Thursday, December 26, 2013

All about Boxing Day Tests

A Boxing Day Test is more than just an event on the cricketing calendar; it has assumed the importance of a ritual. The match played on the first day after Christmas is considered as sacred as attending the midnight mass to ring in the birth of Christ.

For the uninformed souls, the word 'Boxing' has nothing to do with the sport; it has to do with boxes in which you put things.

During the Christmas season a lot of people attend church and while they are there, they donate money and other goodies to the poor. The money and gifts are put in a box, and this is called a Christmas box. A priest opens the boxes the day after Christmas and he, in turn distributes the contents to the needy. This is why 26 December is called Boxing Day.

The first Test match to start on Boxing Day was between South Africa and England at Johannesburg in 1913. The next Boxing Day Test was played after a gap of 48 years also in South Africa – at the Wanderers between South Africa and New Zealand. The first Test to start on Boxing Day in Australia was between Australia and West Indies in 1968-69 at Melbourne. But it was not until 1981-82 that the tradition really took off. Since then, there has usually been a Test starting on Boxing Day at Melbourne. After their re-admission in to international cricket South Africa were quick to take the cue from Australia and started hosting Boxing Day Tests. Initially Port Elizabeth was used for the occasion, but since then it is Kingsmead, Durban.

Generally the quality of cricket in Boxing Day Tests has matched all the euphoria built around the event. Nearly 74% of Tests have been decisive. In fact the last time a Boxing Day Test ended in draw was in 2004 between South Africa vs England also at Durban. Since then 14 consecutive Boxing Day Tests have ended with a result.

Here are all the vital statistics of Boxing Day Tests:

Summary of results
Mts
Won
Lost
Drawn
Win%
Australia
32
19
6
7
59.38
England
14
6
3
5
42.86
Sri Lanka
5
2
2
1
40.00
South Africa
22
8
7
7
36.36
New Zealand
9
3
2
4
33.33
Pakistan
5
1
3
1
20.00
West Indies
11
2
8
1
18.18
India
12
1
9
2
8.33
Bangladesh
2
0
2
0
0.00
Zimbabwe
2
0
0
2
0.00
Total
57
42
42
15
73.68

Summary of matches in each country
Mts
Decisive
Drawn
Decisive%
Australia
32
25
7
78.13
Bangladesh
1
1
0
100.00
India
1
0
1
0.00
New Zealand
5
4
1
80.00
South Africa
17
12
5
70.59
Zimbabwe
1
0
1
0.00


Summary of matches at each ground
Ground
Country
Mts
Decisive
Drawn
Win%
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Australia
32
25
7
78.13
Kingsmead, Durban
South Africa
12
9
3
75.00
Basin Reserve, Wellington
New Zealand
5
4
1
80.00
St. George’s Park, Port Elizabeth
South Africa
3
2
1
66.66
Old Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa
1
1
0
100.00
Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Bangladesh
1
1
0
100.00
Wanderers, Johannesburg
South Africa
1
0
1
0.00
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India
1
0
1
0.00
Harare Sports Club
Zimbabwe
1
0
1
0.00

Highest totals
Total
For
Vs
Venue
Year
658-9
South Africa
West Indies
Durban
2003
574-9
England
South Africa
Durban
2009
572-7
South Africa
England
Durban
1999
570-7
England
South Africa
Durban
2004
565-9
India
West Indies
Kolkata
1987
558
Australia
India
Melbourne
2003
555
Australia
Pakistan
Melbourne
1983
551-6
Australia
England
Melbourne
2002
530-5
West Indies
India
Kolkata
1987
518-9
New Zealand
West Indies
Wellington
1999
513
England
Australia
Melbourne
2010
510
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1968
500-6
Australia
Sri Lanka
Melbourne
1995

