Almanac Teams: Melbourne Test memory makers

For this summer of cricket my theme is of each Australian Test venue with a team of Australians and visitors based on performance(s), moment, and memories. Each side is from 1980 (when I started approx. following) though there maybe the off exception. Feel free to contribute and obviously any from earlier would be great to hear about.

 

This week’s team is based in Melbourne

I have 12 in the Australian team as two of the bowlers are selected for their batting heroics.

I have included bits of the 1977 Centenary Test as though I don’t recall it, it as historic match with several memorable moments

 

 

 

Australia

 

Geoff Marsh

36 and 79* v England December 1990

England had a 46-run lead after the first innings but after being rolled for 150 they set Australia 197 to win in the second Test. Australia had slipped to 2/10 with Mark Taylor and nightwatchman Ian Healy out by the end of Day 4. Marsh was joined by his great mate and former opening partner David Boon and together they got Australia home without losing another wicket. Boon was 94* and Marsh 79* from 257 balls. The great thing was Boon had his 30th birthday on Day 4 (December 29) and Marsh celebrated his 32nd birthday on December 31. Marsh played 50 Tests for 2,854 runs at 33.18.

 

Shane Watson

93 and 120* and 1/30 v Pakistan December 2009

This was Watson’s 15th Test, and he was now opening the batting after having started in the middle order. Watson was in form this summer having scored 96 and 89 in previous Tests but was struggling to convert to three figures. Watson and Katich had put on 182 before Watson was run out having ended up at the same end as Katich and the third umpire had to be called to determine who was out as both had reached the crease at a similar time. Not long after Katich was out for 98 having made 99 in the previous Test. In the second innings Watson made his first century with 120* from 220 balls which included ten fours and one six. Watson spent 66 minutes in the nineties facing 41 balls and was dropped on 99 after also slashing at one that went over slips at 96 and almost played on at 98. Watson played 59 Tests for 3,731 runs at 35.19 and took 75 wickets at 33.68.

 

Ricky Ponting

257* and 31 v India December 2003

This was Ponting’s highest Test score, he made 257 from 458 balls which included twenty-five fours. This gave Australia a score of 558 and a lead of 188. Australia won by nine wickets to level the series 1-1 with one Test to go (which was a draw). Ponting scored six double centuries in a career of 168 Tests with 13,378 runs at 51.85.

 

 

Kim Hughes

100* and 8 v West Indies December 1981

Hughes 100* has being described as one of the best innings ever in Test cricket. Australia won the toss and decided to face Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Colin Croft on a terrible pitch with unpredictable bounce. Australia was soon 3/8 when Kim Hughes joined Allan Border at the crease. Border would soon be dismissed with the top four making eleven runs between. Australia was 9/155 when Terry Alderman joined Hughes at the crease. Together they guided Australia to 196 with Hughes’s 100 coming from 200 balls and included eleven fours. What happens later, on Day 1 can be read below under Dennis Lillee. Hughes played 70 Tests for 4,415 runs at 37.41.

 

Michael Hussey

122 and 31 v South Africa December 2005

This was Hussey’s fifth Test and third Test hundred since making his Test debut at the start of the summer. Hussey looked as though he may not make this hundred as he was on 27 with the score at 9/248 when he was joined by Glenn McGrath. Hussey and McGrath would put on 107 with Hussey making 122 and McGrath 10. After this Test Hussey had 595 Test runs at 85. Hussey would play 79 Tests for 6,235 runs at 51.52.

 

Andrew Symonds

156 v England December 2006

Symonds was recalled to the Test team after the sudden retirement of Damien Martyn. Symonds had played 11 Tests for 314 runs at 17 before this game. While England only made 159 Australia were still in trouble when Symonds arrived at 5/84 with Ponting, Hussey, and Clarke out for single figures. Matthew Hayden and Symonds put on 279 runs with Hayden making 153. Symonds’ 156 came from 220 balls and included fifteen fours and one six which bought up his century. Australia would make 419 and win by an innings and 99 runs. Symonds would play 26 Tests for 1,482 runs at 40.61 and take 24 wickets at 37.33.

