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- Published: December 25, 2023 14:50
New Delhi: Out of all the mysteries that the cricketing world holds, one of the most baffling mysteries of them all is the mystery of the Boxing Day Test match.
The fans often get confused with the name and think that it has something to do with boxing, a sport that involves physical confrontation, but just to be clear, the game boxing has nothing to do with the crickets Boxing Day Test, as it is just a test match played on December 26.
The most famous Boxing Day Test takes place between Australia and any visiting nation at that time and is typically played at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, from December 26 to 30.
However, despite being most popular in Australia, it’s not just Australia where the Boxing Day Test is played. Instead, it is also played in the nations of South Africa and New Zealand, but since Australia is the most consistent team with this schedule, the Boxing Day Test is most famous in ‘The Land Down Under.’
What is the concept behind the Boxing Day Test?
The main concept behind the Boxing Day Test is that, a day after Christmas, alms boxes are placed in front of the churches, where people donate gifts for the underprivileged workers, who failed to celebrate Christmas, with their families due to them working on the day of the festival.
As a token of appreciation and gratitude, the gifts donated in the alms boxes are being given to these workers, and to make them feel like a festive day, a special match is being played for their entertainment, and that match is often a test match and is called the Boxing Day Test match.
Australia’s record in the Boxing Day Test
The Aussie team, since their first Boxing Day test match in 1950, has played a total of 36 Boxing Day Test matches.
Out of the 37 matches, Aussies have won a total of 27 matches, while losing 10 and 10 matches ending in a draw.
Out of the ten losses that the Aussies have suffered on the boxing day Test, four have come against England, while South Africa, India and West Indies, share the second place with two wins each.
Australia put in the hard yards ahead of the Boxing Day Test 💪#WTC25 | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/otzdWwsHEZ
— ICC (@ICC) December 25, 2023
Australia will be facing Pakistan, in 2023’s Boxing Day Test match.
India at the Boxing Day Test in Australia
Indian cricket team first played the Boxing Day Test match in 1985 and has been a frequent visitor to Melbourne.
India has played a total of eight Boxing Day Test matches in Australia, out of which they have emerged victorious in two matches, losing five time, while two matches ended in a draw.
India team fielding practice for Boxing Day Test Match#INDvsSApic.twitter.com/NZRRsYcRuK
— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_) December 25, 2023
India will be facing South Africa in the Boxing Day Test in 2023.
