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Records say that the first test match was played between England and Australia when MCC had sent an English team led by James Lillywhite to Australia in 1877 for a match but according to ICC the first test match was played between the USA and Canada in 1844 and after that so many games have been played but at that time there wasn’t any format named in cricket. It was the 1890s when test cricket became an official format and matches that happened since 1877 have been considered test matches that’s why then the match played between England and Australia on March 15-19 in 1877 at Melbourne Cricket Ground became the first-ever test match. At the time MCC was in the Authority of the cricket that they make rules and also they have the authority of the English team.
The first test match took place at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. The English team led by James Lillywhite wasn’t that strong because most of the English players were immature and the Australians led by Dave Gregory was a good team. England took 48 days to travel through the water to reach Australia. The Star batter of that time W.G. Grace wasn’t playing in that match and there were many more big names were absent in that game.
The match
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The principal Test match was played as a timeless match, meaning it would continue until an outcome was accomplished, no matter the term. A coin throw established that Australia would bat first, and the game started on Walk 15, 1877. Australia has invited guests to the Bowl and at 1:05 the first ball was delivered in cricket history. At that time an over contained only 4 balls.
Charles Bannerman carved his name in cricketing history by scoring the first run and the first century in Test cricket. Bannerman’s innings of 165 not out demonstrated his expertise and versatility. His exhibition established the groundwork for Australia’s absolute score of 245, which set up an intriguing challenge.
Britain’s fightback
In answer, Britain confronted a difficult errand as they endeavored to pursue down Australia’s total. In any case, the English batsmen battled against the Australian bowlers, and their innings closed with a score of 196. After a brilliant century by Charles Bannerman Australian Bowler Billy Midwinter took 5 wickets and stopped the English team at the score of just 196. Australia has now cemented their foot by taking the lead of 49 runs. On the third day after England’s collapse when Australia came out to bat for their second inning, Lillywhite’s bowlers delivered an extraordinary spell and bowled out the colonials at just 104, centurion Bannerman was just able to score four runs and only Wicketkeeper Tom Horan scored 20 runs.
Alfred Shaw from English Bowling Lineup has taken a fifer and George Ulyett with three wickets destroyed the Australian batting lineup.
The winner
The way the English team bowled they could bat in the second inning and while chasing the target of 154 runs they got summed up 108. Wicketkeeper John Shelby (38) fought hard to win for his team but in front of the Australian deadly bowling lineup English batter did not make it to the end and lost the game by 45 runs. Australian bowler Tom Kendall took seven wickets in the second inning and helped his team to win the game. Australia won the first test match of this tour and registered their name in history, later the series resulted in a draw after England won the send test by four wickets.
Later this rivalry was called ‘The Ashes’ due to a newspaper and it is still considered one the greatest rivalries in the cricketing world
Also Read: India vs South Africa: 3 memorable T20Is games between two teams
