Boxing Day Test

{{Short description|Annual cricket match between Australia and a visiting international team}}

{{Infobox recurring event

| name = Boxing Day Test

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| logo =

| logo_caption =

| image = Boxing Day Test 2015.jpg

| caption = The Melbourne Cricket Ground during the first day of the 2015 Boxing Day Test match

| status = Active

| genre = Sporting event

| date =

| begins = 26 December

| ends = On or before 30 December

| frequency = Annual

| venue = Melbourne Cricket Ground

| location = Melbourne, Victoria

| coordinates =

| country = Australia

| years_active =

| first = {{Start date|1968|df=y}}

| founder_name =

| last =

| prev =

| next =

| participants =

| attendance =

| area =

| budget =

| activity =

| patron =

| organised =

| filing =

| people =

| member =

| sponsor =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

The Boxing Day Test match is a cricket Test match held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, involving the Australia national cricket team and an opposing national team that is touring Australia during the southern summer. It begins annually on Boxing Day (26 December) and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

History

Image:Boxingaday.jpg

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. {{cite web |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1860S/1865-66/AUS_LOCAL/VIC_NSW_26-28DEC1865.html |title=Victoria vs New South Wales, 1865-66 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date= 2021-01-03}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2016-12-24 |title=The surprisingly short history of the Boxing Day Test |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-25/boxing-day-test-match-tradition-has-short-history-at-mcg/8135852 |access-date=2023-10-11}}

The Boxing Day Test has cultural significance and often draws large crowds,{{cite news |last1=Boaz |first1=Judd |last2=Gordon |first2=Oliver |title=Capacity crowds at Boxing Day Test and Australian Open still planned despite Omicron fears |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-22/victoria-covid-crowds-allowed-boxing-day-test-australian-open/100718546 |access-date=30 December 2021 |work=ABC News |date=22 December 2021 |language=en-AU}} 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 2013, the fourth Test of the 2013–14 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-09/johnny-mullagh-medal-at-boxing-day-test-from-2020/11779184|title='You get told about Bradman but not our mob': Test medal to honour Indigenous cricketing icon|last=Wales|first=Sean|date=2019-12-09|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-12-10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29396207/the-indigenous-hole-australian-cricket-heart |title=The Indigenous hole at Australian cricket's heart |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2 July 2020}}

File:Boxing Day Test 2024 panorama full.jpg of the MCG for day one of the 2024 Boxing Day Test.]]

