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With the prospect of the boxing day test being a damp squib, my mind goes back to the 81-82 season to the Australia v West Indies boxing day test which produced the most exciting boxing day cricket I have ever seen.

On a dodgy pitch, Australia were bowled out on the first day for 198, Kim Hughes played without doubt his greatest test innings by scoring exactly 100 of these supported by Alderman in a 43 run last wicket stand. Then Dennis Lillee with steam coming out of his ears reduced the Windies to 4 - 10 at stumps on boxing day including a ripper that bowled Viv Richards last ball. 136,000 attended the just over 4 days of the match.

The two teams were very talented to say the least. The Aussies had Laird, Wood, Border, Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh, Hughes, Yardley, Lawson, Alderman, Lillee and Wellham. The Windies team included Haynes, Dujon, Richards, Lloyd, Gomes, Roberts, Holding ,Garner and Croft. Awesome teams. It was a rare victory for the Aussies in a dominant era for the Caribbean champs.

mike -- yep remember it well. Unfortunately, I was a kid and had to go out with my parents, so I missed the last part of Hughes' innings. I M Chappell rated it as one of the three best innings he has seen, along side Sobers and Pollock. Also remember Llyod pushing Croft out of the stand to send him out as a night watchman.

There is more to this than just the players. The West Indies Cricket Board has been dysfunctional and dictatorial for many years and they have been just as responsible for driving the players away as them being attracted by the lures of T20 cricket

The West Indies players have impressed so far in the BBL.The young players from the Carribean will have to tough it out in the last two tests.IN defence of Chris Gayle he has played 104 tests for the windies so he's paid his way into the T20

Only Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo & maybe Andre Russell would be in the Windies 1st XI and lets face it Gayle is 36 and coming back from major back injury so he has had his day in the Test arena whilst Bravo has retired himself from Test Cricket leaving only Russell not chosen. Pollard, Sammy, Simmons et al are NOT Test Cricketers!

Pollard injured and not available for the Adelaide Strikers.Russell looks like he could be anything as a International player,Bowling high 140"s km and acurate.Reminds me a bit of Malcom Marshall..Sammy would have a red hot go if he played the tests if he wanted to play.

How good is it having Bill back in the central commentary box.
He puts that flog Slater, Warne & Healy to absolute shame just a pity it is only for 1 or 2 Tests we here the classics like- GOT HIM!
PS- Welcome back finally Grassy ol mate!

I assume you mean that flog Hackdorn who should be pissed off if 6pr had any idea!

Beasley Hutton wrote: I assume you mean that flog Hackdorn who should be pissed off if 6pr had any idea!

Flogdorn is a despicable fraud the way he carries on re- WAFL when its the place who gave his career a start

Hopefully he bats on tomorrow at least until lunch ...there is still 2 days of cricket to be played and watched!