Christmas presents a unique experience for a Test cricketer.
Away from a series, maintaining peak physical condition demands diligent attention to diet and hydration. Conversely, mid-series commitments often involve preparing for the Boxing Day Test, a celebrated fixture on the cricketing calendar.
The unrelenting pace of the schedule often blurs the boundaries between months.
From March 2010 to November 2017, I largely existed within this rhythm. The regular pursuit of favorable weather conditions leads to a detachment from the usual markers of days, months, and seasons.
During those eight years, I spent three Christmases abroad, with the remaining years involving a return to the country only days before Christmas Day.
While friends indulge in traditional festive meals amidst the British winter, cricketers often find themselves in sunnier climes, evaluating hotel buffet options and observing the opposition.
This creates a peculiar contrast between succumbing to the temptation of festive indulgence and ensuring optimal physical and mental readiness for a Test match the following day.
Ultimately, the Christmas spirit takes a backseat to the anticipation of an upcoming Test.
Steven Finn during training on Christmas Day in 2010
My experiences touring over Christmas have been varied. The nadir occurred following practice in Australia on Christmas Day 2010.
With pre-match preparations complete, excitement was building for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Training takes place in the morning, allowing for afternoon leisure, and Santa hats are often seen replacing training caps.
I was aware of my vulnerability to being dropped. A heavy defeat in the third Test in Perth had leveled the series at 1-1. Typically, when a batting unit struggles, a bowler is the one to make way.
Despite not performing well in Perth, I remained hopeful that the management would retain me for Boxing Day, a dream scenario.
After practice, Captain Andrew Strauss approached me with a serious expression and requested a private conversation in the bathroom.
The situation was clear. Captains often prefer to deliver such news in a quiet setting, away from the team, both for compassion and to manage any potential reaction from the player.
My disappointment was palpable as Strauss quickly moved on to deliver the news to Tim Bresnan, my replacement, who performed admirably.
I retreated to a cubicle to compose myself before facing my teammates, though my red eyes betrayed my emotions. Merry Christmas.
To compound matters, my partner, mother, and sister had traveled to Melbourne to watch me play in the Boxing Day Test. I felt I had let them down and wasted their time. Despite participating in three Ashes tours, I never played in a Boxing Day Test—a career low point.
Part of the Christmas routine involved attending a lunch hosted by England at a hotel. I had to feign enjoyment while watching Father Christmas distribute gifts to players’ children and observing a staff member’s wife consume oysters—a sound I particularly dislike.
I yearned to be alone, lamenting my inability to secure a place in the team. It was one of only two occasions when my mother and sister traveled abroad to see me play for England, and both times I was not selected for the XI.
Steven Finn rates this dismissal of South Africa’s Faf du Plessis in 2015 as one of his favourites
My most memorable Christmas on tour was in South Africa in 2015. The Boxing Day Test marked the series opener and promised to be highly competitive. South Africa boasted a formidable lineup, and we were fresh off an Ashes victory the previous summer.
Following a stress fracture in my foot, being declared fit enough to join the squad in Durban felt like a Christmas gift.
Unlike the Australia tour five years earlier, I was confident of playing if fit, a testament to the confidence instilled by coach Trevor Bayliss. I felt he believed in me and trusted my bowling style. Although I anticipated playing, receiving confirmation from Captain Alastair Cook on Christmas Day was a wonderful moment.
There were no tears in the toilets, just a calm, pleasant Christmas on the Durban seafront. It didn’t feel much like Christmas due to the heat and my focus on strategizing against Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, and the rest of the South African team. I felt far more content, even with the prospect of facing Dale Steyn as a nightwatchman, a role that could dampen anyone’s Christmas spirit.
Without family present, I enjoyed Christmas lunch with teammates in similar situations, then retreated to my room to relax, hoping to witness our team win the toss and bowl first on a lively pitch. That would have been a true Christmas gift.
Despite losing the toss, we won the Test by 241 runs. I secured one of my favorite wickets, dismissing Faf Du Plessis on the fourth evening with a lifting delivery as he mounted a significant rearguard effort. This felt like redemption for previous Christmas disappointments.
Christmas on tour often resembles another Test week. I always sympathize with players who have families, as balancing fatherhood, marriage, international cricket, and the role of Father Christmas must be challenging.
Having family present can provide a sense of balance, offering a welcome escape during long tours. However, explaining to a young child why it isn’t snowing and how Santa knows you won’t be home is a task I’d always leave to those with children.
As I settle into this festive period, ready to indulge in the culinary delights before me, I’ll be thinking of all the cricketers preparing to play a game the next day.
The nerves, excitement, and disappointments are all part of being a sportsperson, and it just so happens to coincide with Christmas Day.
A version of this article was published on 23 December 2024.
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