December 26 2013, Melbourne.
The Boxing
Day Test Match is possibly the world's best sports event. There I said it. Yes,
I know that is a pretty bold statement, especially when I've never been to the
World Cup Finals, or the London Olympics, or the Superbowl. But I honestly
don't know how they could compete.
The annual
cricket fest combines a clash of two of the game's giants, in the world's
biggest and most impressive sports coliseum of the MCG, and taken in breathlessly by almost one hundred thousand
sports mad fans. Yes, yes I hear you - isn't Brazil playing the World Cup Final
against Spain in Rio de Janeiro next year going to be just like that?
Not quite, here is how the Boxing Day Test comes into its own. It's all down to
its magnificent and fortuitous timing. It's Boxing Day, it's a national
holiday, it's Christmas time, and everybody, and I mean everybody is in the
mood to party. And what better place to do it.
The whole
city of Melbourne comes to a respectful standstill on Boxing Day. This is the
only time of year when Melbourne conversation actually shifts away from the
vagaries of the local weather forecast to whether or not you’re going to the
cricket. The rest of Australia joins the party too, with millions waiting
patiently around TV screens up and down the country in record numbers, more
cast iron proof if it’s needed that cricket is Australia's only truly national
sport, and that the MCG is its Mecca.
Anticipation
builds in the early throws of December. Last minute calls and requests for
seats and tickets are hurriedly made, meeting points and match day travel
arrangements confirmed, and picnic baskets planned. Christmas Day comes and
goes, and then finally, finally, it’s Boxing Day, it’s here, it’s match day.
The anticipation simmers on all trains headed to the city, as they fill at each
passing station with more and more chattering cricket disciples. “Who’s
playing?” “Who’ll win the toss?” “What’s the pitch like?” "Will it
swing?" The banks of the Yarra
River throb as the hordes move as one towards the mighty white towers of the
stadium, and the enormity of the occasion smothers all and sundry happily.
The noise
levels rise as thousands swarm through the turnstiles, and push through towards
their seats. Goosebumps flow through your body as the ground rises as one and
sings along proudly to the National Anthems, and then it’s time for the battle
to begin. The players themselves are all too aware of the magnitude of the
Boxing Day Test, and the expectations of the fans. You can see it in their
eyes, and in their puffed out chests. Some rise majestically to the occasion
whilst others find it all too much and wilt under the enormous pressure of an
entire nation. The game is always fiercely contested, and for all its hype,
seldom disappoints.
Even if it
does, you still have the party. You’ll meet enough super-heroes to save the
world five times over, hear more out of tune tribal singing than a nineteen
eighties Eurovision Song Contest, and
help pass at least one twenty five foot long beer cup snake high up over your
head. You’ll leap like a salmon to join a world record Mexican Wave, strike a
beach ball high up into the clear blue sky, and dance along merrily any time
the ball sails past the boundary rope. You'll ask players to smile or wave at
you, and they'll cheerily comply. You'll bump into old friends around the
stadium and you'll make new ones all around you, even if for only that short
magical day. Whatever happens in the cricket, even if the game isn't going your
way*, you'll have the most wonderful fun-filled
day at the best Boxing Day party the world over.
*I'm an
England fan, and it definitely didn't go our way. 2010 on the other hand was
our day. But who cares, party on.
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