The Boxing Day Test is a Melbourne institution – it has been “a thing” since 1980 for crowds with eskies full of Christmas leftovers to flock to the MCG on 26 December to see the Australian team battle the visitors. Light rain is often lurking and the series is always still alive with an air of expectation that some good cricket will ensue. It’s as Melbourne as the Yarra River and trams shuttling up Bourke Street.
This year, however, something could be missing: a Victorian. Scott Boland, a Boxing Day cult figure two years ago is in the 14-man squad but unlikely to unseat the incumbents. Fairytales and sentiment don’t count for much in selection decisions. Starc , Hazlewood and Cummins will be fresh after rolling Pakistan for just 89 in the final innings of the WACA Test.
Unless there is an injury, the crowd might have to adopt Travis Head as their own. The South Australian is at least from a southern State and you couldn’t imagine Bay 13 chanting for a New South Welshman. Head it is. His moustache is quite impressive and you think of him in the same fond way Victorians thought of that other great mustachioed compatriot, Ray Bright.
It’s not like Victorian Cricket is in the doldrums. In fact, it’s healthy enough. Victoria finished runners-up in the Sheffield Shield competition to Western Australia the last two seasons. Sure, it’s not the elite domestic competition it once was, but the Vics are competitive in the four-day format.
This year, there won’t be a Deano, a Merv, a Warney or even a ScoBo. Peter Handscomb is not contracted by the ACB, Marcus Harris is now a fifth-choice opener , Todd Murphy must wait his turn and although Will Pucovski is playing red-ball cricket again (batting down the order) there is no reason to rush him into the team.
Boxing Day won’t be the same.
Read more from Dan Hoban HERE
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Hi Dan, like you I can’t see Scott Boland being picked in the starting 11. I don’t think this is the first time no Victorian has appeared in a Boxing Day test 11, though off the top of my head I can’t say how often it’s happened.
Back in the inaugural Boxing Day test @ the ‘G’, five Victorians took the field. That’s a while back.
https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-cricket-boxing-day-test-cricket-at-the-g-50-years-ago/
Glen!
Yep, Dan, the Boxing Day Test has become a Melbourne/Victorian institution.
Before it came into vogue my father and I, plus his school master mate and his 2 boys, used to catch the early Boxing Day train from Geelong to Spencer Street
But we weren’t going to see a Test. No, Boxing Day meant the start of the annual Victoria vs. NSW Sheffield Shield match.
This was in the late Fifties–early Sixties so the Test match tradition was still a long way off.
From memory, I think the crowds were pretty good most Boxing Days but, of course, nothing like the Test match masses these days.
Thanks for that Glen. It has certainly come along in ‘leaps and bounds. Victoria always seemed to have someone in the team but couldn’t think back to when either.
In 1976/77, I went to all five days of the (almost) Boxing Day Test at Adelaide Oval, v Pakistan.
24th December – Day 1 (the day Thommo busted his shoulder in a collision with Alan Turner)
25th December – Rest Day
26th December – Day 2 (nb SA does not observe Boxing Day)
27th December – Day 3
28th December – Day 4 (Proclamation Day in SA)
29th December – Day 5
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pakistan-tour-of-australia-1976-77-61469/australia-vs-pakistan-1st-test-63179/full-scorecard
Quite recently,2017 , the Boxing Day starting Xl don’t feature any Victorians. Handscomb was left out.
Dan, back in the 1984-85 test vs the Windies there was no Victorian in the starting 11.
There’s possibly been a few other times in the last few decades.
Peter Handscomb has been unlucky. He’s deserved more tests.
Glen!
Thanks Glen, Interesting fact is I think Handscomb was dropped for both the 2017 and 2018 Boxing Day Tests.
Graham Yallop was the last Victorian batsman to score a century at the Boxing Day Test. Was against Pakistan( 268.)Dean Jones never made one.
Handscomb was maligned for his unusual technique as much as anything.