The last time the Black Caps faced Australia in a Test on the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Tim Southee wasn't even born.
The All Blacks had won the inaugural Rugby World Cup six months earlier; Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was aged seven and Jeff Crowe was the BLACKCAPS captain.
Thirty-two years; that’s how long we've been waiting for another Test tilt at the Aussies on arguably their most famous cricket venue.
"It's going to be a great occasion," Southee enthused in the MCG media center on Christmas Eve.
"We all grew up watching the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and so it's great to now be here and be part of it.
"A lot of great cricketers from New Zealand never got the chance to play in one so it's going to be very special and something we're all looking forward it."
Tim’s happy to have his new ball pal Trent Boult fit and firing here in Melbourne! #AUSvNZ #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/SYejDj9V0x
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 24, 2019
Since that thriller at the MCG from December 26-30, 1987, the BLACKCAPS have played 19 Tests in Australia - seven in Brisbane, six in Perth, four in Hobart and three in Adelaide. ODIs yes, and two T20s at the SCG, but no Tests in Australia’s biggest cities
Ross Taylor, now 35, is New Zealand’s most senior international player and closing in on a historic 100th Test appearance later in the season. That is potentially against India at the Basin Reserve in February and while not big on statistics will add to one pertinent figure this summer.
With Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui having just hosted its first Test, against England, and providing he stays fit and healthy, Taylor will clock up first test appearances at the three Australian grounds for this series.
That will take his record of test appearances to 41 grounds around the world.
That most recent appearance in a Melbourne Test is part of BLACKCAPS folklore, the Test ending with Sir Richard Hadlee and Danny Morrison striving for the final Australian wicket; Mike Whitney and Craig McDermott hanging on by the skin of their teeth.
Taylor knows the history, how Morrison surely had McDermott LBW just before the end, only to be turned down by the Australian umpire Dick French.
‘’I don’t think it was hitting leg or off. But it was smashing into middle,’’ Taylor recalled with grim humour. ‘’We’re lucky we’ve got reviews now.’’
In total the BLACKCAPS have played just Three tests in Melbourne, two in Sydney.
‘’I think it’s a special occasion,’’ Taylor said. ‘’Just the amount of people who are talking about it from New Zealand.
‘’You watch whatever game New Zealand is in, but you also turn on the Boxing Day Test, and for 32 years we haven’t played in that game.
‘’That’s pretty significant in the psyche of a New Zealander, that they can now say ‘we’ll be watching that test and New Zealand will be in it’.’’
A few fans keeping an eye on training out at the MCG nets 👀 #AUSvNZ #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/nRWgB2VZZt
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 24, 2019
Southee and the BLACKCAPS will hold a final training on Christmas morning before enjoying the remainder of the big day, all in the knowledge of the battle looming on Boxing Day.
"We've played a couple of Boxing Day Tests in Christchurch at home, but this is 'The Boxing Day Test'," Southee said.
"The crowds and the history behind it as well as the fact we haven't been here for 32 years make it special.
"At the same time, we don't want to go away from focusing on what we do leading into Test matches and getting our preparation right.
"If we do that then we can embrace the big occasion on a big stage and really enjoy it."