 

Rodney Marsh

28 and 110 and 5 Catches v England March 1977

I have made this series from 1980 but made an exception with the Centenary Test, with several more listed below. Australia made 138 in the first innings with Marsh’s 28 the second top score. England replied with 95 with three c Marsh b Lillee for the innings. Marsh came in at 5/187 and he guided Australia to 9/419 declared with his best partnership being 76 with his great made Dennis Lillee. Marsh’s 110* came from 173 balls and included ten fours. Marsh played 96 Tests for 3m633 runs at 26.51, he also took 343 catches and 12 stumpings.

 

Shane Warne

5/39 and 2/46 v England December 2006

Coming into this Test Warne had 699 Test wickets and had announced he would retire at the of the series in Sydney one Test later. I was one of 89k crowd on Boxing Day. Like most that attended we were hoping Australia would bowl so we could see history. After a rain delay and the quicks and done their work to have England at 3/101 Warne claimed wicket 700 – the first bowler ever to take that number – bowling Andrew Strauss with one that pitched outside off stump. By the end of Day 1 Warne had 704 Test wickets. Warne played 145 Tests for 708 wickets at 25.41.

 

Dennis Lillee

7/83 and 3/44 v West Indies December 1981

Lillee could have been in this side for his heroics in the 1977 Centenary Test with 6/26 and 5/139, however the drama and results in 1981 makes it a better memory. Coming into the Test Lillee had 305 Test wickets, four behind Lance Gibbs who held the record with the most Test wickets. Boxing Day was a dramatic day with Australia all out for 198. The West Indies had 30 minutes to survive Lillee and Alderman and were in trouble early with Faoud Bacchus out to Alderman for one, then Lillee got Desmond Haynes for one and nightwatchman Colin Croft for zero and on the last ball of the night he bowled Viv Richards for zero to have the West Indies at 4/10. Lillee was now one behind Lance Gibbs but had to wait until the middle of the day as Clive Lloyd, Larry Gomes and Jeffrey Dujon dug in. At 5/134 Lillee equaled the record with Dujon caught by Kim Hughes and 6/147 Lillee broke Gibbs’s record with Larry Gomes caught by Greg Chappell. Lillee got two more wickets to have 7/83 as the West Indies had a three-run lead. Australia then made 222 setting 220 to win. The West Indies were all out for 161 with Lillee getting the last three wickets. Lillee played 70 Tests for 355 wickets at 23.92.

 

Scott Boland

1/48 and 6/7 v England December 2021

Boland was making his Test debut with Josh Hazlewood out injured. Boland claimed Mark Wood as his first Test wicket as England were out for 185. After Australia made 267 England were 4/31 at stumps on Day 2 with Boland having two wickets. The next day Boland would take four of the last five wickets as England were all out for 68 and losing by an innings and 14 runs. Boland would bowl four overs and take 6/7. Boland has played 17 Tests for 73 wickets at 18.27.

 

 

Jeff Thomson

2/49 and 3/74 and 1 and 21 v England December 1982

This was a thrilling Test match with England sent in and were all out for 284 on Day 1, on Day 2 Australia were all out for 287 and on Day 3 England were all out 294 to set Australia 292 to win. Australia was looking good on Day 4 with a hundred run partnership between Kim Hughes and David Hookes taking Australia to 171 when the fourth wicket fell. Australia would collapse with 6/43 when Number 11 Jeff Thomson joined an out of form Allan Border late on Day 4. At stumps on Day 4 Australia were 9/255 with Border on 44* and Thomson on 8*. Day 5 it was free entry and still around 20k attended for a day that could have lasted one ball. Border and Thomson batted through most of the morning to get 288 before Botham got the outside edge of Thomson bat which went to Chris Tavare in second slip who dropped it but Geoff Miller coming from behind Tavare collected the rebound and caught it. Thomson had made 21 from 62 balls including a four while Border was 62*. Thomson played 51 Tests for 679 runs at 12.81 and took 200 wickets at 28.