List of Boxing Day Test matches

class="wikitable sortable"
scope="col" text-align:centre" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Opposition team ! scope="col" \| Result ! scope="col" \| Boxing Day Crowd ! scope="col" \| Total Attendance ! scope="col" \| Player of the Match: Mullagh Medal
1968 \| {{cr\|West Indies}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by an innings and 30 runs \| 18,766 \| 113,376 \|
1974 \| {{cr\|England}} \| Draw \| 77,167 \| 250,750 \|
1975 \| {{cr\|West Indies}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 8 wickets \| 85,661 \| 222,755 \|{{flagicon\|Australia}} Jeff Thomson
1980 \| {{cr\|New Zealand}} \| Draw \| 28,671 \| 82,745 \|{{flagicon\|New Zealand}} Richard Hadlee
1981 \| {{cr\|West Indies}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 58 runs \| 39,982 \| 134,081 \|{{flagicon\|Australia}} Kim Hughes
1982 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|England}} won by 3 runs \| 63,900 \| 214,882 \|{{flagicon\|England}} Norman Cowans
1983 \| {{cr\|Pakistan}} \| Draw \| 40,277 \| 111,611 \|{{flagicon\|Australia}} Graham Yallop
1985 \| {{cr\|India}} \| Draw \| 18,146 \| 77,715 \|{{flagicon\|Australia}} Allan Border
1986 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|England}} won by an innings and 14 runs \| 58,203 \| 107,817 \|{{flagicon\|England}} Gladstone Small
1987 \| {{cr\|New Zealand}} \| Draw \| 51,807 \| 127,184 \|{{flagicon\|New Zealand}} Richard Hadlee
1990 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 9 wickets \| 49,763 \| 129,530 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Bruce Reid
1991 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 8 wickets \| 42,494 \| 89,369 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Bruce Reid
1992 \| {{cr\|West Indies}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 139 runs \| 28,397 \| 83,320 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Shane Warne
1993 \| {{cr\|South Africa\|1928}} \| Draw \| 15,604{{efn\|name=rained\|It rained on Boxing Day.}} \| 48,565 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Mark Taylor
1995 \| {{cr\|Sri Lanka}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 10 wickets \| 55,239 \| 105,388 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Glenn McGrath
1996 \| {{cr\|West Indies}} \| {{cr\|West Indies}} won by 6 wickets \| 72,891 \| 131,671 \| {{flagicon\|West Indies}} Curtly Ambrose
1997 \| {{cr\|South Africa}} \| Draw \| 73,812 \| 160,182 \| {{flagicon\|RSA}} Jacques Kallis
1998 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|England}} won by 12 runs \| 61,580 \| 159,031 \| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Dean Headley
1999 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 180 runs \| 49,082{{efn\|name=rained}} \| 134,554 \| {{flagicon\|IND}} Sachin Tendulkar
2000 \| {{cr\|West Indies}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 352 runs \| 73,233 \| 133,299 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Steve Waugh
2001 \| {{cr\|South Africa}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 9 wickets \| 61,796 \| 153,025 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Matthew Hayden
2002 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 5 wickets \| 64,189{{efn\|name=capacity\|Capacity of ground reduced due to redevelopment for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.}} \| 177,658 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Justin Langer
2003 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 9 wickets \| 62,613{{efn\|name=capacity}} \| 179,662 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Ricky Ponting
2004 \| {{cr\|Pakistan}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 9 wickets \| 61,552{{efn\|name=capacity}} \| 129,079 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Damien Martyn
2005 \| {{cr\|South Africa}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 184 runs \| 71,910{{efn\|name=capacity}} \| 192,338 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Michael Hussey
2006 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by an innings and 99 runs \| 89,155{{cite web \|url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances.aspx \|title=Melbourne Cricket Ground Attendances \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329085210/http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances.aspx \|archive-date=29 March 2015}} \| 244,351 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Shane Warne
2007 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 337 runs \| 68,465 \| 166,663 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Matthew Hayden
2008 \| {{cr\|South Africa}} \| {{cr\|South Africa}} won by 9 wickets \| 63,263 \| 174,246 \| {{flagicon\|RSA}} Dale Steyn
2009 \| {{cr\|Pakistan}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 170 runs \| 59,206 \| 156,267 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Shane Watson
2010 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|England}} won by an innings and 157 runs \| 84,345 \| 240,156 \| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Jonathan Trott
2011 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 122 runs {{cite web \|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2011/engine/match/518950.html \|title=India tour of Australia, 2011/12 (1st Test) \|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd. \|access-date= 2012-01-03}} \| 70,068 {{cite web\|url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances/~/media/Files/Cricket%20Attendances.ashx \|title=Recent MCG Cricket Attendances \|access-date= 2012-01-03}} \| 189,347 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} James Pattinson
2012 \| {{cr\|Sri Lanka}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by an innings and 201 runs \| 67,138 \| 137,455 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Mitchell Johnson
2013 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 8 wickets \| 91,112 \| 271,865 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Mitchell Johnson
2014 \| {{cr\|India}} \| Draw \| 69,993 \| 194,481 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Ryan Harris
2015 \| {{cr\|West Indies}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 177 runs \| 53,389 \| 127,069[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680651308555046912 OFFICIAL CROWD FIGURE: 53,389 #AUSvWI] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680994672760602625 Official attendance today: 40,516. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/681359556933373952 Official attendance today: 26,003. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015[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 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Nathan Lyon
2016 \| {{cr\|Pakistan}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by an innings and 18 runs \| 63,478{{efn\|name=rained}} \| 142,188{{cite tweet\|number=813274295426134016\|user=MCG\|title=Today's official attendance at the MCG: 63,478. #AusvPak\|date=26 December 2016}}{{cite tweet\|number=813641621971443712\|user=MCG\|title=Official Attendance on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test: 39,339 #AUSvPAK\|date=27 December 2016}}{{cite tweet\|number=814002855778467840\|user=MCG\|title=Official attendance at the 'G for Day 3 of the Test is 25,393 #AUSvPAK\|date=28 December 2016}}{{cite tweet\|number=814348253009473536\|user=MCG\|title=For those playing at home, the official attendance for today was 7789. #AusvPak\|date=29 December 2016}}{{cite tweet\|number=814732996418871297\|user=MCG\|title=@ozrobbo: It was 6189.\|date=30 December 2016}} \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Steve Smith
2017 \| {{cr\|England}} \| Draw \| 88,173 \| 261,335 \| {{flagicon\|ENG}} Alastair Cook
2018 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|India}} won by 137 runs{{cite web \|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18693/game/1144995/australia-vs-india-3rd-test-india-in-aus-2018-19 \|title=Australia vs India, 3rd Test - India in Aus 2018-19 \|publisher=ESPNcricinfo \|access-date= 2019-12-28}} \| 73,516 \| 176,539 \| {{flagicon\|IND}} Jasprit Bumrah
2019 \| {{cr\|New Zealand}} \| {{Cr\|AUS}} won by 247 runs \| 80,473{{cite web \|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/boxing-day-test-australia-vs-new-zealand-second-test-melbourne-80000-fans-record-attendance/article30400902.ece \|title=Boxing Day Test: 80,000 fans turn up in record attendance at Melbourne \|access-date=28 December 2019}} \| 203,472{{cite web \|url=https://www.austadiums.com/sport/event.php?eventid=22329 \|title=2nd Test: Australia d New Zealand (d4) \|publisher=austadiums.com \|access-date= 2019-12-28}} \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Travis Head
2020 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|India}} won by 8 wickets \| 27,615{{efn\|name=covid2020\|A maximum of 30,000 people were allowed to attend each day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web\|url=https://www.mcc.org.au/whats-on/latest-news/2020/december/boxing-day-test-attendance-increased \|title= Boxing Day Test attendance increased \|publisher=Melbourne Cricket Club \|access-date= 2020-12-26}}}} \| 89,472{{cite web \|url=https://www.austadiums.com/sport/cricket/results \|title=Cricket Results & Crowds \|publisher=austadiums.com \|access-date= 2021-01-16}} \| {{flagicon\|IND}} Ajinkya Rahane
2021 \| {{cr\|England}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by an innings and 14 runs \| 57,100 \| 140,671 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Scott Boland
2022 \| {{cr\|South Africa}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by an innings and 182 runs \| 64,876 \| 155,714 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} David Warner
2023 \| {{cr\|Pakistan}} \| {{cr\|AUS}} won by 79 runs \| 62,167 \| 164,835 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Pat Cummins
2024 \| {{cr\|India}} \| {{cr\|Australia}} won by 184 runs \|87,242 \|373,691 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Pat Cummins
2025 \| {{cr\|England}} \| \| \| \|
2026 \| {{cr\|New Zealand}} \| \| \| \|

