India, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan are gearing up for his or her Boxing day Tests as 26th December is just a little away from now. While India will take on South Africa to start a two-match Test collection, Australia and Pakistan will lock horns within the second Test of the three-match collection on December 26. But what is the Boxing Day Test?
Boxing Day Test is a Test match performed yearly on the subsequent day of Christmas i.e. on December 26. The match is performed on the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia and it begins on December 26, after Christmas. However, it additionally takes place in different components of the world too. The start of the match coincides with Boxing day, which is celebrated on December 26.Â
Why is Boxing Day celebrated on December 26?
The Boxing Day is celebrated sooner or later after Christmas. The day is noticed within the United Kingdom and different nations which have been as soon as a part of the British Empire. They embrace Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, and South Africa, amongst others.Â
There is a concept in regards to the origin of the day. It is mentioned that underneath Queen Victoria’s rule within the 1800s, servants of decrease British society have been rewarded with hand-picked presents from their masters throughout the Christmas season. The presents given have been mentioned to be ‘Christmas Box’. The day then started to be mentioned as ‘Boxing Day’.
The custom unfold from an English church. Poor folks got packing containers, which have been opened in Churches after the Christmas pageant.Â
What is the historical past of Boxing Day Tests?
The Boxing Day cricket marks its origin in 1892. That yr, the MCG hosted a Sheffield Shield sport which then led to a convention of internet hosting clashes between Victoria and New South Wales throughout the Christmas interval. However, the primary International Boxing Day Test on the ‘G’ was held in 1952 between England and Australia. But that Test didn’t start as we see in present occasions on December 26. Instead, it began on December 22 and had a two-day break earlier than resuming on December 26.
The first Test match to start on Boxing Day occurred in 1968 when West Indies toured Australia. From 1980 onwards, Australia hosts a Boxing Day Test yearly, ranging from December 26. Only thrice the Test has began earlier than Christmas and resumed after it – in 1984, 1988 and 1994. However, in 1989, Australia performed an ODI sport in opposition to Sri Lanka and the normal Test was not held.
While Melbourne hosts the Boxing Day Tests yearly now, nations like South Africa and New Zealand additionally host the normal contest on this present day.
