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Australia have won 63 of their 111 Tests at the MCG with the iconic ground having witnessed some of their finest and worst performances over the year.
AUSTRALIA'S BOXING DAY TEST HISTORY
Australia's overall record at MCG:
Won: 63. Lost: 31. Drawn: 17
While Australia have an impressive record in Melbourne, they lost the Boxing Day Test in 2018. India claimed their first win at the MCG since 1981 when they defeated Australia by 137 runs to secure the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah was named man of the match with nine wickets including a first innings haul of 6-33.
Biggest Boxing Day Test win:
Australia romped to victory by an innings and 201 runs within three days against Sri Lanka in 2012 after Mitchell Johnson's all-round heroics. The left-arm quick helped the hosts rout the visitors for 156 in their first dig with figures of 4-63. He then thrashed an unbeaten 92 as Australia responded with 460, led by skipper Michael Clarke's 106. With two injured tailenders unable to bat, Sri Lanka only managed 103 from 24.2 overs in their second dig as Johnson helped himself to another two scalps.
Biggest Boxing Day Test loss:
England won the fourth Test in 2010 by an innings and 157 runs within four days. Alarm bells were ringing early for Australia when they were skittled for 98 in the first innings by an English attack without the rested Steve Finn, the series' leading wicket taker. The visitors showed there were no gremlins in the wicket by piling on 513 led by Jonathan Trott's unbeaten 168. Despite resistance from Brad Haddin (55 not out) the hosts were bowled out for 258 as England nabbed a 2-1 series lead to ensure they retained the Ashes.
Highest score in Boxing Day Test:
Moustachioed Australian left-hander Graham Yallop hit 268 against Pakistan in the 1983 MCG clash, hitting 29 fours in a marathon 517-ball knock that lasted almost 12 hours. The match ended in a draw with more than 1200 runs scored in just three innings.
Best bowling in Boxing Day Test:
Australian spearhead Graham McKenzie took career-best figures of 8-71 against the West Indies in 1968 to help dismiss the visitors for 200 in their first dig. His scalps included Rohan Kanhai, Roy Fredericks and the skipper, the great Garry Sobers. Australia went on to win by an innings and 30 runs. The best match figures are 13-145 by towering Australian left-arm quick Bruce Reid in an eight-wicket win over England in 1990.
