On this day in 1877: The first-ever Test match is played

Test cricket is a format that is the most challenging one for any player. It is also the oldest format of the game. It is a dream for any cricketer to do well for his team in this format. On this day i.e. 15th March in 1877, the first-ever Test match was played. This encounter was between Australia and England staged at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia. 146 years later, it is still the most cherished format of the game for players of all Test-playing countries.

Bannerman scores the first-ever century

Australian captain Dave Gregory elected to bat first. The hosts put up a total of 245 runs in their first innings with the help of a magnificent hundred from opener Charles Bannerman. He hit 165 runs including 18 fours and became the first-ever player to score a century in Test cricket. Bannerman did not get good support from his fellow mates which can be judged from the fact that the second-highest run-scorer for hosts was Tom Garrett with 18 runs to his name.

The first test match started on this day in 1877, Australia beating England by 45 runs. The Centenary test was played almost exactly a 100 years later, starting on March 12th, 1977. The result, Australia beat England by 45 runs pic.twitter.com/syhy0UDGDl

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) March 15, 2021

In response to Australia’s total of 245, England were bowled out for 196 runs conceding a lead of 49 runs. Their opener Harry Jupp played an important knock of 63 runs off 241 balls with the help of 2 fours. Aussie bowler Billy Midwinter picked up 5 wickets for 78 runs in his 54 overs.

Another England collapse

In the second innings, the batsmen of the home side could not stay longer on the crease, and the whole team got bundled out for just 104 runs in 68 overs. Alfred Shaw took 5 wickets for the visitors giving away only 38 runs. England needed to chase 154 runs in the fourth innings to script history with a win in the first-ever Test match.

However, the Aussie bowlers turned out to be too good for the visiting team as they collapsed for 108 runs in 66.1. Eight of the eleven batsmen of the England lineup could not cross the two-digit mark. For the hosts, Tom Kendall performed wonderfully with the ball as he picked 7 wickets for 55 runs in the second innings.