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New Delhi: Australia will take on England in the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, December 26. England's Ashes dream might be over, but the visitors are playing for pride in the five-match series.
With the match starting on December 26, attention turns to Boxing Day, a date which is written in history, tradition and has a major sporting significance in Australia. Every year, December 26 is referred to as 'Boxing Day' in all sports around the world.
Boxing Day is observed, the day after Christmas, in the United Kingdom, and many other Commonwealth nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. There is no concrete evidence on how it started, but according to the assumptions, the name came from the tradition of rich families preparing boxes, which were filled with gifts and presents for the poor as a gesture for working on the day of Christmas.
The tradition of playing cricket on Boxing Day started in the late 19th century. Victoria and New South Wales played a Sheffield Shield match at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1865, which is regarded as the beginning of Boxing Day matches in Australia.
Boxing Day Test matches drew large crowds to the stadiums, making them a massive revenue generator for cricket boards around the world. The Boxing Day Test matches, combined with the festive season, created a unique and lively atmosphere at the venues.
Australia and South Africa are the two main countries where Boxing Day Test matches are played. The Boxing Day matches have been played at the MCG since 1950. It is one of the most iconic stadiums globally, with a capacity of over 90,000 spectators.
The second Ashes Test between Australia and England in 1950-51 was the first official 'Boxing Day Test'. Since then, the Aussies have taken part in 49 Boxing Day Test matches, winning 29, losing 10 and drawing nine.
This year, Australia will face England in the fourth Ashes Test on Boxing Day, and SA 20 will start in South Africa, while Manchester United will take on Newcastle United in the Premier League at Old Trafford in Britain on December 26 to commemorate the tradition.
