Boxing Day Test

The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of sport's great events and is now another item on my wish-list ticked off.

Australia and South Africa are currently ranked one and two in the world. After South Africa heroically won the first Test in Perth last week scoring a near record 414-4 in the fourth innings pressure was on the home side and, in particular, captain Ricky Ponting (right). He responded with an excellent 101 in 126 balls, helping lift his side to 280-6 at the close.

The attendance of over 63,000 was some way in front of the 1,000 0r so when we were in Dunedin earlier this month for New Zealand v West Indies, who incidentally today tied their 20/20 international which was then won by the Windies in cricket's first ever "super-over" or tiebreak decider.

Unfortunately, the Melbourne crowd contained various unruly elements, some near us, and as the booze got to them more and more we left early with four overs still left. Shame but we'll be back on Monday, in the toffs' end (see below). Dave