History of Test cricket

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Test match cricket has a history from the first Test match played in 1877, to date.

History of Test cricket from 1877 to 1883

Test matches in the period 1877 to 1883 were organised somewhat differently from international cricket matches today. The teams were rarely representative, and the boat trip between Australia and England, which usually lasted about 48 days, was one that many cricketers were unable or unwilling to undertake. As such, the home teams enjoyed a great advantage.

The history of Test cricket between 1884 and 1889 was one of English dominance over the Australians. England won every Test series that was played. The period also saw the first use of the word "Test" to describe a form of cricket when the Press used it in 1885. It has remained in common usage ever since.

Test matches in the 19th century were somewhat different affairs than what they are today. Many of them were not designated as Test matches for many years afterwards, and it is possible that some Test players never knew they had played in a Test. Before 1888 there had been 26 Test matches, all between England and Australia. England had won 13 of them, Australia 9, with 4 draws. During the 19th century England played in all the Tests, which were mostly against Australia, though a few were against what tended to be a very weak South African XI.

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Australia national cricket team National sports team

The Australia national cricket team is the joint oldest team in Test cricket history, having played in the first ever Test match in 1877. The team also plays One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket, participating in both the first ODI, against England in the 1970–71 season and the first T20I, against New Zealand in the 2004–05 season, winning both games. The team draws its players from teams playing in the Australian domestic competitions – the Sheffield Shield, the Australian domestic limited-overs cricket tournament and the Big Bash League.

Charles Bannerman Australian cricketer and umpire

Charles Bannerman was an Australian cricketer. A right-handed batsman, he represented Australia in three Test matches between 1877 and 1879. At the domestic level, he played for the New South Wales cricket team. Later, he became an umpire.

1930 was the 37th season of County Championship cricket in England and will always be remembered for the remarkable batting performances of Australia's Don Bradman. Australia won the Test series 2–1. Lancashire regained the championship to complete four titles in five seasons.

England won the 1926 Ashes series against Australia, winning the last Test of the series after the first four matches were drawn.

The Australian cricket team toured England in the 1956 season to play a five-match Test series against England for The Ashes.

1926 was the 33rd season of County Championship cricket in England. England regained the Ashes and Lancashire won the championship.

1953 was the 54th season of County Championship cricket in England. There was a tight Test series between England and Australia that was settled, after four drawn matches, in the final Test at The Oval, where England won to reclaim The Ashes for the first time since the Bodyline series of 1932–33. The County Championship was won by Surrey for the second consecutive season.

The Australian cricket team in England in 1880 played nine first-class matches including one Test, which was the first ever played in England. They were captained by W.L. Murdoch. The team had difficulty in arranging fixtures against the counties, and prior to the Test match in early September had played only four matches that are now rated as first-class, despite having already been in England for almost four months.

Australian cricket team in England in 1886

The Australian cricket team in England in 1886 played 27 first-class matches including 3 Tests which were all won by England.

Australian cricket team in England in 1890

The Australian cricket team in England in 1890 played 34 first-class matches including two Test matches.

Australian cricket team in England in 1893

The Australian cricket team in England in 1893 played 31 first-class matches including 3 Tests.

Australian cricket team in England in 1896

The Australian cricket team in England in 1896 played 34 first-class matches including 3 Tests.

The Australian cricket team in England in 1909 played 42 first-class matches, including five Test matches to contest The Ashes. Australia was captained by Monty Noble, England by Archie MacLaren. The third Test of the series, at Headingley, was the 100th Test match to be played by England.

The Australian Services cricket team in England in 1945 played six first-class matches, winning three and losing two with one match drawn.

English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1876–77 English Cricket Team

The 1876–77 tour of Australia and New Zealand was at the time considered to be another professional first-class cricket tour of the colonies, as similar tours had occurred previously, but retrospectively it became classified as the first Test cricket tour of Australia by the English cricket team. The English team is sometimes referred to as James Lillywhite's XI. In all, they played 23 matches but only three including the two Tests are recognised as first-class. The first match started at the Adelaide Oval on 16 November 1876 and the last at the same venue on 14 April 1877. There were fifteen matches in Australia and, between January and March, eight in New Zealand.

The Pakistan national cricket team toured Australia in the 1964–65 season and played 4 first-class matches, including the inaugural Test match between Australia and Pakistan in Australia. The two countries had already played each other in Pakistan.

The Pakistan national cricket team toured Australia in the 1972–73 season and played three Test matches against the Australian national cricket team. After an inadequate preparation against weak teams, Pakistan lost by an innings in the first Test in Adelaide. While Australia won the series 3–0, the last two tests were competitive, with Pakistan seeming the likely winner on the second last days. The 2nd test in Melbourne was attended by 115,721. Pakistan also visited Sri Lanka and played a match against the Sri Lankan national cricket team and followed the tour with a series against New Zealand, where both teams played their first ODI.

The Pakistan national cricket team, captained by Majid Khan, toured Australia in March 1979 and played two Test matches against the Australia national cricket team. The series was drawn 1–1. Pakistan visited Sri Lanka en route for home and played a match against the Sri Lankan national cricket team.

This article describes the history of Australian cricket from the 1876–77 season until 1890.

The England cricket team toured Australia in 1928–29. England, known as the MCC in matches outside the Tests, retained The Ashes, winning the first four Tests and losing the last for a 4–1 series victory.