Test cricket had put the Packer Revolution behind it by the time England arrived for the Ashes tour of 1982/83. Ian Botham had swept all before him in the 1981 series and interest was intense when another Boxing Day classic was played out. David Wiseman continues his look at Melbourne's cricket institution and a match 20 years on that was a classic.

After the triumph of "Botham's Ashes" in 1981, England lost a six-Test series in India 1-0. A victory in a solitary Test in Sri Lanka was followed by Test series at home against India and Pakistan. England won both, 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.

They then set out for Australia for the summer of 1982/83 to defend the Ashes.

Despite their successes, English cricket had been gutted when a rebel side toured South Africa in early 1982. The cricketers who went were banned from international cricket for three years and because of this, England sent an under-strength side to Australia. Names such as Dennis Amiss, Geoffrey Boycott, Graham Gooch, Alan Knott, John Lever, Chris Old, Derek Underwood, Peter Willey and Bob Woolmer were now considered persona non grata, and English cricket was much the poorer for it.

Bob Willis was leading the English side. It would be his sixth tour of Australia, having made his Test debut 12 years earlier at the SCG in the fourth Test. Some 267 wickets later, he was closing in fast on being the second English bowler after Fred Trueman to take 300 wickets.

After three Tests, England were 2-0 down and looking down the barrel of a series defeat. A meek draw in the first Test in Perth was followed by a seven-wicket loss in Brisbane and a heavy defeat in Adelaide, where the tourists had defied convention by deciding to bowl first.

Then it was on to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test …

The match was already destined for history: the 250th Test between Australia and England, the 75th Test match to be played at the MCG and the first to be played before an electronic scoreboard.

From the XI which played in Adelaide, Norman Cowans came in for off-spinner Eddie Hemmings. After missing the last two Tests, Geoff Cook came in to replace the injured Derek Randall. Australia were more settled, fielding an unchanged line-up from Adelaide.

Greg Chappell won the toss and, not heeding England's misfortune in Adelaide, sent the tourists in. Up to that point, Australian captains had done so 20 times in Ashes Tests for six wins, seven losses and seven draws. But this was different. Melbourne wasn't Adelaide and anyway, Chappell had sent England in at the Gabba and that had resulted in an Australian victory.

Graeme Fowler and Cook opened the innings for England. The opening position was proving a tough one for England to fill, having already tried the combinations of Cook and Tavare and Tavare and Fowler in the series.

A Lancastrian, Fowler was known as the joker of the dressing room. He was a man of unorthodox views. Not a technically gifted cricketer, the Australians thought him below Test standard, even though he had top scored in the second innings at the `Gabba with 83. He would go on to play 21 Tests with the highlight being the first Englishman to make a double century in India.

In Melbourne, Cook was playing the sixth of his seven Tests. He had been in first-class cricket for 10 years before making his Test debut.

Geoff Lawson and Rodney Hogg were opening the bowling for Australia.

Universally known as 'Henry', Lawson, after a famous Australian poet and writer, was the star bowler for Australia and came to Melbourne with 26 wickets for the series at 17. Lawson wore his heart on his sleeve and sometimes let his aggression rise to the fore, but he was a bowler with ticker and bowled with a unique action.

He had made his debut two years earlier as a first change bowler to Lillee and Len Pascoe.

Hogg had came into the side for the third Test and was now back to doing what he did best - terrorising English batsmen. He had made his debut against England four years earlier and stunned the world by taking a world-record 41 wickets in the six-Test series, before a severe back injury stalled his career.

Twenty minutes into the game Hogg made the initial breakthrough. Fowler edged a straight delivery to the safe hands of Chappell at first slip. He was gone for four and England were one for 11.

Chris Tavare joined Cook at the crease. Six months earlier Tavare had secured the dubious honour of scoring the second-slowest half-century in history (350 minutes). At Perth, he had not added to his score for 90 minutes.

Cook and Tavare took the score to 25 when Chappell took another catch at slip, this time from the bowling of a resurgent Jeff Thomson. Cook was gone for 10, at the time his highest score of the series. It was Chappell's 111th Test catch - a record for an Australian fielder.

To see "Thommo" tormenting the Englishmen again was to wind the clock back eight years.

