Two of the most memorable Boxing Day Ashes Series Tests

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Boxing Day Tests have always held a special place in the realm of Australian sport, especially when it’s the Old Enemy England who are visiting. Over the last two years, the Baggy Greens have welcomed both Pakistan and South Africa into the cauldron that is the MCG for this special matchup, and this year, it will be the turn of India. The Men in Blue have won on their last two visits to Melbourne and are without a defeat there since 2011.

However, by the time England next visits next summer, the biggest cricket stadium in Australia will have gotten even bigger. The Melbourne Cricket Club and the Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust are planning to expand the capacity of the MCG to a whopping 105,000, 5,000 more than its current amount. While there is no set date in place for these prospective plans, the works could be completed in time for next summer’s Ashes Series, although a more realistic timeline is 2027.

While this year’s Boxing Day Test won’t be the defining point of an Ashes series, there have been some blockbuster encounters between Australia and England at the MCG in recent years. Whether the visiting Indians can live up to these encounters in their upcoming visit remains to be seen.

2006: Australia regains the Ashes in dominant fashion

The 2006 Boxing Day Test was a testament to Australia’s dominance during the 2006-07 Ashes series. Just 18 months prior, England regained the urn for the first time in 18 years, winning 2-1 on home turf in what is widely considered as the greatest series of all time. As such, Andrew Flintoff and Co. headed Down Under with a very real chance of successfully clinging on to the spoils and retaining the urn on foreign soil.

Unfortunately, the Baggy Greens’ astonishing cast of veterans rolled back the years. They picked up resounding victories in the first three tests, before heading to the MCG after already securing the Urn with two tests to spare. But despite that, they wouldn’t let their foot off the gas, and they were on the hunt for a humiliating whitewash, the first in 85 years. The Test saw Australia overpower England by an innings and 99 runs, a result that underscored their supremacy.

The late, great Shane Warne was the star of the show, as he always seems to be. He took five wickets in England’s first innings to restrict the tourists to 159 all out, claiming his 700th test match wicket in the process. His mastery was complemented by a stellar performance with the bat from all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who smashed a blistering 156 in the middle order.

His knock was a crucial one. The hosts were 84/5 before the big man arrived at the crease and the match was in the balance. However, his innings plus an additional 153 from opener Matthew Hayden in a 281-run seventh wicket stand took the test away from England, and subsequently the series. The Aussies finished up 419, before proceeding to skittle the tourists for just 161 in their second innings, securing an innings and 99-run victory and the coveted urn to boot.

2010: England’s resurgence

Fast forward to 2010, and there was another Boxing Day test to remember, but for all of the wrong reasons… if you’re an Australian at least. Just like four years prior, England headed Down Under with very real hopes of retaining the urn, and this time around, those hopes were acted upon. After three tests, the series was tied at 1-1, with England winning in Adelaide, Australia winning in Perth and the opening test in Brisbane finishing as a record-breaking draw.

As such then, England knew that victory in the MCG would ensure that they successfully retained the Urn on Australian soil for the first time since 1987, regardless of what happened in the fifth test at Sydney. With the series on a knife edge, it was anyone’s for the taking, but England’s performance in Melbourne was nothing short of spectacular.

It was the tourists bowling in Australia’s first innings that did the damage. sensational spells for both Jimmy Anderson and Chris Tremlett dismantled the Aussie batting lineup, leaving them all out for 98 and at the mercy of the tourists. England took full advantage. Opener Alastair Cook continued his phenomenal form by scoring 82 runs, while a mesmerizing 168 not out for Jonathan Trott helped the visitors post a commanding score of 513.

Ultimately, the hosts were powerless to respond. Tim Bresnan helped himself to four wickets in the second innings, leaving Australia all out for 258 and on the end of a thumping innings and 157-run defeat. To make matters worse, England would win once again in Sydney, sealing a commanding 3-1 series victory. Don’t worry though Australia fans, they haven’t won in the Land Down Under since.

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