 

Michael Whitney

4/92 and 0/45 and 0* and 2* v New Zealand 1987

It had been six years since Whitney had played a Test when he was called up for injured Bruce Reid. Whitney got the last four wickets of the first innings, but it was with the bat that he made himself into a legend. Australia needed 247 to win and held 1-0 after two Tests in the series. Whitney was required to bat late on Day 5 when he came in at 9/227. Whitney had options in the next six overs, go for glory with Craig McDermott and get the 20 runs to win or try and survive Richard Hadlee who had ten wickets for the match. Whitney knew his batting ability and knew the win was out of the question, he had to survive. Whitney did this, blocking out the last over to make 2 from 18 balls. Whitney played 12 Tests for 68 runs with highest score of 13, he also took 39 wickets at 33.97.

 

 

Other Moments

 

David Hookes

17 and 56 v England March 1977

This was Hookes first Test and in the second innings he famously hit Tony Greig for five consecutive fours. Unfortunately, Hookes was out next over to Derek Underwood.

 

 

Rick McCosker

4 and 25 v England March 1977

McCosker copped a bouncer from Bob Willis that broke his jaw and also bowled him. In the second innings it was not expected McCosker would bat, but he came in at Number 10 with his jaw bandaged (no helmets then) and put on 54 with Rodney Marsh to get Marsh to a century.

 

 

Doug Walters

107 v New Zealand December 1980

Walters was 35 and this would be his last Test hundred as he would retire three Tests later against India at the MCG as he was not selected for the 1981 Ashes tour.

 

Jim Higgs

6* and 0 and 3/87 and 0/24 v New Zealand December 1980

Higgs was caught behind from the bowling of Lance Cairns when on 1 and Walters was 77 with the score on 9/279. Umpire Robin Baillache though called it a no ball as he deemed it intimidatory bowling. Higgs would make 6* in 96 minutes and Australia would make 321 with a 60-run last wicket partnership. In the second innings Higgs was bowled first ball by Richard Hadlee. The match was a draw with New Zealand 6/128 chasing 193 to win. There would be bigger dramas at the MCG to come for New Zealand that summer.

 

Bruce Yardley

7/187 v Pakistan December 1981

Australia lost this Test by innings and 82 runs. Pakistan made 8/500 declared and Australia all out for 293 and 125. Yardley got seven of the eight wickets bowling 66 overs for 7/187. Yardley would take 38 wickets in six Tests in 1981-1982 to be named International Cricketer of the year.

 

Greg Chappell

0 and 6 v West Indies December 1981

Chappell made 201 against Pakistan in the 2nd Test at the end of November but after that he made 22 and zero at Melbourne in the Third Test. The five one day matches prior to this Test that had been played Chappell had made 3,1, 38, zero and zero. So, when Chappell came into bat, he had three ducks in a row for Australia and had expressed concerns about the MCG pitch from the previous Test. Chappell would be out first ball caught behind from the bowling of Michael Holding. In the second innings when he scored a run Chappell received a Bronx cheer which he duly raised his bat, but he would only make six for the innings.

 

Graham Yallop

268 v Pakistan December 1983

A dull draw saw Pakistan makes 470 and Australia 555 with Yallop facing 517 balls.

 

Craig McDermott

3/118 and 3/65 v West Indies December 1984

This was McDermott’s first Test and the 19-year-old speedster impressed. It was memorable for his first Test wicket, which was a full toss that slipped and looked like a beam ball, it ended up bowling Richie Richardson for 51. In the second innings he got Viv Richards out second ball LBW.

 

Andrew Hilditch

70 and 113 v West Indies December 1984

This was Hilditch first Test in five years and two Tests later he was on the Ashes tour as vice-captain. Unfortunately for Hilditch he was a happy hooker and that was his downfall when he was dropped twelve months later.

 

Greg Dyer

21 and 4 and 5 catches v New Zealand December 1987

Dyer had just come his career highlight as wicketkeeper in 1987 World Cup victory. Boxing day Test was his lowlight when he caught Andrew Jones for 40. Jones leg glanced a ball that Dyer went with his left hand and then rolled over and held the ball in his right hand. Dyer was unsure but the umpire adjudged Jones out and then TV replays showed the ball had hit the ground. Dyer would play the remaining two Tests of the summer but was considered unlucky to be dropped for the tour to Pakistan in September with many believing it was because of the catch that he claimed on Boxing Day.

