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Australia’s Boxing Day dominance could let England wait a bit longer for win on Aussie soil

Umesh Sharma

Australia celebrate win against India in Boxing Day Test, 2024 (Source: X)Australia celebrate win against India in Boxing Day Test, 2024 (Source: X)

After securing an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26, the hosts, Australia, are set to challenge England in the fourth Test. The game will be played on the December 26, i.e., on the Boxing Day. The Boxing Day Test has a special place in the hearts of the Aussie cricket fans, especially considering their team’s form in this special game for the last couple of years. 

Notably, the Australian side is already on the cloud nine after the pushing England away from the Ashes trophy one more time. Now, they will look forward to rubbing salt in the English wounds with a win in the upcoming Boxing Day Test, starting later this week.

Given that, here’s a look at the performance of Australia in the last five Boxing Day Tests and their chances in the upcoming clash against England. 

2024 - A dominant win against India 

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Australia hosted India in the fourth Test of the series. The game was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The hosts won the toss and decided to bat first, putting a big total of 474 runs in the first. Innings, courtesy of Steve Smith’s 140-run knock, alongside half-centuries of Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, and Marnus Labuschagne. 

Subsequently, the Aussie bowlers bundled out the visitors on 369 runs in the first innings to take a lead of 105 runs at the end of the first innings. After scoring 234 runs in the second innings, Australia defended the 340-run target by dismantling India’s batting attack and bundling them out at the score of just 155 runs. Eventually, the Aussies registered a massive 184-run win to take a 2-1 lead in the series. 

2023 - Outmuscled Pakistan to take an unassailable lead

The three-match home Test series against Pakistan was one of the most successful home assignments for Australia. Entering the Boxing Day Test with a 1-0 lead in the series, Australia dominated the dynamics in MCG throughout the game. The visiting skipper, Shan Masood, won the toss and asked the Aussies to bat first. Australia posted a total of 318 runs in the first innings courtesy of Labuschagne’s half-century (62), supported by David Warner’s 38 and Usman Khawaja’s 42.

Pat Cummins and co. took a lead of 54 runs at the end of the first innings as they bundled out Pakistan at the score of 264 runs. Furthermore, the hosts scored 262 runs in the second innings to post the 317-run target for Masood’s men. But the visitors’ batting attack couldn’t find rhythm against the Aussie bowling attack and was wrapped up at 237 runs. Eventually, Australia won the game by 79 runs and secured an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series. 

2022 - Pushed the Proteas to wall to win the series 

After defeating South Africa by six wickets in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia took on the visitors in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. The hosts’ skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and invited the Proteas to bat first. South Africa’s batting attack fumbled against the Cameron Green’s heroics (5/27) and could score just 189 runs in the first innings. 

In response to SA’s 189 runs, David Warner’s sensational double century (200), followed by Steve Smith’s 85 and Alex Carey’s century (111), helped the hosts post a mammoth total of 575/8 before declaring their innings. Later in the second innings, the Aussie bowling attack shone once again and outmuscled the visitors at the score of just 204 runs, winning the game by an innings and 182 runs. 

2021 - Another Ashes sealed with Boxing Day Joy

In the third Test of the Ashes 2021-22, Australia took on England in Melbourne with a 2-0 lead. Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision seemed to work in their favour as the combined bowling heroics of skipper Cummins and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon ended England’s first innings at the score of just 185 runs. Australia responded with a 267-run total, taking a lead of 82 runs. 

In the second innings, the English batters lost themselves to Scott Boland’s pace and got bundled out at the double-digit score of just 68 runs. Boland’s sensational bowling performance of 6/7 helped his side win the game by an innings and 14 runs and secure an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the Ashes 2021-22. 

2020 - India’s comeback win levelled the series 

After giving a nightmare of ‘36 all-out to India in Adelaide, Australia faced the visitors in the second Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. Aussie skipper Tim Paine won the toss and asked his batters to take charge. The decision didn’t go down well with the hosts as Jasprit Bumrah (4/56) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/35) combined to bundle them out at the score of just 195 runs in the first innings. 

India responded with the 326-run total courtesy of stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s century (112 runs) to take a lead of 131 runs. The Indian bowling attack, on the back of joint brilliance, restricted Australia to just 200 runs in the second innings, with a second-innings lead of only 69 runs. The eventual series winners, India, comfortably chased down the total, scoring 70 runs for the loss of two wickets and won the game by eight wickets to level the series at 1-1.