Day Men’s Tests (By Opposition) 1990 – 2019:
Opponent P W D L
Total 30 21 4 5
England 8 5 1 2
India 7 5 1 1
South Africa 5 2 2 1
West Indies 4 3 0 1
Pakistan 3 3 0 0
Sri Lanka 2 2 0 0
New Zealand 1 1 0 0
The Batsmen
Ricky Ponting (1,338) is the leading run-scorer from the last 30 years of Boxing Day men’s Tests at the MCG, with 235 more runs than the next-best and Australian teammate Matthew Hayden (1,103). Hayden has scored the most centuries (six) of any player in the fixture across this period. One of the current Australian players in Steven Smith (113.5) boasts the best batting average of any player to have had at least three innings at the ground. In fact, Smith is 92 runs away from becoming the fourth player to score 1,000 at the MCG across this stretch, where he’ll join the illustrious band of Ponting, Hayden and Waugh.
MCG Boxing Day Men’s Tests Highest Run-Scorers (1990 – 2019):
Player Innings Runs HS Avg 100s 50s
Ricky Ponting 28 1,338 257 58.2 4 7
Matthew Hayden 19 1,103 153 68.9 6 3
Steve Waugh 20 1,074 131* 76.7 3 5
Steven Smith 12 908 192 113.5 4 3
Mark Waugh 18 735 112 45.9 1 5
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar (449) is the leading run-scorer among overseas players to have played in a Boxing Day men’s Test match since 1990, although the distinction for the highest score by an overseas player belongs to England’s Sir Alastair Cook, who scored 244* against Australia in 2017. It is the highest unbeaten score in the fixture and the third-highest in an innings overall (Ricky Ponting – 257 v India in 2003 and Justin Langer – 250 v England in 2002). Cook’s strike rate of 59.7 in the innings is the second-highest of the quartet of players to have scored a double century at the MCG in Boxing Day tests, second to Justin Langer (61.4 v England, 2002.)
The Bowlers
Shane Warne has been the pick of the bowlers over the last 30 years of the Boxing Day fixture, taking 56 wickets on his home deck at the MCG – only Glenn McGrath (42) has also taken 40+. Indeed, Warne’s best inning figures of 7/52 (1992 v West Indies) in this span is only bettered by one other individual (Bruce Reid – 7/51 v England, 1990). India’s Anil Kumble (15 wickets) is the most prolific overseas bowler in this fixture.
MCG Boxing Day Men’s Tests Most Wickets (1990 – 2019):
| Player | Overs | Maidens | Wickets | Avg | Econ | Strike Rate | 5 Wicket Innings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shane Warne | 523 | 129 | 56 | 22.9 | 2.5 | 56.0 | 3 |
| Glenn McGrath | 439.2 | 144 | 42 | 22.8 | 2.2 | 62.7 | 2 |
| Brett Lee | 306.4 | 71 | 34 | 28.5 | 3.2 | 54.1 | 1 |
| Mitchell Johnson | 253.5 | 56 | 32 | 23.9 | 3.0 | 47.5 | 1 |
| Nathan Lyon | 334.5 | 53 | 31 | 34.4 | 3.2 | 64.8 | 1 |
Jasprit Bumrah is a key member of India’s bowling attack on this tour of Australia and had a particularly fruitful time in his only previous Boxing Day Test experience in 2018. Bumrah finished with his Test-best figures of 9/86 for the match at a strike rate of 23.2 – it is the best strike rate of any bowler to have had at least five overs with the ball in the Boxing Day fixture in the last 30 years. Bruce Reid (27.9) is the leading Australian player in this regard.
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*Jasprit Bumrah – Balls Bowled v Right and Left-Hand Bat respectively (At MCG in Test)
MCG Boxing Day Men’s Tests Best Strike Rates (1990 – 2019, Min. 5 Overs Bowled)
Player Country Overs Strike Rate Wickets Avg Econ
Jasprit Bumrah India 34.5 23.2 9 9.6 2.5
Bruce Reid Australia 116.2 27.9 25 11.0 2.4
Dale Steyn South Africa 49.2 29.6 10 15.4 3.1
Sajid Mahmood England 21.3 32.2 4 25.0 4.7
Jason Gillespie Australia 117.1 33.4 21 13.4 2.4
After the festive events of the previous day, there is something truly magical about the Boxing Day Test. It will be a delight to take it all in once again.
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