Australian cricket may be battling against low crowds and dwindling interest across all three formats, but the Boxing Day Test always delivers guaranteed drama.
There can be no question about it, the five-day match at the MCG is one of the top sporting events of the year and it is a bucket-list moment for critkceters the world over.
And there’s reason for the Boxing Day Test’s reputation as one of the most iconic fixtures on the cricket calendar, for it has served 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 begin? In truth, Shane Warne deserves two mentions in this list – with his hat trick against England in 1994 one of many memorable moments that make up the spin king’s rich cricketing tapestry.
But it was Boxing Day 2006 which 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 evokes fond memories after Shane Warne picked up his 700th Test wicket
The King of Spin rounded out his wonderful career with a special moment at the MCG
It was such a poignant moment. Earlier in the week, having wrapped up the Ashes series in Perth, Warne confirmed his retirement from Test cricket. So, arriving in Melbourne for his final Boxing Day Test, Warne’s haul stood at 699 wickets.
England captain Andrew Flintoff sent his side into bat on the opening day, meaning that there was close to a full house at the ‘G to watch Warne aim for No 700.
In the 47th over, the King of Spin stepped up and duly delivered, executing a beautiful leg break that got the better of Andrew Strauss and crashed into the stumps.
‘And they can’t catch him!’ Mark Taylor roared as Warne sprinted across the turf in celebration. A perfect moment.
Nice Garry!
Cards on the table, this entrant hasn’t earnt its place based off sporting merit or individual brilliance, but it is a cult moment that always permeates a smile.
Just a two-word phrase, bellowed by the commanding Matthew Wade behind the stumps in 2016, has resonated with legions of Aussie fans and left Nathan Lyon with an immovable new nickname.
‘Nice Garry!’
Nathan Lyon’s ‘Nice Garry!’ wicket sent the MCG into raptures against Pakistan in 2016
The slogan, picked up by the stump microphone, was broadcast into millions of homes across the nation in a Test match earlier in the summer. Wade was, of course, referring to AFL legend and broadcaster Garry Lyon.
Social media swiftly latched onto Wade’s motivational words and ‘Nice Garry!’ turned into a viral phenomenon. A Facebook event that urged everyone to yell the phrase on the third ball of his first over of the Boxing Day Test resulted in 20,000 people clicking ‘attending’ or ‘interested’.
And if Lyon was to script how the third ball of his first over would pan out, this would be it.
On the third ball of his first over, Lyon dismissed Sami Aslam to cheers of ‘Nice Garry!’
Handed the ball by Steve Smith, Lyon delivered a peach of a ball and enticed Sami Aslam into a shot. Instead of middling the ball, it clipped the edge of his bat and looped safely into the hands of the Australia captain.
The crowd, unsurprisingly, were sent into bedlam and cheers of ‘Nice Garry’ reverberated around the MCG.
Scott Boland magic vs England
‘Boland’s got six at the ‘G! Build the man a statue!’
28 December 2021 saw Australia retain The Ashes at the MCG, but that wasn’t the major takeaway from play in Melbourne.
No, it was the magical spell that Scott Boland cast over 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 journeyman domestic cricket to Ashes hero, Boland’s written his name into history
From journeyman domestic cricketer to devastating, Ashes-winning bowler, Boland’s 6-7 did so much more for Australian cricket than simply keeping hold of the little urn.
Before Boland’s inclusion in the team at the MCG, only one player of Indigenous heritage (Jason Gillespie) represented Australia in Test cricket in 145 years.
His ascension to the Test arena was not expected, 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 done – things will start to look better.
In truth, there haven’t been many Boxing Day Test moments that Australians would want to shy away from, such is their rich history of success at the MCG.
But the 2010-11 Ashes series elicits nightmarish shudders from Aussie fans.
The MCG has been a fortress for Australia, but the castle was ransacked by England in 2010
The tourists put in one of their best ever away performances to thrash 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 provided one of England’s greatest performances on Australian soil by absolutely destroying their arch rivals inside four days.
Heading into the penultimate Test in Melbourne, the series was finely poised at 1-1, and Strauss elected to field first after winning the toss.
It turned out to be a wonderful decision, as the Aussies were skittled for 98 before Strauss and Alastair Cook ended 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. Performing the ‘sprinkler’ celebration in front of the Barmy Army, the rest of the MCG, unsurprisingly, was deserted.
Murali no ball
The Boxing Day Test really has a thing for spinners. Just like Lyon, two words have followed Muttiah Muralitharan whenever he played in Australia.
‘NO BALL!’
Back in 1995, Sri Lanka were touring Australia and Murali – who had already played 22 Tests by this point – stepped up to bowl at the MCG.
Muttiah Muralitharan enjoyed a remarkable career but had a horrendous time at the ‘G in 1995
But despite his decent experience and status as a prodigious talent, it didn’t stop Australian umpire Darrell Hair no-balling him on no fewer than seven occasions in three overs due to his unique action.
Later in the Test series, Murali’s action was called into question again and it forced a rule change from the ICC.
It was obviously a horror moment for him, but Murali didn’t do so bad for himself after that summer, going on to etch his name in history by taking the most wickets in Test history, with 800 scalps.
India humiliation
What has made Australia the cricketing powerhouse that it undoubtedly is, has been their relentless ability to put pedal to the metal when in a position of dominance, applying a squeeze so tight that there is no escape for their rivals.
So, when the Aussies bowled India for 36 all out at Adelaide just 10 days prior to the 2020 Boxing Day Test, further embarrassment was expected for the Indians.
India bounced back from being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide to beat Australia on Boxing Day
What’s more, superstar batter Virat Kohli made a hasty exit from Australia after the defeat at Adelaide Oval, with fans and pundits giving the tourists no chance of a miracle turnaround.
But Ajinkya Rahane was not to be deterred by the 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 that India needed to chase down just 70 runs to secure a famous win.
And it was Rahane on hand to steer India to victory, scoring 27 not out to secure a six-wicket win. That Boxing Day Test triumph galvanised the tourists, who went on to earn another shock victory at the Gabba to wrap up a series victory and consign Australia to one of its worst summers in memory.
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