England register shortest-ever Boxing Day Test win in MCG history; end 18-match winless streak
England sealed the contest in just 32.2 overs on the second day, making it the shortest-ever Boxing Day Test in history in terms of days played.
England sealed the contest in just 32.2 overs on the second day, making it the shortest-ever Boxing Day Test in history in terms of days played.
England opener Ben Duckett completed 3,000 Test runs on Saturday.
The figure surpasses the previous MCG record of 93,013, set during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand.
Cummins has been left out of Australia’s 15-member squad for the Boxing Day Test against England, with selectors opting to manage his workload following his recent recovery from a back issue.
Sam Konstas’ on-field confrontations with India’s talismanic duo of Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah in his debut series certainly helped him become an overnight sensation with his social media numbers storming by 30,000 per cent. The 19-year-old, who made his debut in the penultimate Test of the five-match rubber in Melbourne, opened up on his on-field spat with Kohli and Bumrah, while effusing praises on the Indian cricket stalwarts.
Virat Kohli’s on-field theatrics have taken centerstage in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the Indian superstar making headlines for his fiery confrontations, a costly run-out mix-up, and his resilience with the bat.
It seemed that the Christmas break infused new life into the Australian top order that fired in unison on return to action in the fourth round of the Border-Gavaskar tussle on Boxing Day, helping the hosts pile up 311 for 6 even as late strikes helped India share the honours after the opening day’s play at the jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
If Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane were Australian strongholds, Melbourne brings happy memories for India as the tourists return to the iconic ground having won the last two Tests at the MCG in 2018-19 and 2020-21, and the New Year’s Test in Sydney will bring spin into play.
Ever since the retirement of David Warner in January, Australia have struggled to sort out their top order conundrum, and had tried Steve Smith for sometime before opting for McSweeney in the lead-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Cricket Australia (CA) have secured a seven-year deal ensuring that one of the biggest events on the cricketing calendar, the fabled Boxing Day Test will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground until at least 2027.