 

Tony Dodemaide

1/48 and 6/58 and 50 and 3 v New Zealand December 1987

Dodemaide was called into the Test squad as cover for his Footscray teammate Merv Hughes, but Hughes was declared fit on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day morning Dodemaide was bought into the starting team and had a dream debut becoming only the second Australian after Albert Trott to make a fifty and take five wickets on debut.

 

Bruce Reid

6/97 and 7/51 v England 1990

Reid had a purple patch at the MCG taking 25 wickets in the 1990 and 1991 Boxing Day Tests. In 1992 Reid’s 7/51 helped bowl England out for 150 after they had a 46-run lead. In 1991 Reid took 6/66 and 6/60 against India. Sadly, Reid only played two more Tests

 

Mark Waugh

112 and 16 v West Indies December 1992

I just put this one in as attended Day 2 and watched Waugh and Border make hundreds which was the first time ever for me. Waugh with 112 and Border with 110 put on 204. I wish I had gone to Day 5 though…

 

Brett Lee

27 and 5/47 and 2/31 v India December 1999

Lee replaced Scott Muller into the Test side and had instant success getting a wicket in Sadagoppan Ramesh with his fourth ball.

 

Jason Gillespie

3/48 and 6/40 v West Indies December 2000

In the West Indies’ first innings Gillespie got the first two wickets to have the West Indies at 2/6. In the second innings the West indies needed 462 to win and after 20 overs they were 6/23 with Gillespie removing all six of them. Darren Ganga zero, Wavell Hinds 4, Brian Lara zero, Sherwin Campbell 6, Jimmy Adams zero, and Colin Stuart 4. West Indies were all out for 109.

 

Justin Langer

250 and 24 v England December 2002

Another one I put in because I was there. Langer and Hayden 102 put on an opening stand of 195 from 45 overs as Australia reached 3/356 in then a big run scoring day of cricket.

 

Steve Waugh

77 and 14 v England December 2002

Waugh had struggled for runs during the Ashes making 106 runs at 25.75 in first three Tests. His first innings it looked like retro Waugh as he attacked in his 77. The second innings was bizarre innings. Australia needed 107 runs to win but were soon 3/58 when Waugh came in. During his 14 runs he survived an inside edge, was dropped chasing a wide ball, caught behind when nobody appealed then next ball, he was caught in cover from a no ball.

 

Chris Rogers

61 and 116 v England December 2013

This was Rogers’ first hundred in Australia and it happened at his adopted home ground of the MCG.

 

Shaun Marsh

32 and 99 v India December 2014

Marsh was 99 when he was run out diving at the bowlers end for his hundred with a direct hit from Virat Kohli.

 

Usman Khawaja

144 v West Indies December 2015

Australia made 3/551 declared in the first innings with Joe Burns 128, Usman Khawaja 144, Steve Smith 134* and Adam Voges 106*. Warner missed out with 23.

 

Nathan Lyon

1/115 and 3/33 v Pakistan December 2016

Social media had got behind a campaign for the crowd on Boxing Day to yell out ‘Nice Garry’ after the third ball of his first over. There was 63k there what was not expected was that Lyon would get a wicket. Sami Aslam c Steve Smith for nine in the eleventh over.

 

Pat Cummins

5/48 and 5/49 v Pakistan December 2023

Cummins has a great history at the MCG taking 6/27 and then top scoring with 63 against India 2018. Then the last two years he has being Man of the Match with 10 wickets against Pakistan in 2023 and then six wickets and scores of 49 and 41 against India in 2024.

 

David Warner

200 v South Africa December 2022

Warner’s 200 came from 255 balls; he retired hurt due to cramps.

 

Alex Carey

111 v South Africa December 2022

This was Carey’s first Test hundred and came from 149 balls.

