A brief history of Boxing Day cricket

Boxing Day has a special place in the history of the festive season. For some it’s a chance to enjoy Christmas lunch leftovers, while for others it could be a day of joy as it is the day of the year where you are as far away from Christmas as you can possibly get. For cricket fans, though, it is a grand day of leather and willow.

When the origins of Boxing Day are queried, the answers vary but the general consensus revolves around servants, a day off and charity boxes. However, those not taking the day off are our Proteas. They will be taking on England in the First Test at Centurion. The Boxing Day test is synonymous with Australian cricket though. First played in Melbourne in 1950, it continued sporadically until it was solidified as a permanent fixture in 1980. Since then it has been an annual event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, drawing an average attendance of 60 000 people and peaking in 2013 with an attendance of over 90 000.

Few people know, however, that the first test match to begin on Boxing Day was played at the Old Wanderers in 1913. The Old Wanderers was situated at what is now Johannesburg’s Park Station. That year, South Africa took on England, with England showing no festive cheer and crushing their hosts by an innings and 12 runs. So today, while digesting your leftovers and soaking up the sun, take a minute to acknowledge our heroes with the bat and ball who give us quality entertainment on this special day of relaxation.