New Delhi: Australia is set to host a stand-alone celebratory match against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2027 to celebrate 150 years of Test cricket. The first Test match was also played between Australia and England in 1877, which the Aussies won by 45 runs.
On the same ground 100 years later, Australia again defeated England by 45 runs—exactly the same margin—as both the sides took part in the celebratory Centenary Test.
“The 150th anniversary Test match at the MCG in March 2027 will be a wonderful celebration of the pinnacle format of the game at one of the world’s great sporting arenas and we can’t wait to host England on that historic occasion,” said Cricket Australia Chief Executive, Nick Hockley.
Here’s Looking back at the first Test Match
- The first Test match was played at MCG from March 15 to 19 in 1877 with Australia winning it by 45 runs against England. The second match was won by England at the same venue to tie the series 1-1.
- The match was only subsequently awarded Test status, and was originally billed as “All England v A Combined New South Wales and Victoria XI”.
- Neither side—Australia and England— was at full strength.
- Australia, who were a combined Melbourne and Sydney XI, had no Frederick Spofforth.
- England had no amateur cricketers. For instance, William Gilbert Grace—who was an amateur English cricketer, believed to be the greatest ever to have played the game—was not a part of the team.
- England had no wicketkeeper as Surrey’s Ted Pooley was arrested in New Zealand after a gambling scam.
Charles Bannerman, who faced the first bowl in Test cricket (Pic: ICC)
- Australia’s Charles Bannerman faced the first ball from Alfred Shaw. He scored the first run, off the next ball.
- Bannerman scored the first hundred as he made 165 runs. This was his only century of his first-class career. He got retired hurt during the match when George Ulyett smashed one of his fingers.
- In the first Test match, Australia scored a total of 245.
Test Matches: An affair between England and Australia only in the 19th century
- 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 South African XI.
- By the end of the 19th century, 64 Test matches had been played.
