Australian cricket may be struggling against low crowds and dwindling interest in all three formats, but the Boxing Day Test always delivers guaranteed drama.
There’s no question about it, the five-day match at the MCG is one of the premier sporting events of the year and is a bucket-list moment for critkceters the world over.
And there is reason for the Boxing Day Test’s reputation as one of the most iconic fixtures in the cricket calendar, as it has served up countless memorable moments that have stood the test of time.
here, Sportsmail looks back at some of the best – and worst – Boxing Day Test moments, from an Australian perspective.
The Boxing Day Test is just around the corner. Sportsmail revisits some of the best moments
Best
Warne’s 700th wicket
Where else to start? In truth, Shane Warne deserves two mentions on this list – his hat trick against England in 1994, one of the many memorable moments that make up the spin king’s rich cricketing tapestry.
But it is Boxing Day 2006 that resonates most when talking about Warne and the MCG, when the Melbournian became the first bowler in Test history to take 700 wickets.
Boxing Day 2006 evoked fond memories after Shane Warne took his 700th Test wicket
The King of Spin ended his illustrious career with a special moment at the MCG
It was a very painful moment. Earlier in the week, after the Ashes series in Perth ended, Warne confirmed his retirement from Test cricket. So, coming to Melbourne for his final Boxing Day Test, Warne’s haul stood at 699 wickets.
England captain Andrew Flintoff sent his side out on the opening day, meaning it was close to a full house at the ‘G to watch Warne’s goal for No 700.
In the 47th over, the King of Spin stepped up and duly delivered, taking a fine leg break that bowled Andrew Strauss and crashed into the stumps.
‘And they couldn’t catch him!’ Mark Taylor roared as Warne ran across the turf in celebration. A perfect moment.
Garry is beautiful!
With the cards on the table, this contestant didn’t earn their place based on sporting merit or individual brilliance, but it was a cult moment that always elicited a smile.
A mere two-word phrase, uttered by skipper Matthew Wade behind the stumps in 2016, resonated with so many Aussie fans and left Nathan Lyon with an unshakeable new nickname.
‘Garry is beautiful!’
Nathan Lyon’s ‘Nice Garry!’ the wicket sent the MCG into raptures against Pakistan in 2016
The slogan, picked up by a stump microphone, was broadcast to millions of homes across the country during a Test match earlier this summer. Of course, Wade was referring to AFL legend and broadcaster Garry Lyon.
Social media quickly latched onto Wade’s motivational words and ‘Nice Garry!’ became a viral phenomenon. A Facebook event which encouraged everyone to shout the phrase at the third ball of his first over of the Boxing Day Test resulted in 20,000 people clicking ‘attend’ or ‘interested’.
And if Lyon is going to write how the third ball of his first over ends, this is it.
On the third ball of his first over, Lyon dismissed Sami Aslam to cheers of ‘Nice Garry!’
Steve Smith reached the ball, Lyon delivered a peach of the ball and encouraged Sami Aslam into a shot. Instead of centering the ball, it clipped the edge of his bat and curled safely into the Australian captain’s hands.
The crowd, unsurprisingly, went into bedlam and cheers of ‘Nice Garry’ echoed around the MCG.
Scott Boland magic against England
Boland scored six in ‘G! The man made a statue!’
On December 28, 2021, Australia retained The Ashes at the MCG, but that wasn’t the main takeaway from playing in Melbourne.
No, it was the magical spell that Scott Boland cast in one of cricket’s most iconic stadiums.
Scott Boland’s magical six-wicket haul will never be forgotten as a great Boxing Day moment
From domestic cricket journeyman to Ashes hero, Boland has written his name in history
From journeyman domestic cricketer to devastating, Ashes-winning bowler, the 6-7 Boland has done more for Australian cricket than simply hold the little urn.
Before Boland was included in the team at the MCG, only one player of Indigenous heritage (Jason Gillespie) had represented Australia in Test cricket in 145 years.
His ascension to the Test arena was unexpected, but at the age of 33, Boland has made the step up and is delivering for his country.
worst
England retain the Ashes 2010
If you’re an English cricket fan and have made it to this point, well – things are about to get better.
In truth, there haven’t been many moments in the Boxing Day Test that the Australians want to avoid, such is their rich history of success at the MCG.
But the 2010-11 Ashes series evoked a frenzy from Aussie fans.
The MCG was a stronghold for Australia, but the castle was ransacked by England in 2010
The tourists put in one of their best performances by far to beat Australia on home turf
It was the beginning of the end for Ricky Ponting after Australia failed to win back the Ashes
Twelve years ago, an away team led by Andrew Strauss gave one of England’s greatest performances on Australian soil by completely demolishing their rivals over four days.
Heading into the penultimate Test in Melbourne, the series was well poised at 1-1, and Strauss elected to bat first after winning the toss.
It turned out to be a remarkable decision, as the Aussies were skittled out for 98 before Strauss and Alastair Cook finished the day with an unbeaten stand of 157 runs.
The tourists went on to secure a dominant win by an innings and 157 runs, thereby securing the Ashes. With the ‘sprinkler’ celebration in front of the Barmy Army, the rest of the MCG was, unsurprisingly, deserted.
Murali no ball
The Boxing Day Test really has something for the spinners. Like Lyon, two words followed Muttiah Muralitharan whenever he played in Australia.
‘NO BALLS!’
In 1995, Sri Lanka were touring Australia and Murali – who had played 22 Tests by this point – stepped up to bowl at the MCG.
Muttiah Muralitharan enjoyed an impressive career but had a terrible time at ‘G in 1995
But despite his decent experience and status as a prodigious talent, that didn’t stop Australian umpire Darrell Hair from dismissing him on no fewer than seven occasions in three overs for his odd action.
Later in the Test series, Murali’s action was again discussed and it forced a rule change from the ICC.
It was obviously a scary moment for him, but Murali didn’t do too badly for himself after that summer, going on to etch his name in history by taking the most wickets in Test history, with 800 scalps.
shame of india
What has made Australia the cricketing powerhouse without a doubt, is their relentless ability to put the pedal to the metal when in a position of dominance, applying a squeeze so tight there is no escape for their rivals.
So, when the Aussies lost to India by 36 all out in Adelaide just 10 days before the 2020 Boxing Day Test, more humiliation was expected for the Indians.
India bounced back from being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide to beat Australia on Boxing Day
Furthermore, superstar batter Virat Kohli rushed out of Australia after the loss at the Adelaide Oval, where fans and pundits didn’t give the tourists a chance of a miracle.
But Ajinkya Rahane should not be deterred by external pessimism. The stand-in captain’s superb 112 runs in the first innings put clear daylight between his side and the Aussies, before excellent bowling from Jasprit Bumrah meant India needed only to chase 70 runs to get a famous win.
And Rahane was on hand to steer India to victory, scoring 27 not out to secure a six-wicket win. That victory in the Boxing Day Test galvanized the tourists, who went on to secure another shock victory at the Gabba to end a winning streak and hand Australia one of its worst summers in living memory.
