Explained: Why test cricket matches starting on 26 December are called 'Boxing Day' tests

Two Boxing Day test matches will be played this year in Centurion and Melbourne.

Cricket’s historic Boxing day will be back in a few days. Two different matches will start on 26th December, 2023. One will be played between India and South Africa at the Supersport Park in Centurion, while Australia will be taking on Pakistan at the MCG in Melbourne from Tuesday. Boxing Day has so much history involved with itself in cricket’s red-ball format and has produced so many iconic games.

India and Pakistan both are looking to win their maiden Test series on their respective tours. Australia thrashed Pakistan in the first test played at Optus Stadium in Perth, while India and South Africa will be commencing their two-match test series on Boxing Day. There will be no better day than the iconic annual ritual in test cricket, ‘Boxing Day’ to begin the battle between the tow giants.

Why Test cricket matches started on 26th December are called Boxing Day tests?

Boxing Day is celebrated one day after the Christmas festival. It is called Boxing Day because during the 1800s under Queen Victoria’s rule, laborers and servants of the lower British society were awarded ‘Christmas gifts’ from their bosses and masters in a box. Hence this day was called as ‘Boxing Day’ as they get their presents from their masters in a box.

Boxing Day is celebrated widely in British colonies mainly in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, and several other countries where British Empires ruled. The history of the Boxing Day test matches began in 1892. It started with a Sheffield Shield game between Victoria and New South Wales at MCG.

This game led to an annual ritual when Australia started hosting a Boxing Day game first in domestic cricket and then later on in International cricket. The first Boxing Day test match was held between Australia and West Indies at MCG in 1968. Cricket Australia made it a ritual to host a Boxing Day test in the 1980s. Australia and South Africa host Boxing day every year while New Zealand host occasionally.

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