I don't know what Boxing Day means to you (probably very little), but to me Boxing Day always means cricket in Melbourne, my adopted home town. Back in 1994 when I lived in Australia, I went to the Boxing Day Test against South Africa. Sadly, the match was washed out because of rain and the day I went to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground, there were less than 1,000 people in the stands. It was an erie feeling. I had been in stadium for Australian Rules Football matches when close to 100,000 people had been jammed in the stands.

Anyway, I try to catch the Test every year no matter where I am, especially when Australia are playing England as they were last year. I couldn't pick up Radio Australia on my little shortwave from Samoa, (I wanted to smash the damn thing), but I followed the game on the Net as best I could.

This year Australia is playing India in the fight for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first match in Brisbane was drawn. India won the 2nd match at the Oval in Adelaide by 4 wickets. With only one more match to be played early next year in Sydney, the Aussies really need to win in Melbourne to stay in the hunt. India are a quality team. Their Sachin Tendulkar is one of the best players in the history of the game. Then again, the Aussies are the world champs.

I wish nothing more than I can sit on the couch with six pack of Victoria Bitter and watch the thing. But there is no appreciation for the fine sport of cricket in this country, so there's no TV coverage, but I can listen on the Nine Network simulcast over the web. I'd be shocked if any of you had any interest in this, but if you want to listen, there's the link. Myself, I'm going to be taking in the ducet tones of Richie Benaud and the gang from Nine.

COME ON, AUSSIE, COME ON!!!!!