Boxing Day Test

History

By long tradition, a Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales had been played at the MCG over the Christmas period dating back as far as 1865. 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.

The Boxing Day Test has cultural significance and often draws large crowds, 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 2025, the fourth Test of the 2025–26 Ashes series against England.

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.

List of Boxing Day Test matches

• 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.

Overall Record — Australia vs Visitors

Notes

References

References

1. "Victoria vs New South Wales, 1865-66". ESPNcricinfo.
2. (2016-12-24). "The surprisingly short history of the Boxing Day Test". ABC News.
3. (22 December 2021). "Capacity crowds at Boxing Day Test and Australian Open still planned despite Omicron fears". ABC News.
4. Wales, Sean. (2019-12-09). "'You get told about Bradman but not our mob': Test medal to honour Indigenous cricketing icon".
5. "The Indigenous hole at Australian cricket's heart". ESPN Cricinfo.
6. "Melbourne Cricket Ground Attendances".
7. [https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680651308555046912 OFFICIAL CROWD FIGURE: 53,389 #AUSvWI] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015
8. [https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680994672760602625 Official attendance today: 40,516. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015
9. [https://twitter.com/MCG/status/681359556933373952 Official attendance today: 26,003. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015
10. [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
11. (26 December 2016). "Today's official attendance at the MCG: 63,478. #AusvPak".
12. (27 December 2016). "Official Attendance on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test: 39,339 #AUSvPAK".
13. (28 December 2016). "Official attendance at the 'G for Day 3 of the Test is 25,393 #AUSvPAK".
14. (29 December 2016). "For those playing at home, the official attendance for today was 7789. #AusvPak".
15. (30 December 2016). "@ozrobbo: It was 6189.".
16. "Australia vs India, 3rd Test - India in Aus 2018-19". ESPNcricinfo.
17. "Boxing Day Test: 80,000 fans turn up in record attendance at Melbourne".
18. "2nd Test: Australia d New Zealand (d4)". austadiums.com.
19. "Boxing Day Test attendance increased". Melbourne Cricket Club.
20. "Cricket Results & Crowds". austadiums.com.
21. "Australia vs Sri Lanka, 1st Match - Benson & Hedges World Series 1989-90". ESPNcricinfo.
22. "Records – MCG Test Matches". Melbourne Cricket Ground.