3 minute read
The Boxing Day Test is just around the corner and despite the already final result of the series, we are very excited. Nevertheless, our standard approach to covering the sport’s biggest test match is to wish you all a happy Festivus and then leave… so that’s what we do.
The bottom line is that we can’t really guarantee we’ll write anything at this time of year, but the Boxing Day Test is so important that it demands recognition and a place where passionate insights from the readership can be posted in the early hours for the good of all humanity.
So that’s what this article is for. We probably won’t write much above the line during this Test match, but we can certainly be found below. At this time of year we prefer to be readers. What a great website. We really need to show our support his Patreon.
The Boxing Day Test of 2025
There’s only one Boxing Day Test this year, but it’s the big one: Australia vs England at the MCG from 11.30pm on Christmas Day (UK time).
We have rarely been accused of optimistic positivity and the “Woe! The ashes are gone!” dissection was no exception. However, we haven’t really lost interest in the series.
It’s depressingly true that England still haven’t won the Ashes in Australia since 2010/11, but they haven’t won a single Test match there since that same series either. This strikes us as an even more important unchecked box on the ‘to do’ list – after all, it’s a kind of requirement for the more ambitious goal.
Any chance?
Stranger things have happened. In fact, one of the strangest days of Test cricket in England took place at this week’s venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, the MCG… the ‘G.
With the 2010/11 Ashes level at 1-1 and Australia clearly in the ascendancy having returned to bowling their opponents for less than 200 in both innings of the previous Test match, England came out to give themselves an innings and 59 run lead on Day 2.
Read all about it! (We really need a special “Read all about it!” image to go with these book plugs.)
Boxing Day Ashes Tests haven’t been this delightful since – although there was a very boring draw in 2017.
Teams
England would always drop their number three batsman in favor of the other after the third Test. The only question at the beginning of the series was which number three would go which way. They ultimately opted to sacrifice Ollie Pope in the live Tests and have therefore now switched to Jacob Bethell for the dead rubbers.
Almost as predictably, Jofra Archer has been struck by injury and England’s journey to right-arm fast-medium is all but complete.
Australia, meanwhile, has reverted to just one first-choice bowler (Mitchell Starc) in Melbourne, after a brief flirtation with three (Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon) in Adelaide.
Happy Holidays!
Stay focused and try not to spray it around too much during The Airing of Grievances and then don’t get too ambitious during The Feats of Strength – remember you’re not as young as you used to be.
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