Google Doodle is Celebrating 140th Anniversary of the First Cricket Test Match
On March 15, google is celebrating 140th Anniversary of the First Cricket Test Match, which is first time played from 15 March 1877 and ended on 19 March 1877 between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The name Test stems from the long, gruelling match being a “test” of the relative strengths of the two sides. The first officially recognised Test match began on 15 March 1877 and ended on 19 March 1877 and was played between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Australia won by 45 runs.
The Birth of Test Cricket – First Cricket Test Match Notes
Charles Bannerman scored first run and first hundred of first test match in March 1877. Alfred Shaw bowled the first Test delivery to Charles Bannerman, who went on to become the first Test centurion.
Hill had both the first Test wicket and the first catch. Midwinter picked up the first 5 wicket haul, and Blackham had the first stumping. W.Newing fielded for Bannerman.
Southerton is still the oldest Test debutant at 49 years 119 days. Bannerman scored 69.6% of his side’s runs from the bat – still a record in Test matches – his 165 took about 290 minutes and included 18 fours.
C Bannerman retired hurt at 240/7 (split the index finger on his right hand by a ball from Ulyett), Attendances on the four 4 days were approximately 4500, 4000 10000, 2000.
The first ball in Test cricket was bowled by Alfred Shaw to Charles Bannerman. The first run came off the next delivery, and the first wicket in the fourth over, when Allen Hill bowled Nat Thompson. The ignominy of the first duck fell to Edward Gregory later in the day.
Test debuts
Australia: C Bannerman, JM Blackham, BB Cooper, TW Garrett, DW Gregory, EJ Gregory, JR Hodges, TP Horan, TK Kendall, WE Midwinter and NFD Thomson
England: T Armitage, HRJ Charlwood, T Emmett, A Greenwood, A Hill, H Jupp, James Lillywhite jnr, J Selby, A Shaw, J Southerton and G Ulyett
Close of play
Thu, 15 Mar – day 1 – Australia 1st innings 166/6 (C Bannerman 126*, JM Blackham 3*)
Fri, 16 Mar – day 2 – England 1st innings 109/4 (H Jupp 54*)
Sat, 17 Mar – day 3 – Australia 2nd innings 83/9 (TK Kendall 5*, JR Hodges 3*)
Sun, 18 Mar – rest day
Mon, 19 Mar – day 4 – England 2nd innings 108 (66.1 ov) – end of match
Balls per over: 4
Toss – Australia, who chose to bat
Series – Australia led the 2-match series 1-0