Game on for Boxing Day Test

WHAT a contrast. In the last Ashes series in Australia the destination of the trophy was already decided before the start of the Boxing Day Test.

This time the trophy might as well be closeted in a Mumbai cabinet, its fate is so finely balanced.

The crowd will be baying for English blood.

England have blundered by losing the WACA Test so comprehensively that they have turned Boxing Day into a wrestling match.

With England having squandered the series lead and the psychological advantage, Australia will now have serious momentum at the MCG.

1. Border and Thomson:

IN the fourth Test of 1982-83, it was Allan Border and Jeff Thomson. They began their last-wicket partnership needing 74 runs for victory.

By the end of the fourth day they'd dispensed with half the arrears.

The next day 18,000 fans flooded through the open gates and as each run was ticked off they beat a louder victory chant on the advertising hoardings.

2. Warnie's 700th:

EVEN though the trophy was decided before the 2006-07 encounter, there was no shortage of drama. Who better to act out a classic script than local hero Shane Warne?

3. Symo's century:

 FOUR years ago at the MCG, Andrew Symonds blasted a century in harness with his big fishing mate Matthew Hayden.

They came together with Australia in similar early trouble to England, who had been bowled out for a meagre 159.

Symonds, batting for his career, attacked the bowling to score his maiden Test hundred. He and Hayden added 279 runs and suddenly a 5-0 Ashes whitewash was a possibility.

4. Lillee v Richards:

WHILE batsmen save matches, it's bowlers who win games. Dennis Lillee, with his distinctive head band and theatrical appeal, was destined for a lead part on Boxing Day.

5. Kim The Brave:

AND if it's bravery you want, then look no further than Kim Hughes in 1981-82 against the West Indies' four fiery fast bowlers.

On an uneven pitch, Hughes took the West Indies pace quartet head-on and hammered out an unbeaten century.