The Indian cricket team’s quest for an unprecedented Test series triumph on South African soil is about to unfold as the players gear up for an intense two-match Test series against the Proteas. With players already getting a feel of the conditions through an intra-squad practice game, the stage is set for what promises to be an enthralling contest.
The highly anticipated series is scheduled to kick off with a Boxing Day Test at Centurion, beginning December 26th. This tradition of Boxing Day Tests is a long-established cricketing celebration dating back to 1950, when the first such match was held between Australia and England. The concept gained popularity, and by 1980, the Boxing Day Test became a regular festive fixture.
India’s history in Boxing Day Tests began in 1985 and reveals a challenging past. The Men in Blue have played 16 such matches, with their recent performances showing a marked improvement. Out of the 16 encounters, they have emerged victorious four times, succumbed to defeat ten times, and managed to draw twice.
Remarkably, three of India’s four successes arrived in their latest outings on Boxing Day. Their most recent conquest was against South Africa in December 2021, when they clinched the game by 113 runs in Centurion itself. Prior to that, Team India enjoyed back-to-back victories over Australia in 2018 and 2020 consecutively. However, before this string of wins, India’s last Boxing Day Test ended in defeat by 10 wickets against South Africa in Durban, back in 2013.
Each Boxing Day clash India has been involved in carries a story of its own, a testament to the team’s evolving prowess over the years:
– Australia vs India 1985 resulted in a match drawn
– Australia vs India 1991 saw Australia securing a win by 8 wickets
– South Africa vs India 1992 ended with South Africa’s victory by 9 wickets
– South Africa secured a convincing win by 328 runs against India in 1996
– The 1998 match against New Zealand yielded a 4-wicket win for the hosts
– A strong Australian side defeated India by 180 runs in 1999
– In 2003, Australia once again proved too strong, winning by 9 wickets
– South Africa overpowered India with a 174-run victory in 2006
– The 2007 match had Australia triumphing by 337 runs
– India broke the streak in 2010 with an 87-run win against South Africa
– Australia earned a 122-run win over India in 2011
– South Africa claimed a 10-wicket victory against India in 2013
– The 2014 game against Australia ended in a draw
– India won by 137 runs against Australia in 2018
– Another win for India came in 2020 against Australia by 8 wickets
– The most recent victory was in 2021 over South Africa by 113 runs
As the latest Cricket News from South Africa emerge, the cricket fraternity eagerly awaits the commencement of the Test series. India’s performance in the upcoming Boxing Day Test could set the momentum for the rest of the series, potentially scripting a new chapter in the history of Indian cricket. The team will no doubt seek to extend their winning streak on foreign land, vying for that elusive series win against the formidable Proteas. With anticipation high among fans, the countdown to the day after Christmas begins, where cricket will once again take center stage, proving its enduring allure as the pinnacles of competition and festive celebration converge.
