Delhi: The five-match Test series between India and Australia is currently tied at 1-1. The fourth match of this series will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from 26 December. This is called Boxing-Day Test. Hearing the name, it may seem that it is related to boxing, but it is not so at all. Actually, the story behind this is something else. Let us know why it is called Boxing-Day Test.
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What is Boxing Day Test?
The test match starting from 26th December is called Boxing-Day Test. This tradition is seen in Australia, UK, New Zealand and South Africa. Australia was the first to introduce the Boxing-Day Test, which was later adopted by New Zealand and South Africa. However, Australia plays the Boxing-Day Test every year, whereas other countries do not follow this tradition regularly.
boxing day story
- First recognition:
It is said that those working on Christmas day were given leave on the next day i.e. 26th December and were given a box as a gift. For this reason it was called Boxing Day.
- Second belief:
In ancient times, boxes filled with gifts were kept outside the church, which were meant for the poor. The next day poor people used to take these boxes from the church. For this reason also it came to be called Boxing Day.
The idea of gift and box is common in both beliefs, hence the name Boxing Day, and it has nothing to do with boxing. Nowadays this day is a public holiday. People do a lot of shopping and give gifts to their loved ones.
When did the Boxing Day Test start?
The Boxing Day Test is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It started with the Test match between Australia and England in 1950. However, the match then started on 22 December and its last day was on 26 December.
In the 1974–75 Ashes series, a Test match started on 26 December, making it a tradition. In 1980, the Australian Cricket Board decided that the Boxing Day Test would start every year on 26 December. Since then this test match is held on this date.
