The Boxing Day Test is to Australians what the Premier League fixture feast is to English football fans.
While Chelsea were winning a London derby and Manchester United were beating Newcastle United yesterday, eyes Down Under were firmly fixed on Steve Smith's heroics against India.
The newly-appointed captain's unbeaten 75, which turned into a career-best 192 on day two at the MCG, helped the hosts post a commanding first-innings total of 530 as they seek to wrap up a series win inside three matches.
However, on this day in 2010, the Aussie party was gatecrashed by an Englishman. Or a South-African born Englishman, at least.
Jonathan Trott batted through almost the entire second day of the fourth Test in Melbourne to reach 141 not out at the close, on what was a pivotal day in the 2010-11 Ashes series.
After Ricky Ponting's side were bowled out for 98 on the opening day, England's number three had been given a great platform by a 159-run opening stand between Andrew Strauss (69) and Alastair Cook (82).
The partnership was broken just a few overs into a sunny December 27 morning when Siddle had Cook caught behind, and Strauss soon followed when he edged the same bowler to Mike Hussey at gully.
He would later combine with Matt Prior to pile the misery back on the Aussies, but Trott firstly came together with Kevin Pietersen to steady the ship, with the pair going in for lunch at 31 and 30 respectively.
Pietersen would be first to his half-century, but would add only one more before being trapped lbw by Siddle. Trott soon went to the landmark himself, and continued to patiently grind down the Australia attack, undeterred by losing both Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell cheaply.
Mitchell Johnson (29-2-134-2), Ryan Harris (28.4-9-0-91) and Smith (18-3-71-0) were those who suffered the most under Trott's torture as the batsman reached three figures off 221 balls after tea.
He and Prior would increase the run rate in the final hour of the evening session, and the milestones would continue to come as Prior slashed his way to fifty and the partnership passed 100, and then 150.
Prior would close on 75* in support of Trott's 141* as England finished the day on 444-5. They converted this into 513 all out - a 415-run lead - and eventually a emphatic innings and 157-run victory which ensured that The Ashes were retained.
The famous sprinkler dance and success in Sydney followed in the coming days as England won a series in Australia for the first time in 20 years.
Joe Fish
