How Australia’s expected XI have performed in previous Boxing Day Tests

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy now heads to Melbourne with the series tied 1-1 following the drawn Test in Brisbane.

The first day of the showpiece event of the summer is already a sell-out as players perform in the colosseum-like atmosphere.

The 100,000-seat venue can bring out the best and worst in players, so we thought we’d take a look at how Australia’s predicted XI have fared in MCG Tests previously.

Check out the likely XI’s stats and observations from their Melbourne performances previously.

Usman Khawaja (6 MCG Tests)

Matches: 6, Runs: 422, Ave: 42.20, HS: 144, 100: 1, 50: 2.

Started off his time at the MCG in brilliant fashion, passing 50 in his first three knocks at the venue. It’s been harder going since then for Khawaja, particularly as an opener where he has scored 43 runs from three attempts.

Nathan McSweeney (No MCG Tests)

No statistics

(Unlikely to play)

Sam Konstas (No MCG Tests)

No statistics

(Potential to play)

Marnus Labuschagne (5 MCG Tests)

Matches: 5, Runs: 240, Ave: 30.00, HS: 63, 100: 0, 50: 2.

Has made 63 at the venue on two occasions, one of those innings came last year against Pakistan. Not his favourite venue in Australia by any stretch, with three of his last four scores at the ‘G being just 14 or fewer.

Steve Smith (11 MCG Tests)

Matches: 11, Runs: 1093, Ave: 78.07, HS: 192, 100: 4, 50: 5.

A brilliant record for a brilliant player, Smith enjoyed a golden period at the MCG where he tonned in four consecutive Boxing Day Tests from 2014 to 2017. Has also made at least 26 in each of his last three knocks at the venue including two fifties.

Mitch Marsh (4 MCG Tests)

Matches: 4, Runs: 212, Ave: 42.40, HS: 96, 100: 0, 50: 1. Has a solid record at the venue which was seriously boosted by a score of 96 last year against Pakistan when he walked out at 4/16, helping the Aussies reach 262 and set a target of 317. Also has four wickets at the ‘G, which all came against the West Indies in a single innings in 2015.

Alex Carey (3 MCG Tests)

Matches: 3, Runs: 187, Ave: 46.75, HS: 111, 100: 1, 50: 1.

Carey’s best Test knock came at the ‘G and he’s passed 50 twice in his four innings at the venue. Has 11 catches from six innings and notched a stumping in last year’s Test against Pakistan.

Pat Cummins (7 MCG Tests)

Matches: 7, Wickets: 35, Ave: 17.00, 5W: 4, BB: 6/27.

The Aussie skipper loves playing at the MCG, with four five-wicket hauls from seven games. Cummins also averages 22.61 across his career, but just 17.00 in Melbourne. He’s coming off a 10-wicket effort in last year’s Boxing Day Test against Pakistan too.

Mitchell Starc (7 MCG Tests)

Matches: 7, Wickets: 25, Ave: 30.16, 5W: 0, BB: 4/36.

Not his favourite venue, although Starc has played a lot of cricket at the venue when it favoured batters pre-2021. In recent years, he’s fared better including 4/55 in the second innings of last year’s clash against Pakistan.

Nathan Lyon (13 MCG Tests)

Matches: 13, Wickets: 45, Ave: 32.15, 5W: 1, BB: 5/50.

Has played every Boxing Day Test since 2011. Has solid stats at the venue which now favours seam bowling heavily.

Scott Boland (2 MCG Tests)

Matches: 2, Wickets: 10, Ave: 13.80, 5W: 1, BB: 6/7.

The MCG specialist in every sense of the word. The Victorian loves playing at home and famously dominated the 2020/21 Ashes Test at the MCG on debut, taking 6/7 in the second innings. Will have a huge role to play with Josh Hazlewood out of the side this time around.