Thomson made his name as a tearaway bowler who would go on to become the quickest bowler the world has ever seen. With an unorthodox delivery, his sling action obscured the ball from the batsman's sight until the last moment. A collision with Alan Turner against Pakistan in Adelaide put Thomson out of the game and on his return he was never the same.

David Gower joined Tavare at the crease and the two of them took the score to 2/56 at lunch - Gower scoring 18 in the 38 minutes he had been there to Tavare's 17 in 93 minutes.

Gower and Tavare - could there have been two greater opposites? Watching Gower bat was poetry in motion. From the moment he dispatched his first ball in Test cricket to the boundary it was apparent he was something special.

Like Mark Waugh after him, people preferred to concentrate on the different ways he got out and his supposed care-free attitude he had when batting.

The accusation of a lack of concentration was again levelled at Gower when he went third ball after lunch, edging a ball to Rod Marsh from the bowling of Hogg. England three for 56. It was the 23rd catch of the series for the man the English press once mockingly called "Iron Gloves". Now the moniker was seen as a compliment.

Marsh had made his debut 12 years earlier and was now heading towards the end of his glorious career. Arguably the greatest `keeper ever, his figures would be even better if his World Series Cricket statistics were included.

It wasn't an easy beginning for Marsh. Like Adam Gilchrist after him, he would have to begin his first-class career as a specialist batsman. When Barry Jarman retired, Marsh was promoted to the national team at the expense of Brian Taber and had to win over Taber's supporters.

It's impossible to separate the career of Marsh from that of his fellow West Australian teammate Dennis Lillee. The catchcry of `Caught Marsh Bowled Lillee" brought about the downfall of 95 batsmen. Lillee had played in the first Test of this series at the Gabba but injuries had kept him out of the rest of the series.

The dismissal of Gower brought Allan Lamb to the wicket as he and Tavare began to build the highest partnership of the match.

Lamb was just another one of English cricket's imports, joining Tony Greig, Robin Jackman and the hordes from West Indian backgrounds.

Only making his debut a few months earlier against India and now in just his 10th Test, the Northamptonshire right-hander was a stocky, chunky figure at the crease.

Lamb was in fine form, blasting the Australian bowlers to the boundary whenever they erred in line and length. Tavare joined in the fun and began to come out of his shell. England did not lose another wicket for the session and went to tea at three for 183 with Tavare on 77 and Lamb on 57.

England added another 34 before Tavare was caught in the gully by Yardley from the bowling of Thomson for 89 runs off 164 balls. The fourth wicket had yielded 161 runs.

Yardley would soon wreak havoc with the ball but first to the incoming batsman Ian Botham.

Botham. The name conjures up images of heroism and extraordinary efforts in the face of incredible adversity. Boys' own stuff. One of the best cricketers to play the game, they say he was paid the ultimate compliment when people said "he played cricket like an Australian". But in his 58th Test, injuries meant that Botham wasn't at his best in this series.

Shortly after Botham's arrival at the crease, Lamb swept Yardley. The top edge went straight up in the air and Dyson took the catch at deep mid-on. Lamb was gone for 83. England were five for 227.

Yardley was again tormenting the English middle and lower-order. The West Australian off-spinner was continuing the Australian tradition of late-blooming spinners. He made his Test debut at the age of 30 against India in 1978. Towards the end of his Test career here, he was playing the 31st of his 33 Tests which would yield a credible 126 wickets.

A handy sixth-wicket partnership of 32 between Botham and Geoff Miller was broken when Yardley had Botham caught at short square leg by Wessels for 27, which had come from just 23 balls and contained five fours.

Miller was a competent off-break bowler and No 8 batsman. In his 34 Tests, his top score was 98 not out against Pakistan. He had been left stranded in the nineties when last man Willis was dismissed.

Miller edged Yardley to silly point where Border took the catch. Miller was gone for 10. England were seven for 262.

Bob Taylor joined Derek Pringle at the crease as the two tried to put some wag in the English tail.

Neither was a mug with the bat. Pringle had scored an unbeaten 47 in the first Test of the series and Taylor boasted a top score of 97 for England which he had made against Australia in Adelaide on the last tour of Australia in 1979.

The silver-haired Taylor looked every bit of his 41 years as he strode to the wicket. He had made his debut 12 years earlier against New Zealand. The great Allan Knott prevented him from playing more than 57 tests for England.