Lowest totals
Total
For
Vs
Venue
Year
66
India
South Africa
Durban
1996
98
Australia
England
Melbourne
2010
100
India
South Africa
Durban
1996
103
New Zealand
Pakistan
Wellington
2003
109
West Indies
Australia
Melbourne
2000
122
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1996
131
South Africa
India
Durban
2010
132
Bangladesh
New Zealand
Wellington
2001
133
South Africa
England
Durban
2009
135
Bangladesh
New Zealand
Wellington
2001
139
England
South Africa
Durban
2004
141
Australia
England
Melbourne
1986
150
England
Australia
Melbourne
1990

Highest individual innings
Player
Score
For
Vs
Venue
Year
G Kirsten
275
South Africa
England
Durban
1999
GN Yallop
268
Australia
Pakistan
Melbourne
1983
RT Ponting
257
Australia
India
Melbourne
2003
JL Langer
250
Australia
England
Melbourne
2002
MS Sinclair
214
New Zealand
West Indies
Wellington
1999
WM Lawry
205
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1968
V Sehwag
195
India
Australia
Melbourne
2003
G Kirsten
180
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Durban
2000
JH Kallis
177
South Africa
West Indies
Durban
2003
MA Taylor
170
Australia
South Africa
Melbourne
1993

Most 100s
100s
ML Hayden (Aus)
6
RT Ponting (Aus)
4
JH Kallis (SA)
4
SR Waugh (Aus)
3
G Kirsten (SA)
3
AR Border (Aus)
2
AJ Stewart (Eng)
2
SR Tendulkar (WI)
2
S Chanderpaul (WI)
2

Best bowling in an innings
Figures
For
Vs
Venue
Year
SF Barnes
9-103
England
South Africa
Old Wanderers
1913
GB Lawrence
8-53
South Africa
New Zealand
Wanderers
1961
SF Barnes
8-56
England
South Africa
Old Wanderers
1913
GD McKenzie
8-71
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1968
AR Caddick
7-46
England
South Africa
Durban
1999
BA Reid
7-51
Australia
England
Melbourne
1990
SK Warne
7-52
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1992
SB Doull
7-65
New Zealand
India
Wellington
1998
M de Lange
7-81
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Durban
2011
DK Lillee
7-83
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1981
AA Donald
7-84
South Africa
India
Pt Elizabeth
1992
FA Rose
7-84
West Indies
South Africa
Durban
1998

Best bowling in a match
Figures
For
Vs
Venue
Year
SF Barnes
17-159
England
South Africa
Old Wanderers
1913
BA Reid
13-148
Australia
England
Melbourne
1990
BA Reid
12-126
Australia
India
Melbourne
1991
AA Donald
12-139
South Africa
India
Pt Elizabeth
1992
Shoaib Akhtar
11-78
Pakistan
New Zealand
Wellington
2003
MA Holding
11-107
West Indies
Australia
Melbourne
1981
M Muralitharan
11-161
Sri Lanka
South Africa
Durban
2000
DK Lillee
10-127
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1981
BKV Prasad
10-153
India
South Africa
Durban
1996
DW Steyn
10-154
South Africa
Australia
Melbourne
2008
GD McKenzie
10-159
Australia
West Indies
Melbourne
1968
RJ Hadlee
10-176
New Zealand
Australia
Melbourne
1987
M Muralitharan
10-190
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Mirpur
2008



Most matches as captain
Mts
Won
Lost
Drawn
Win%
GC Smith (SA)
9
3
5
1
33.33
RT Ponting (Aus)
7
5
2
0
71.43
AR Border (Aus)
7
3
1
3
42.86
WJ Cronje (SA)
6
3
0
3
50.00
SR Waugh (Aus)
5
5
0
0
100.00
SP Fleming (NZ)
5
3
1
1
60.00

Note: India’s M Azharuddin and West Indies’ BC Lara lost all three Boxing Day Tests in which they led their respective sides.

 Most appearances
Mts
RT Ponting (Aus)
15
SR Waugh (Aus)
14
JH Kallis (SA)
14
MV Boucher (SA)
13
SM Pollock (SA)
12