 

 

Visitors

 

Sunil Gavaskar (India)

10 and 70 February 1981

After the first innings Australia held a 182-run lead. India captain Gavaskar and opening partner Chetan Chauhan would put 165 before Gavaskar was trapped LBW by Dennis Lillee. Gavaskar was not happy and, on his way, back to the pavilion he turned his back to the crease and advised Chauhan he had to come off the ground with him. As they approached the gate India team manager advised Chauhan to go back to the crease. Amazingly India made 324 and set Australia 143 to win they then bowled Australia out for 83. Gavaskar played 125 Tests for 10,122 runs at 51.12.

 

Virender Sehwag (India)

195 and 11 December 2003

Another Boxing Day I was fortunate to attend watching Sehwag destroy Australia on Day 1 of the Test. Sehwag was at his brilliant best, making 195 from 233 balls including twenty-five fours and five sixes. Sehwag was out just before stumps at 4/311. India would lose all momentum to be all out for 366 and with Australia making 558, India would lost by nine wickets. Sehwag played 104 Tests for 8,586 runs at 49.34

 

Viv Richards (West Indies)

208 and 0 and 1/7 December 1984

After a terrible test in 1981, Richards bludgeoned Australia’s bowlers on the first two days of the tests. Richards made 208 from 245 balls including twenty-two fours and three sixes. The second innings he would be out second ball to debutant Craig McDermott. Richards got 1/7 from six overs as Australia made 8/198. Richards played 121 tests for 8,540 runs at 50.23.

 

Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

38 and 99 and 0/55 December 2001

Kallis first century was 101 in his 7th Test at the MCG in 1997, this ended up being a match saving century as South Africa avoided a loss making 7/273 chasing 381. In 2001 South Africa lost by nine wickets making 277 and 219 in reply to Australia’s 487. Kallis was the last man out trying to bring up his hundred when he was sent back by his batting partner Nantie Hayward. Kallis was caught short and South Africa was all out. Kallis played 166 Tests for 13,289 runs at 55.37 and took 292 wickets at 32.65.

 

Daryll Cullinan (South Africa) 97

5 and 0 December 1997

Cullinan played 70 Tests for 4,554 runs at 44.21 but against Australia he played seven Tests for 153 runs at 12.75 including three ducks. One of these ducks was his only bat in 1993 Test at the MCG. Cullinan was Warne’s bunny and was completely scarred by him. Cullinan was run out in the first innings for five when Gary Kirsten was trying to protect him and get him off strike as Shane Warne was bowling the next over. Cullinan had rarely faced Warne in this innings, but the protection had the opposite effect as captain Hansie Cronje was out next over to Warne and South Africa slipped to 4/76. In the second innings Cullinan faced Warne and was bowled by a flipper for zero off eight balls.

 

JP Duminy (South Africa)

166 December 2008

This was Duminy’s second ever Test after an impressive debut where he made 50* in South Africa’s six-wicket win. At the MCG Australia made 394 and had South Africa in trouble at 6/141, then 7/184 before Duminy and Paul Harris put on 67 and then Duminy and Dale Steyn put on 180 with South Africa ending up making 459. The score was helped by a dropped catch (though technically he never got a hand on it) by Michael Hussey with the score at 8/320. Steyn advanced to Nathan Hauritz and the ball went straight up in the to mid-on where Michael Hussey lost it in the sun. South Africa won by nine wickets after being set 183 to win. Duminy played 46 Tests for 2,103 runs at 32.85.

 

Matthew Prior (England)

85 and 7 Catches December 2010

Prior had a brilliant match in England huge win against Australia. Australia batted first and were all out for 98 and England were 0/157 already on Day 1. Prior took six catches in the first innings, four of them coming from Jimmy Anderson’s bowling. When it was Prior’s turn to bat, he came in at 5/286 and put on 173 with Jonathan Trott. Prior’s 85 came from 119 balls and included eleven fours. Prior played 79 Tests for 4,099 runs at 40.18 and took 243 catches and 13 stumpings.

