As the year 2024 draws to a close, the world of cricket is abuzz with excitement. Three highly anticipated Boxing Day Tests are currently underway, each having commenced on December 26. The matches have now reached a thrilling juncture. In the India-Australia Test at Melbourne, Nitish Kumar Reddy formed a remarkable 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar, culminating in a sensational century – his first in Test cricket – before the day’s play concluded. This century innings enabled Team India to achieve a total of 358/9 runs by the end of the third day’s play.
Apart from the Melbourne Test, another Boxing Day match is taking place between South Africa and Pakistan in Centurion. This match has also reached a critical stage, with South Africa requiring 121 runs to win and possessing seven wickets in hand.
In addition to the Melbourne and Centurion Tests, the third Boxing Day match is being contested on Zimbabwean soil, with Zimbabwe and Afghanistan engaged in a fierce battle. After batting on the first two days, Zimbabwe achieved its highest Test score, thanks to centuries from three batsmen, accumulating 586 runs in their first innings. In response, Afghanistan, propelled by outstanding innings from Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, scored 425 runs by the end of the third day’s play, losing two wickets.
A Unique Record Established on the Third Day
Rahmat Shah remained unbeaten with 231 runs, while Hashmatullah Shahidi returned unbeaten with 141 runs. The two batsmen formed a 361-run partnership for the third wicket, adding 330 runs for the third wicket on the third day. This remarkable feat has created a new chapter in the history of Test cricket. In the Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan Boxing Day Test, more than 300 runs were scored on the third day without a single wicket falling – a rare occurrence in the history of Test cricket, last witnessed five years ago in the first Test between West Indies and England in January 2019.