Australia XI will be unchanged for the Boxing Day Test, and the mere fact that it is played in an unchanged venue, the MCG in Melbourne, after a year of so much uncertainty will in itself be a great triumph of tradition and continuity over the many. vagaries of a Covid-19 world.
However, no one will have to look beyond that happy fact to see the many ways that things have changed. For one thing, the generally powerful St. Stephen’s Day gathering of more than 70,000 spectators has been divided into the region of 30,000 for reasons of social distancing. On the other hand, those present will be subject to a wide range of restrictions and limitations never before imposed on a multitude of CGMs, whether they are MCC members, corporate guests, or the paying public.
“Be a brave enough man to change the XI after the last one, so at this stage, unless something happens in the next few days, we will go in with the same XI,” said Australia coach Justin Langer. “And yes, 30,000 is better than nothing, and not that long ago, probably a month or a few weeks ago, we wondered if we would have a Boxing Day test match in Melbourne.
“Being at MCG, I come here a lot, but it’s an amazing stadium, Boxing Day, there is so much excitement about it. The kids love to play here. The Indians, a lot of them have probably dreamed of playing a Boxing Day Test 30,000 is better than nothing. It’s not the same as 90,000, but I’m sure the 30,000 coming in will certainly provide the atmosphere we love about the Boxing Day test match. “
A third reason that will remain in the memory of Australian players is perhaps the most prominent departure from decades of tradition. For years without fail, December 25 has provided hosts with a short Christmas morning training session before a photo opportunity and a more relaxed lunch where players, staff and their families happily mingle in the eve of Boxing Day.
This time, although the team’s lunch will be largely just for players and staff: the sacrifice they have made to see the MCG Test play is to live Christmas without their loved ones, so as not to break the biosecurity bubble so critical to the series. happening at all.
“This is the first time in 50 years that I am without my family,” Langer said. “And I’m not good with gifts, I won’t buy myself any gifts. I think it will be nice to have all the boys together. There are several players and staff who have no family this year. It’s one of the sacrifices we have to make in 2020 It’s not ideal, but it is what it is, there’s an incredible feeling within this team.
“It is a real family feeling, the boys take care of each other. It is one of our values to take care of each other through companionship. One of our other values is humility, and we know it is not perfect this year, but we will continue. go ahead. work, for the bigger picture of cricket. What I wish is that the lessons we have taken from this year, and the positive lessons, continue, especially in the Australian cricket team, because it is a dream to be a part of At the moment, it’s a big group of people.
“The very fact that we played the Adelaide Test last week was brilliant, we love to play in Adelaide. The Boxing Day test matches are probably the favorites of the guys who have met me, I said it is my favorite day in the calendar for a long time. for as long as I can remember, Boxing Day as an Australian cricketer. This year is a little different, the first time in 50 years without my family, but other than that. It’s because the sacrifices we made are playing a Boxing Day Test with 30,000 people, that’s a great thrill for anyone who loves cricket like we do. “
As much as Langer might enjoy the shocking conclusion of the Adelaide test, he had had no illusions about how India had overshadowed the Australians on days one and two, particularly in terms of hitting in the first inning. While Tim Paine’s rearguard was instrumental in bringing his side close enough to push the Indian higher order to implode on that dramatic third afternoon, Langer acknowledged that a great score would be necessary in Melbourne, on a surface that is very little. it’s probably just as helpful. for bowlers.
“In fact, I said on the morning of the third day before that overtime or so that awaited us, I told the guys make no mistake that this is test cricket. India really outdid us for the first two days of the game. game, “Langer said. “A real arm wrestling awaited us in a Test Match. So it was amazing how things changed. We know how good India is, we know we have to keep improving.
“If we are going to become a great team, we have to get better at winning after winning and people didn’t quite understand it, but really good teams keep winning and winning, especially when they play good cricket. An area that we have addressed, We will have to start well on Boxing Day morning and then be consistent, because we know that India will fight as we saw in the first two days of the test match in Adelaide. “
He hasn’t forgotten how, on the flatter surfaces, Cheteshwar Pujara put India on the path to a series win in 2018-19 by successfully absorbing the best Australia could deliver on Boxing Day and ensuring that the first innings of the hosts will start under enormous pressure.
“We are a very different team. We have come a long way in two years. We are now playing cricket very well; we are confident,” Langer said. “I also remember missing the pitch at MCG on a very, very, very, very flat wicket and that certainly took some of the wind off us, that’s for sure.
“So we are a different team and we know that in the first innings in Australia we are looking to score 400 in the first innings – there is no surprise there, that is what we have based our best test cricket for years, when I said we have areas where we can improve, I mean that. We played our best cricket, as we saw all last summer, when we are scoring great totals in the first innings, that’s what we aspire to and we will aspire to in this game as well. “
On the pitch, Langer was hopeful that the MCG staff could produce something more like last summer’s strip for the New Zealand test, not just for the entertainment of the 30,000 spectators who were allowed into the show. ground, but for the improvement of Test cricket around the world. Perhaps there has never been a Boxing Day test so likely to attract a large global audience, simply because most parts of the world are not as lucky in terms of coronavirus as Australia.
“Last year I know that MCG was under enormous pressure to produce a good wicket,” he said. “Matty Page and the guys from the grounds here did a great job last year, and it’s really important for test cricket. I thought wicket in Adelaide was brilliant, because there’s a competition between bat and ball and everything. we ask is that, the same at MCG, we have high hopes that will be the case and not just for this test match or this series, but for the health of test cricket.
“Every player loves the Boxing Day Test, Australians love the Boxing Day Test, people all over the world love it, so we all look for and hope for a good wicket that provides some help for the bat and ball because that’s exactly what test cricket needs. “
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
.