 

Anil Kumble (India)

6/176 and 0/43 December 2003

Kumble had a good record at the MCG taking 15 wickets in three Tests. Kumble’s 6/176 was in Australia’s score of 558. In the next Test in Sydney Kumble took 8/141 and  4/138 in a match India nearly won. Kumble played 132 Tests for 619 wickets at 29.65.

 

Dale Steyn (South Africa)

5/87 and 5/67 and 76 December 2008

Steyn was recognised as the best bowler in the world at the time. In the first innings Steyn got 5/87 in Australia’s score of 394. Steyn then put on 180 with JP Duminy for the ninth wicket to help guide South Africa to 459. This was Steyn highest score which included nine fours and one six from 191 balls. In the second innings Steyn claimed 5/67 with four of them in the first five of 5/145 claiming Hayden, Katich, Clarke, and Symonds. Steyn played 93 Tests for 439 wickets at 22.95 and made 1,251 runs at 13.59.

 

 

 

Dean Headley (England)

0/86 and 6/60 December 1998

Dean is the grandson of former West Indian great George Headley and son of Ron Headley who played two Tests for the West Indies. Headley made his debut against Australia in England 1997 where he took 4/72 and 4/104 to impress. In this Test England batted first making 270 with Australia making 340 in reply, England then made 244 setting Australia 175 to win on Day 4. Australia seemed to be in control at 3/103, 4/130 as Steve Waugh was still in. Dean Headley at this stage had two wickets but with the score at 140 he removed Darren Lehmann for four, Ian Healy a second ball duck and then Damien Fleming a third ball duck. Australia was now 7/140 but debutant Matthew Nicholson and Steve Waugh got the score to 161 before Headley claimed Nicholson and then Gough claimed Stuart MacGill and Glenn McGrath with the score at 162 in 47 overs with England winning by a memorable 12 runs. Headley played 15 tests for 60 wickets at 27.85

 

Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

1/124 December 1995

This was Muralitharan’s 23^rd Test and his second Test in Australia, this was though the first time he had being called for throwing. At the start of his fourth over Muralitharan was called for throwing by umpire Darrell Hair and he would be called seven times in three overs before switching to the other end where New Zealand umpire Steve Dunn did not call him. Muralitharan would bowl 38 overs claiming the wicket of Mark Waugh. When Sri Lanka toured three years later, he would be called by umpire Ross Emerson. Muralitharan would play just five Tests in Australia for 12 wickets at 75.16. Muralitharan would paly 133 Tests for 800 wickets at 22.72.

 

 

Other moments

 

Derek Randall (England)

4 and 174 March 1977

The centenary Test was just Randall fifth Test, and his highest score was 37 until then. England needed 463 to win and almost got there on the back of Derek Randall’s 174. Australia won by 45 runs, the same as 100 years ago and Randall was Man of the Match.

 

Graham Gooch (England)

99 and 51 February 1980

Gooch’s Test debut was against Australia in 1975 and unfortunately, he made a pair.  Coming into this Test, his 19^th, Gooch had still not made a hundred. On 99 just before tea Gooch hit one past the bowler Lillee and dashed off for a single. Unfortunately for Gooch the mid-off fielder picked it up and threw down the stumps. Gooch would get his maiden century three Tests later at Lords.

 

 

 

Gundappa Viswanath (India)

114 and 30 February 1981

This remarkable Test victory by India was mentioned above earlier under Sunil Gavaskar. Viswanath was man of the match for his 114 out of India score of 237 in the first innings.

 

 

Michael Holding (West Indies)

5/45 and 6/62 December 1981

While Kim Hughes and Dennis Lillee rightly got the accolades for Australia’s win, Michael Holding was at his brilliant best in destroying the Australian batters. Holding had three of first four wickets when Australia were 4/26 in the first innings. In the second innings Holding got six of the last seven wickets moving Australia from 3/184 to 222 all out.

 

Norman Cowans (England)

2/69 and 6/77 December 1982

This was just Cowans third Test when he won Man of the Match. Cowans set up a famous English victory by removing top order Kepler Wessels, Greg Chappell, David Hookes and Rodney Marsh cheaply.

