Roar Rookie
Joined November 2023
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Aussie sports fans – fresh from savouring the gripping Border-Gavaskar Test cricket series – will in just under a fortnight turn their attention towards…
We're counting down the top Boxing Day Tests - here's part 2.
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What a cracking Test Match it was. Tight and tough all the way – just like it was in the corresponding match in 1974.
Pat Cummins and his men had to be – and they were – on their guard at least 3 times during the match.
First – when the tail wagged for long enough in the first innings to get Australia what turned out to be a critical 94 run 1st innings lead.
Then again with the Carey/Marsh partnership after being reduced to 4/34 and 5/80 in 4th the innings run chase.
And finally when Cummins came in himself to survive the hat trick ball when Australia still needed 59 to win, before steering his side home alongside Carey in the closing stages.
Well done to both sides – a great way to end the summer.
Carey the clutch king: Gloveman's stunning 98, Cummins heroics keep Kiwi curse alive in thrilling comeback win
The top order batting issues that Australia have were again exposed in this Series – and will still be there for their next Test , not until November against India at home.
I can’t help but think think that Steve Smith’s career is being ruined by being made a makeshift opener.
I certainly don’t buy his “volunteering” line that CA are still trying to sell us.
More along the lines of being forced to do so – just like Neil Wagner being forced into retirement on the other side.
But let’s enjoy the win – and the quality of this Test Match – for now.
Before the footy really starts to kick in this week.
A city of historic importance: Why a Black Caps win in Christchurch will mean more than just Trans-Tasman bragging rights
And what a cracking Test Match it was. Tight and tough all the way – just like it was in the corresponding match in 1974.
Pat Cummins and his men had to be – and they were – on their guard at least 3 times during the match.
First – when the tail wagged for long enough in the first innings to get Australia what turned out to be a critical 94 run 1st innings lead.
Then again with the Carey/Marsh partnership after being reduced to 4/34 and 5/80 in 4th the innings run chase.
And finally when Cummins came in himself to survive the hat trick ball when Australia still needed 59 to win, before steering his side home alongside Carey in the closing stages.
Well done to both sides – a great way to end the summer.
A city of historic importance: Why a Black Caps win in Christchurch will mean more than just Trans-Tasman bragging rights
I agree with you 100%.
Indeed – my Top 10 Boxing Day Tests list (you can read elsewhere on this site) has had to be revised.
What we have seen in the last 5 days at least equals 1981 as the greatest ever Boxing Day Test – and maybe even surpasses it as the best ever Boxing Day Test.
Like 1981, the last 5 days had everything. Great batting (Smith and Reddy). Great bowling (Bumrah and Cummins). High Drama (the DRS dismissal of Jaiswal on the last day). Batting collapses (the 7 wickets that India lost in the last session to decide the Test). And emotion (the tears on Reddy’s fathers face has he brought up his century).
But the kicker is probably the record MCG Test crowd of 374,000 – breaking what was thought to be the ‘unbreakable’ record of the Bradman inspired 5th Test of 1936/37.
A record that could stand for just as long into the future – or maybe until India’s next visit for an MCG Test in 2028.
India fuming over controversial Jaiswal dismissal as Cummins gets sweet vindication in Australia’s epic MCG win