Boxing Day a very special time for Australia’s cricketers: Steve Smith

Steve Smith, the Australian Test and ODI captain has written a wonderful piece explaining the importance of the Boxing Day. The article, featured on cricket.com.au, beautifully sums up the sentiments of an Australian cricketer participating in this long-established contest.

The Boxing Day at the historic MCG has witnessed many famous Test matches in the past. The Test has a special place in Australia’s sporting calendar every year. This and the traditional New Year’s Test at the SCG, have always been considered of great importance with fans queuing up in large numbers. The holiday season makes it a wonderful time for young and old to soak in the festive atmosphere with a bit of sanctity of Test cricket.

Smith starts by describing his liking for the surprises of life. Recollecting the Christmas Eve of 2009, he expresses the biggest surprise he ever received. Six years to this day, he was called into the Australian squad for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan as cover for off-spinner Nathan Hauritz. It was a surreal experience for him since Christmas, for most kids is usually spending time with family with an eye on gifts and sumptuous meals.

He explains how different that Christmas was to him. He practiced that morning and met a lot of his future teammates for the first time, before heading to Crown Casino for the traditional lunch with all the players, support staff and their families. He lavishes praise on the prawns and oysters served by Crown that afternoon.

He mentions how all players get together and become one big family by enjoying each other’s company, sharing a delicious meal and exchanging gifts. This group generally doesn’t include the players from the state of Victoria who get to spend Christmas at home.

The tradition of Kris Kringle, another name for Secret Santa that the team plays with each player pulling out of a hat a name, is described insightfully. The player whose name is pulled out has to buy a secret present for a teammate. Mitchell Johnson once got lucky to receive a copy of Ryan Harris’s book Rhino from the man himself who personally signed it.

Coach Darren Lehmann is someone who loves giving gifts and often takes the Mickey where possible. Smith reiterates his love for surprises expressing the feeling he gets to see what the coach comes up with each year.

He claims the Boxing Day Test, and the week leading up to it is a very special time for an Australian cricketer. Calling it a privilege and an honour to represent Australia in Test cricket, he feels there’s no better time to do it than in the festive season in front of a big crowd at the MCG.

Describing it as a day about family, watching the cricket on TV and playing in the backyard, he credits it with inspiring him to play and pursue a career in cricket. Smith hopes to see this Australian team do the same and inspire the next generation of young cricketers.

The West Indies, Brendon McCullum, the World Cup final and the Ashes also find a mention in this beautiful piece. Smith also expresses his happiness and gratitude for receiving the ICC Cricket of the Year award. On behalf of the Australian cricket team, he wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, with an invitation to come to the MCG to watch him and his team in action on 26th December.