 

Geoff Miller (England)

10 and 14, 3/44 and 1/30 December 1982

Miller got the last three wickets in the first innings but had the match winning moment by catching Jeff Thomson off the rebound from Chris Tavare.

 

Mohsin Khan (Pakistan)

152 and 3 December 1983

High scores was the theme of this summer, and this Test did not disappoint with Mohsin making 152 from 239 balls. Mohsin had also made 149 in Adelaide.

 

 

 

Gladstone Small (England)

5/28 and 2/40 December 1986

This was Australia first sighting of cult hero Gladstone Small. Small came in for an injured Graham Dilley and was Man of the Match after he removed Australia top order of David Boon, Dean Jones, Steve Waugh, Greg Matthews, and Peter Sleep. Australia made just 141 and 194 and lost by an innings and 14 runs. Small would get 5/75 in the next Test.

 

John Wright (New Zealand)

99 and 43 December 1987

Wright joins a select group like Gooch and Kallis to score 99 in a Test at the MCG. Wright though was caught behind.

 

Patrick Patterson (West Indies)

4/49 and 5/39 December 1988

Patterson was quick and scary, scariest of the West Indian quicks. Patterson found a pitch he liked removing Australia for 242 and 114. In this Test no Australian made more than 50 runs in total.

 

Richie Richardson (West Indies)

26 and 122 December 1988

Richardson’s hundred was a great innings on an unpredictable pitch. For context only one other player got more than 50 in an innings that being Viv Richards with 63 and as stated above, no Australian made more than 50 in the Test.

 

Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

6/62 and 5/98, 6 and 6 January 1990

No Test at the MCG on Boxing Day with this played January 12-16, Akram had a great start first two Test against Australia taking 17 wickets and making his maiden century. Akram was Man of the Match, but Pakistan lost by 92 runs.

 

Ijaz Ahmed (Pakistan)

19 and 121 January 1990

Pakistan were all out for 107 in reply to Australia’s 223 after Australia set Pakistan 429 to win, Pakistan were 3/31 when Ijaz arrived at the crease. Ijaz would have big partnerships with Javed Miandad and Imran Khan and still had small glimmer of hope until Ijaz was out for 121 with the score 8/328. Pakistan were all out for 336.

 

Phil Simmons (West Indies) 92

6 and 110, 0/23 and 2/34 December 1992

In Shane Warne’s breakout game, Phil Simmons was trying to be the stumbling block. Set just over a day and 359 runs to win Simmons and Richardson put on 134 to take the score to 2/143 when Richardson fell. Simmons was seeing it well but had no support from the other end before Simmons well at 198 for 110 off 178 balls including eight fours and two sixes. Australia won by 139 runs.

 

Asanka Gurusinha (Sri Lanka)

27 and 143 December 1995

Gurusinha made a stylish hundred after Sri Lanka were forced to follow on. Making 143 runs from 274 balls. In the first innings though he became Ricky Ponting’s first Test wicket getting an outside edge to Ian Healy.

 

Curtly Ambrose (West Indies)

5/55 and 4/17 December 1996

Australia had won the first two Tests with Ambrose out of form with just three wickets in first two Tests. Ambrose took nine wickets as Australia only made 219 and 122 to lose by six wickets.

 

Allan Donald (South Africa)

3/74 and 6/59 December 1997

Donald was not as successful against Australia averaging 31 as we was against others with his career average 22. This was Donald’s best bowling against Australia.

 

Jonathan Trott (England)

168* December 2010

After were bowled out for 98 while England made 513 with Trott’s 168* from 345 balls.

 

Ajinkya Rahane (India)

147 and 48 December 2014

Rahane bought back memories of Laxman batting with his stroke play. Rahane would make 112* at the MCG in 2020.

 

Azhar Ali (Pakistan)

205no and 43 December 2016

Ali carried his bat in India’s score of 9/443 facing 364 balls.

 

Alister Cook (England)

244* December 2017

Cook made five double centuries including two against Australia. Cook carried his bat for 244* from 409 balls in a score of 491 in a very dull draw.

 

 

 

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