Santa’s greatest present will be getting unwrapped on December 26 – yes, for cricket fans, it really is! – when the Boxing Day test match gets underway at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where some of history’s most iconic cricket memories have been made. Read on to find out how you can watch this years’ instalment of the Boxing Day test match.
How can I watch the 2024 Boxing Day test match?
The 2024 India vs Australia Boxing Day Test match is available to watch live and on-demand through Channel 7, Kayo and Foxtel.
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| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Kayo Standard Subscription
min. cost $25 over 1 month |
1 | $25 | Go To Site |
|
Kayo Premium Subscription
min. cost $40 over 1 month |
2 | $40 | Go To Site |
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^^View important information | |||
When does the Boxing Day test match start?
If you’ve been following along at home, you’ll have figured out that the Boxing Day Test starts on Boxing Day, and holds the possibility of lasting all five days through to the end of the year.
The match will start at 10:30am AEDT, according to the Melbourne Cricket Ground website, meaning a 7:30am start for viewers in Western Australia, 9am for South Australians and 9:30am for Queenslanders. The day of cricket usually wraps up around 5:30pm AEDT (4:30pm AEST), however this can change due to rain and other factors.
Why is the Boxing Day test match an Aussie tradition?
Test cricket has been played in Australia on Boxing Day since the 1800s. International teams would visit Australia to take on the Australian cricket team. According to itsonlycricket.com, test cricket was first played on Boxing Day in Australia during the 1950-51 Ashes against England, which saw the Melbourne test held between December 22 and 27.
It wasn’t until 1974, though, that a test was scheduled to actually start on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, again during an Ashes series, in order to fit in all six tests. An Aussie tradition was born! In 1980, the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Australian cricket team secured the rights to make this an annual event.
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Photo Credit: cricket.com.au
Original reporting by Abi Buckland
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