Top 3 Boxing Day Test matches of the decade

The final days of the year are the most celebrated ones in Australia and South Africa. The traditional Boxing Day Test match kicks off on the morning after Christmas, and the fans show up in large numbers to cheer for their team.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia traditionally plays host, and in this decade, the home team have registered five victories in Boxing Day Test matches.

Since this is the holiday period, the cricket boards promote the Boxing Day Test extensively. It is the dream of every cricketer to play in a Boxing Day Test, because the atmosphere and the pressure of that game are completely different.

In this article, we take a look at the Top 3 Boxing Day Tests of this decade.

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#3 Australia vs England, 4th Test, Ashes 2017-18

Australia v England - Fourth Test: Day 2

Australia had won the first three Tests and were the favorites heading into the MCG game. And David Warner's magnificent hundred guided them to a score of 327 runs in the first innings.

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In reply, Sir Alastair Cook played one of the finest knocks of his career to defy the Aussie pacers. He carried his bat through the innings, ending up with 244 runs off 409 deliveries.

Cook stitched together a century partnership with number 10 batsman Stuart Broad, and the experienced duo gave England a massive lead of 164 runs. Although Steve Smith's hundred in the second innings ensured that the match ended in a stalemate, Cook proved his fighting qualities once again with the epic knock.

#2 Australia vs India 2018-19, 3rd Test

Jasprit Bumrah inspired India to a famous win

Before 2018, India had never won a Boxing Day Test match against Australia. However, Virat Kohli's men went Down Under with a clear plan in mind, and ended that winless streak with a 137-run victory.

Both the teams had won one match each ahead of the MCG Test. Skipper Kohli elected to bat first after winning the toss, and Cheteshwar Pujara's patient innings of 106 runs took India to 443 in the first innings.

Later, Jasprit Bumrah's six-wicket haul sent the home side packing for just 151. India had the upper hand, and went on to set the home side a target of 399 in the fourth innings.

The Indian pacers ruled the roost once again as the trio of Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami shared seven wickets between themselves to seal the deal for India. Pat Cummins huffed and puffed with his 63-run knock but ultimately, the target was just too big for Australia.

#1 Australia vs India 2013-14, 3rd Test

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane kicked off a new era in Indian cricket

MS Dhoni unexpectedly announced his retirement from Test cricket after this match, which meant his final outing in the whites came during the best Boxing Day Test of this decade.

Steve Smith continued his brilliant form against India and drove the home team to a total of 530 in the first innings with his 192-run innings. In reply, India got off to a good start as the top three batsmen took the score near 150 before returning to the pavilion.

Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli took over from there and added 262 runs for the fourth wicket. Kohli scored 169 while Rahane missed the 150-run landmark by three runs.

India suffered a collapse in the end to concede the first innings lead to their rivals.

Shaun Marsh's 99 helped Australia set a target of 384 for India. Once again, the pair of Rahane and Kohli saved the day for the visitors as their 85-run partnership helped India salvage a draw.

Dhoni remained unbeaten on 24 and then called a day on his Test career.