class="wikitable sortable"

scope="col" text-align:centre" | Year

! scope="col" | Opposition team

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" | Boxing Day Crowd

! scope="col" | Total Attendance

! scope="col" | Player of the Match: Mullagh Medal

1968

| {{cr|West Indies}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by an innings and 30 runs

| 18,766

| 113,376

1974

| {{cr|England}}

| Draw

| 77,167

| 250,750

1975

| {{cr|West Indies}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 8 wickets

| 85,661

| 222,755

|{{flagicon|Australia}} Jeff Thomson

1980

| {{cr|New Zealand}}

| Draw

| 28,671

| 82,745

|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} Richard Hadlee

1981

| {{cr|West Indies}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 58 runs

| 39,982

| 134,081

|{{flagicon|Australia}} Kim Hughes

1982

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|England}} won by 3 runs

| 63,900

| 214,882

|{{flagicon|England}} Norman Cowans

1983

| {{cr|Pakistan}}

| Draw

| 40,277

| 111,611

|{{flagicon|Australia}} Graham Yallop

1985

| {{cr|India}}

| Draw

| 18,146

| 77,715

|{{flagicon|Australia}} Allan Border

1986

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|England}} won by an innings and 14 runs

| 58,203

| 107,817

|{{flagicon|England}} Gladstone Small

1987

| {{cr|New Zealand}}

| Draw

| 51,807

| 127,184

|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} Richard Hadlee

1990

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 9 wickets

| 49,763

| 129,530

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Bruce Reid

1991

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 8 wickets

| 42,494

| 89,369

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Bruce Reid

1992

| {{cr|West Indies}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 139 runs

| 28,397

| 83,320

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Shane Warne

1993

| {{cr|South Africa|1928}}

| Draw

| 15,604{{efn|name=rained|It rained on Boxing Day.}}

| 48,565

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Mark Taylor

1995

| {{cr|Sri Lanka}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 10 wickets