But Taylor hadn't posted double figures in his last four innings and failed to do so again when he was edged Yardley to Marsh for one. England eight for 268.

With the inclusion of Cowans, Willis was promoted up the batting order to No 10 - quite an accomplishment for a person who once came out to bat without a bat.

Willis had a highest score of 28 and scored 840 runs in his career at an average of 12. Now in the final chapters of his glittering career, Willis would have not been the happiest of men after his side had lost five for 51 in 72 minutes.

The end was near when Pringle was caught at short leg by Wessels from the bowling of Hogg for nine. England nine for 278 late on the first day.

Cowans joined Willis in the middle. Just his third Test, Cowans was out for three, caught by Lawson from the bowling of Hogg to see England bowled out for 284.

For the first time in the series, Lawson went wicketless as Hogg and Yardley both took four and Thomson picking up two.

For the second time in the series, and the 17th time in Test cricket, all 10 wickets had fallen to catches.

Stumps were called and that was Boxing Day 1982.

The second day began with Dyson and Wessels striding to the wicket. Dyson's regular opening partner had been Graeme Wood but Wood was dropped after the Perth Test and the partnership of Dyson and Wessels was formed.

Dyson was a fine batsman and would play 30 Tests for Australia. A beneficiary from the World Series split, Dyson made his debut against India in 1977 when Bruce Laird was injured. He would score 1359 runs at 27 with two centuries. The MCG was not his favourite ground as he averaged just 14 in his four Tests there. Dyson would later tour South Africa on the rebel tour.

Speaking of South Africa, Kepler Wessels was there at the other end. The South African was playing in just his third Test after debuting in Brisbane. Wessels was a cricketing drifter. Tony Greig took him to Sussex, where he played from 1976-80. From there he was snapped up by World Series Cricket, and surprised everyone by playing for the Australian side.

He became eligible to play Test cricket for Australia for the second Test of this series and was picked immediately. Wessels was a fine stroke maker and would soon post centuries against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the West Indies. Wessels played 24 Tests for Australia. He scored 1761 runs at 43. He was also a valued member of the Queensland sides of the early and mid 1980's.

He returned to South Africa in 1986 for the second rebel Australian tour and stayed there. He was captain of South Africa at the 1992 World Cup and against all expectations led them to the semi-final. He made 118 against India in Durban in 1992 and his career turned full circle when he led the South African side on a tour of Australia.

The Australians began confidently against the new ball bowling of Willis and Botham.

Wills had made his Test debut against Australia and now 12 years, 78 Tests and 283 wickets later was playing his last Ashes series. One of the greatest English quicks, his effective but ungainly action was highlighted by his mop of flowing hair which flew in the breeze as he made his way to bowl. His greatest effort was a career best eight for 43 to pulverise Australia in the 1981 Headingley Test.

Born Robert George Willis, he added Dylan after the George in homage to his hero, Bob Dylan.

He would finish with 325 wickets and take five wickets in a Test 16 times and not once did he take 10 for the match. Like all the fast bowlers of the era, his body had been ravaged by what he was putting it though.

Exactly on the hour mark, Cowans made the initial breakthrough when he trapped Dyson in front for 21. Australia 1/55.

Cowans was playing in his third Test. The right-arm quick would go on to play 16 more and take 51 wickets. The Jamaican-born speedster was brought up in England and he became the second player of African-West Indian origin to play for England and the first fast bowler, giving England hope that they would soon have their own West Indian-type bowling quartet.

Cowans made his debut in the first Test in Perth, but did not take a wicket. It was not until the second innings of the second Test in Brisbane that he did take one, when he had Greg Chappell caught.

After this series, he would be in the Test team for the next two years but the man they dubbed `Flash' just couldn't produce at the top level.

Next ball, Cowans was on a hat-trick after getting Greg Chappell to hit his first ball down the throat of Allan Lamb who was stationed at deep mid-wicket. Australia were two for 55.

Not the innings the Australia captain was hoping for.

He came from Australian cricketing royalty. His grandfather, Victor Richardson played in the Bodyline series and would later captain Australia. His brother Ian captained Australia as well and his brother Trevor played Test cricket for Australia too.

Like the rest of the gang, he signed for World Series Cricket. He ignited the ire of a whole country when he instructed his brother Trevor to bowl the last ball of a one-day game against New Zealand underarm.

