What is a Boxing Day Test match?
Now it's a very common tradition in Australia and South Africa where they host a Test Match on every Boxing Day.
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SuperSport Park hosted the Boxing Day Test match between India and South Africa in 2023 (Image via ESPN)
On 26th December, also known as Boxing Day, is a day where cricket fans are treated to a minimum of one Test match, with Australia always being a one team participating. It is usually played in the countries of Australia and South Africa, with a Test confirmed on Boxing Day every year.
Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, and usually is a day where everyone receives their gifts. It has been a tradition in Australia since the 19th century, when Victoria and New South Wales played a match during the Christmas period at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium. Since then there has always been a Test match during the festive season, but in 1980 a date was fixed.
Cricket Australia fixed 26th December as a date where a Test match would be played. All matches were played at the MCG as well, which often invited huge crowds. South Africa hosted their first Boxing Day Test in 1913, where they hosted England. Since then they have hosted Tests during the festive season. Unlike Australia, they don’t have a fixed venue. In 2023, there were two Boxing Day Tests. Australia hosted Pakistan, while South Africa hosted India.
India’s records in Boxing Day Test matches
India have played 17 Test matches across 4 countries. The Indian team played their first Boxing Day Test in 1985, where they drew against Australia at the MCG. In 1987, India hosted their first Boxing Day Test, playing West Indies at the Eden Gardens. That remains the only boxing day Test they have held as well.
Since then, they have played eight Tests in the MCG, one in New Zealand and the remaining in South Africa. India have lost 10 out of the 17, with their most recent win coming in 2021 against South Africa. Now they play in the African nation in 2023 in the SuperSport Stadium, Centurion. In 2024, they will travel to Australia for a 5-match Test series which includes a Boxing Day Test.
India’s records in Boxing Day Tests
| Opponent | Stadium | Result | Year |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Drawn | 1985 |
| West Indies | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Drawn | 1987 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Lost by 8 wickets | 1991 |
| South Africa | St. George’s Park, Gqeberha | Lost by 9 wickets | 1992 |
| South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban | Lost by 328 runs | 1996 |
| New Zealand | Basin Reserve, Wellington | Lost by 4 wickets | 1998 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Lost by 188 runs | 1999 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Lost by 9 wickets | 2003 |
| South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban | Lost by 174 runs | 2006 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Lost by 337 runs | 2007 |
| South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban | Won by 87 runs | 2009 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Lost by 122 runs | 2011 |
| South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban | Lost by 10 wickets | 2013 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Drawn | 2014 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Won by 137 runs | 2018 |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | Won by 8 wickets | 2020 |
| South Africa | SuperSport Stadium, Centurion | Won by 113 runs | 2021 |
| South Africa | SuperSport Stadium, Centurion | 2023 | |
| Australia | MCG, Melbourne | 2024 |
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Dhruv Kulkarni
(1120 Articles Published)