| 55,239

| 105,388

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Glenn McGrath

1996

| {{cr|West Indies}}

| {{cr|West Indies}} won by 6 wickets

| 72,891

| 131,671

| {{flagicon|West Indies}} Curtly Ambrose

1997

| {{cr|South Africa}}

| Draw

| 73,812

| 160,182

| {{flagicon|RSA}} Jacques Kallis

1998

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|England}} won by 12 runs

| 61,580

| 159,031

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Dean Headley

1999

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 180 runs

| 49,082{{efn|name=rained}}

| 134,554

| {{flagicon|IND}} Sachin Tendulkar

2000

| {{cr|West Indies}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 352 runs

| 73,233

| 133,299

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Steve Waugh

2001

| {{cr|South Africa}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 9 wickets

| 61,796

| 153,025

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Matthew Hayden

2002

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 5 wickets

| 64,189{{efn|name=capacity|Capacity of ground reduced due to redevelopment for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.}}

| 177,658

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Justin Langer

2003

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 9 wickets

| 62,613{{efn|name=capacity}}

| 179,662

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ricky Ponting

2004

| {{cr|Pakistan}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 9 wickets

| 61,552{{efn|name=capacity}}

| 129,079

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Damien Martyn

2005

| {{cr|South Africa}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 184 runs

| 71,910{{efn|name=capacity}}

| 192,338

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Michael Hussey

2006

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by an innings and 99 runs

| 89,155{{cite web |url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances.aspx |title=Melbourne Cricket Ground Attendances |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329085210/http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances.aspx |archive-date=29 March 2015}}

| 244,351

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Shane Warne

2007

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 337 runs

| 68,465

| 166,663

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Matthew Hayden

2008

| {{cr|South Africa}}

| {{cr|South Africa}} won by 9 wickets

| 63,263

| 174,246

| {{flagicon|RSA}} Dale Steyn

2009

| {{cr|Pakistan}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 170 runs

| 59,206

| 156,267

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Shane Watson

2010

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|England}} won by an innings and 157 runs

| 84,345

| 240,156

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Jonathan Trott

2011

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 122 runs

{{cite web

|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2011/engine/match/518950.html

|title=India tour of Australia, 2011/12 (1st Test)

|publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd.

|access-date= 2012-01-03}}

| 70,068

{{cite web|url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Attendances/~/media/Files/Cricket%20Attendances.ashx

|title=Recent MCG Cricket Attendances

|access-date= 2012-01-03}}

| 189,347

| {{flagicon|AUS}} James Pattinson

2012

| {{cr|Sri Lanka}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by an innings and 201 runs

| 67,138

| 137,455

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Mitchell Johnson

2013

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 8 wickets

| 91,112

| 271,865

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Mitchell Johnson

2014

| {{cr|India}}

| Draw

| 69,993

| 194,481

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Ryan Harris

2015

| {{cr|West Indies}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 177 runs

| 53,389

| 127,069[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680651308555046912 OFFICIAL CROWD FIGURE: 53,389 #AUSvWI] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/680994672760602625 Official attendance today: 40,516. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015[https://twitter.com/MCG/status/681359556933373952 Official attendance today: 26,003. #AUSvWI #MCG] twitter.com/MCG. Retrieved on 29 Dec 2015[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

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Nathan Lyon

2016

| {{cr|Pakistan}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by an innings and 18 runs

| 63,478{{efn|name=rained}}

| 142,188{{cite tweet|number=813274295426134016|user=MCG|title=Today's official attendance at the MCG: 63,478. #AusvPak|date=26 December 2016}}{{cite tweet|number=813641621971443712|user=MCG|title=Official Attendance on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test: 39,339 #AUSvPAK|date=27 December 2016}}{{cite tweet|number=814002855778467840|user=MCG|title=Official attendance at the 'G for Day 3 of the Test is 25,393 #AUSvPAK|date=28 December 2016}}{{cite tweet|number=814348253009473536|user=MCG|title=For those playing at home, the official attendance for today was 7789. #AusvPak|date=29 December 2016}}{{cite tweet|number=814732996418871297|user=MCG|title=@ozrobbo: It was 6189.|date=30 December 2016}}

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Steve Smith

2017

| {{cr|England}}

| Draw

| 88,173

| 261,335

| {{flagicon|ENG}} Alastair Cook

2018

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|India}} won by 137 runs{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/18693/game/1144995/australia-vs-india-3rd-test-india-in-aus-2018-19 |title=Australia vs India, 3rd Test - India in Aus 2018-19 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date= 2019-12-28}}

| 73,516

| 176,539

| {{flagicon|IND}} Jasprit Bumrah

2019

| {{cr|New Zealand}}

| {{Cr|AUS}} won by 247 runs

| 80,473{{cite web |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/boxing-day-test-australia-vs-new-zealand-second-test-melbourne-80000-fans-record-attendance/article30400902.ece |title=Boxing Day Test: 80,000 fans turn up in record attendance at Melbourne |access-date=28 December 2019}}

| 203,472{{cite web |url=https://www.austadiums.com/sport/event.php?eventid=22329 |title=2nd Test: Australia d New Zealand (d4) |publisher=austadiums.com |access-date= 2019-12-28}}

