The festive spirit was in full swing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as Australia’s cricket team enjoyed a relaxed Christmas Day with family ahead of the much-anticipated Boxing Day Test. The players, alongside their families, took to the iconic pitch, creating a heartwarming scene of camaraderie and joy.
All-rounder Mitch Marsh, accompanied by his wife Greta and newborn daughter Olive, shared a touching moment as they strolled on the hallowed turf. Fellow players Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, and Alex Carey also made the most of the day, playing with their children on the field.
Josh Inglis, who remains on the sidelines with Travis Head cleared to play, spent quality time with his partner Megan and son Oscar. Meanwhile, Perth Scorchers pacer Jhye Richardson, a surprise reserve bowler inclusion after his side’s Big Bash League loss to the Renegades, remained in Melbourne to join the celebrations.
Adding to the family atmosphere, Steve Smith was seen inspecting the MCG wicket alongside his father, Peter. Young sensation Sam Konstas, set to become the fourth-youngest Australian to play Test cricket, also enjoyed the day with his family, soaking in the special moment.
Assistant coach Andrew McDonald’s son, Ollie, took part in the cricketing action, donning pads and facing throwdowns alongside Travis Head, who successfully passed a fitness test after recovering from a quad injury.
Meanwhile, Indian star Virat Kohli enjoyed breakfast on Christmas with his wife Anushka and famuily at a local cafe in Melbourne.
Australian captain Pat Cummins highlighted the unique camaraderie within the squad, describing the Christmas gathering as a cherished tradition:
“It’s great, we spend probably more time on the road than we do at home, so this is kind of the big extended family. At the moment, it’s chaos-there are probably two kids per person on average, so about 30 or 40 kids are running around between the staff and players.”
Cummins added, “It is great fun. All the partners get on so well. This year we haven’t had as many partners traveling because everyone has young ones at home, but they all come together for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests. It’s always a great time of year.”
The festivities included Christmas presents for the kids, followed by a team lunch, as families enjoyed a rare chance to unite during the grueling cricketing calendar.
While the Australian camp celebrated in high spirits, their opponents, India, opted for a rest day ahead of the big clash, wrapping up their pre-match media commitments early on Tuesday.
