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Record Boxing Day Test heat to scorch the MCG

As the Boxing Day Test gets underway in Melbourne, players and fans alike could be sweltering under some the hottest conditions ever experienced over a full day's play in the event’s history.  

If you’ve being keeping up with our newsfeed, you already know that Day 1 is set to be an absolute scorcher, but how does Melbourne’s current forecast of 39°C against other days that the Boxing Day Test has taken place? 

Image: Boxing Day maximum temperature forecast for Victoria

The regular Boxing Day Test has been a fixture on our sporting calendar since 1980. Since then, between December 26th to 30th of every year, a total of four days have exceeded 39 degrees in Melbourne; on the 30th of Dec 2003 (40.3°C), 2005 (39.2°C) and again in 2019 (40.8°C) as well as the 29th of Dec 2007 (40.0°C). 

In 2003 and 2005, day 5 play was limited to just a few hours each as Australia won each match relatively comfortably, while no play took place on day 5 in 2019 as Australia wrapped up the match within 4 days. On day 4 of 2007, Australia won the match before stumps, meaning the full day was not required. In another bit of cricket trivia, the opponents in 2003 and 2007 were none other than our current opponents: India. 

In terms of Boxing Days themselves, Melbourne has not reached 39 degrees since 1945 (40.1°C) and has only exceeded the mark on two other occasions (reaching 39.1°C in 1880 and 40.9°C in 1941). 

The next two days slated for the test are a bit of a mixed bag, with lingering showers in the wake of a strong cold front potentially bringing some brief interruptions to play on days 2 and 3. The final two days look much better, as a high moving across brings nearly perfect conditions to play, and spectate test cricket. 

Image: Temperature, rain probability and wind forecast for Melbourne for the next week

So it looks like day 1 of the Boxing Day test should set at least one record, that is the hottest temperature reached during a full day of play. If the temperature somehow makes it past 40.3°C, it will be the hottest day in the history of the iconic Boxing Day Test. As for any records set on the pitch, we’ll leave that to the players.