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Travis Head

2020

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|India}} won by 8 wickets

| 27,615{{efn|name=covid2020|A maximum of 30,000 people were allowed to attend each day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.mcc.org.au/whats-on/latest-news/2020/december/boxing-day-test-attendance-increased |title= Boxing Day Test attendance increased |publisher=Melbourne Cricket Club |access-date= 2020-12-26}}}}

| 89,472{{cite web |url=https://www.austadiums.com/sport/cricket/results |title=Cricket Results & Crowds |publisher=austadiums.com |access-date= 2021-01-16}}

| {{flagicon|IND}} Ajinkya Rahane

2021

| {{cr|England}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by an innings and 14 runs

| 57,100

| 140,671

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Scott Boland

2022

| {{cr|South Africa}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by an innings and 182 runs

| 64,876

| 155,714

| {{flagicon|AUS}} David Warner

2023

| {{cr|Pakistan}}

| {{cr|AUS}} won by 79 runs

| 62,167

| 164,835

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Pat Cummins

2024

| {{cr|India}}

| {{cr|Australia}} won by 184 runs

|87,242

|373,691

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Pat Cummins

2025

| {{cr|England}}

2026

| {{cr|New Zealand}}

{{small|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.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/benson-hedges-world-series-1989-90-60900/australia-vs-sri-lanka-1st-match-65451/full-scorecard |title=Australia vs Sri Lanka, 1st Match - Benson & Hedges World Series 1989-90 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date= 2021-01-03}}}}

Overall Record — Australia vs Visitors

File:Beer cup stacking at the MCG.jpg during the 2021 Boxing Day Test]]

class="wikitable" \|+
Opposition Team ! GP ! W ! D ! L ! width=60px\|Win % ! Recent Test
{{cr\|England}} {{WDL\|decimals=2\|11\|4\|2\|5}} \| Boxing Day 2021
{{cr\|India}} {{WDL\|decimals=2\|10\|2\|2\|6}} \| Boxing Day 2024
{{cr\|New Zealand}} {{WDL\|decimals=2\|3\|0\|2\|1}} \| Boxing Day 2019
{{cr\|Pakistan}} {{WDL\|decimals=2\|5\|0\|1\|4}} \| Boxing Day 2023
{{cr\|South Africa}} {{WDL\|decimals=2\|6\|1\|2\|3}} \| Boxing Day 2022
{{cr\|Sri Lanka}} {{WDL\|decimals=2\|2\|0\|0\|2}} \| Boxing Day 2012
{{cr\|West Indies}} {{WDL\|decimals=2\|7\|1\|0\|6}} \| Boxing Day 2015
Total {{WDLtot\|decimals=2\|44\|8\|9\|27}} \|Boxing Day 2024

class="wikitable"

Opposition Team

! GP

! W

! D

! L

! width=60px|Win %

! Recent Test

| Boxing Day 2021

| Boxing Day 2024

| Boxing Day 2019

| Boxing Day 2023

| Boxing Day 2022

| Boxing Day 2012

| Boxing Day 2015

Total

|Boxing Day 2024

Notes

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Cricket/~/media/Files/Cricket%20Records%20%20%20MCG%20Tests.ashx |title=Records – MCG Test Matches |publisher=Melbourne Cricket Ground |access-date= 2012-01-03 }}

}}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080914143943/http://www.mcg.org.au/History/Cricket/Boxing%20Day%20Test.aspx History of MCG Boxing Day Tests]
[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63029.html Scoreboard: 1968 Boxing Day Test]
[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63138.html Scoreboard: 1974 Boxing Day Test]
[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63152.html Scoreboard: 1975 Boxing Day Test]
[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63278.html Scoreboard: 1980 Boxing Day Test]

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Category:Australia in international cricket

Category:Test cricket

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1950

Category:Sports competitions in Melbourne

Category:1950 establishments in Australia

Category:December in sports

Category:January in sports

Category:Christmas traditions

Category:Boxing Day

Category:Melbourne Cricket Ground