Cricket may have evolved into a year-long merry-go-round of Test, ODI and T20 series, interspersed with struggling domestic competitions and tedious marathon franchise-led big bash bosh tournaments, but Christmas Day seems to have evaded the international schedule. Not so, Boxing Day, with its modern tradition of Test matches at Melbourne and, more years than not, Durban.
This December 26th, South Africa welcome Sri Lanka hoping to improve their recent poor record in Boxing Day Tests. Last year they came a cropper against India thanks to Laxman's runs and Harbajhan Singh's wickets, although dependable Dale Steyn took 6-50 in the first innings. In 2009, Cook and Bell helped themselves to hundreds as England destroyed their hosts by an innings, practising for their Ashes success the following winter when Trott's patient unbeaten 168 and Graeme Swann's nine wickets earned them a crushing win in Australia. Even West Indies beat Graeme Smith's men in 2007 but they were in fine fettle against India in 2006 and the Aussies in 2008, when Ricky Ponting's 101 not out and 99 were overshadowed by Steyn's 10-wicket haul and 76 runs.
Australia have fonder memories of their last Boxing Day encounter with India in 2007, bowling them out twice for under 200, while two years later, Shane Watson scooped more than that on his own as his team beat Pakistan by 170 runs. Between 2000 and 2007, the Aussies won every Boxing Day Test at the MCG, most of them pretty emphatically. In particular, Matthew Hayden seemed to have been routinely spurred to great heights in the festive season. He reached three figures in an innings five years out of six between 2001 and 2006. Ricky Ponting often enjoys a post-Christmas century, peaking eight years ago with a 257 against India. How he could do with another right now! The previous December, team-mate Justin Langer also compiled 250 in an Ashes triumph.
For South Africa, Jacques Kallis made it three consecutive Boxing Day hundreds in 2004, having fallen one short in 2001! Bowlers have had less notable success at this time of the year. Sri Lanka have played only three Boxing Day Tests in the past 11 years, but inevitably Murali plundered 29 wickets! Admittedly two fixtures were against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh , but you can't keep a good man down! In 2007, there were elements of last week's Pakistani encounter, as Shakib al Hasan claimed 122, six wickets and the Man of the Match award, while losing to Murali and co. New Zealand haven't started a Test on 26th December since 2003, when they were undone by Shoaib Akhtar's pace, and Jason Gillespie's nine wickets helped Australia to a 352-run slaughter of the Windies in 2000.
At least history is on the side of a clear result in the approaching Test encounters. Of the 24 Boxing Day matches played since 2000, only two have been drawn, testament perhaps to Aussie dominance but also a sign that the weather gods also shine benevolently on Christmas pitches.
So who will emerge with an extra Christmas present by the end of December? Monday sees Australia entertain India in Melbourne in the first of four Tests, and that could be a close one. Even with some top batsmen injured or out of form, I reckon the home nation may have the bowling firepower to unnerve the veteran Indian batsmen. I won't even mention S_T_'s hund****h hund**d.... Over at Kingsmead, I really can't see Sri Lanka causing South Africa many problems. The bowling contest looks so one-sided, and the visiting greats Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene seem to forget how to build an innings these days. Suicidal against Steyn, Philander and Morkel.
Anyway, I hope the players serve up to the fans a feast at least as good as the meal they may well have enjoyed over the weekend. Happy Christmas - and Boxing Day - to all!