Like it began, his career concluded with a century in his last innings against Pakistan.

Eighty-seven Tests, when he retired an Australian record of 7110 runs at 54 with 24 centuries. A terrific fielder he also held the world record number of catches with 122. A handy part-time bowler, he had 47 Test wickets to his name. On retiring he would become a businessman, commentator and selector and is now coach of South Australia.

Like Lillee and Marsh, Chappell was drawing to the end of his career. Twelve years is a long time to be playing international cricket.

Exactly 52 weeks after his heroics, Kim Hughes joined Wessels in the centre. World Series Cricket affected a lot of careers, none more so than Kim Hughes.

Unlike many of the others, Hughes would have played international cricket regardless of the split. But it was Hughes who was the golden child of the establishment which caused him trouble once the two sides reconciled. It took a while for the World Series players to recognise the great ability of Hughes.

Born on Australia Day, Hughes was the player of tomorrow for Australian cricket. The one to lead them after the split. Unfortunately only glimpses of Hughes brilliance were seen. He made his debut against England in the 1977 fifth Test after being 12th man many times before.

His shining moment was the 1980 Centenary Test where he made a famous 117 and 84 in a game which failed to live up the heights of the earlier MCG version.

Hughes captained Australia 28 times for four wins, 13 defeats and 11 draws. Against the might of the 1984/85 touring West Indians, Hughes tearfully resigned the captaincy after two crushing losses. He would play two more Tests but that would be it.

Hughes finished with 70 Tests and scored 4415 runs at 37. Some critics found his conversion of 22 fifties to nine centuries as poor but those critics would be hard to please.

Fifteen minutes before lunch, Willis bowled Wessels for 47 and Australia went to the break at three for 85.

Like the day before, a wicket fell in the first over after lunch. This time it was Border who was bowled fourth ball after the resumption by Botham. Border was gone for two with Australia four for 89.

He was a player of great worth and this was realised in Lahore in 1980 when he became the only person ever to score 150 in both innings of a Test.

His record speaks for itself. A world record 156 Tests. A world record 11,174 runs at 51. 27 centuries. 63 fifties. 156 catches. Best bowling figures of seven for 46. Best bowling figures by an Australian captain with eleven for 96. Ninety-three games as captain.

He became captain of the side after Hughes resigned.

A great fielder to boot anywhere on the field from the slips to mid-wicket.

Border helped Queensland to their first Sheffield Shield. After retiring from cricket he became a commentator, Australia selector and coach.

It was up to Hughes and Hookes to resurrect the innings.

Hookes was back on the ground where five years earlier he had made his name on debut by hitting five fours from one Tony Greig over. What a splash the young South Australian made.

He would only play 23 Tests for Australia and scored only one century.

Other than that, he made his name for South Australia as an attacking batsman who had the ability to send the ball to all corners of the ground.

Against Victoria he once smashed a century in 34 balls. Hookes became the leading Sheffield Shield run scorer until Darren Lehmann recently usurped him. He is now a leading Australian cricket commentator and coach of Victoria.

Hookes and Hughes gave the innings some impetus and looked to take the side through to tea until Pringle induced the edge from Hookes and Taylor took the catch. Hookes was gone for a well made 53. Australia went to tea at the delicately placed five for 180.

Hughes and Marsh took it up to the English bowlers in the final session and it seemed as though Australia would have a handy lead on the first innings. With England's grip seemingly slipping Willis returned to the attack to bowl Hughes from an inside edge for 66. Another 50 where three figures was there for the taking. Australia six for 261.

Yardley had been damaging with the bat in the series to date and hadn't failed to pass double figures in his three innings thus far but not this time as Miller bowled him for nine. Australia seven for 276.

Marsh had done well in scoring his first half century in 23 innings but next over Willis bowled him around his legs for 53. Eight for 276.

Next over, Miller struck again when he had Lawson caught by Fowler for a duck. Australia nine for 278.

Miller bowled Thomson for one, dismissing Australia for 287 on stumps on the second day. It was their lowest total of the series. They had lost their last five wickets for 26 in 39 minutes and took just a three run lead into the second innings.

Willis and Miller had both taken three wickets, two to Cowans and one each to Pringle and Botham.

A fascinating finale lay ahead in what was already another intriguing match in Ashes Test history...

© 2002 David Wiseman

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.