Test cricket was first played on March 15, 1877, between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The match was played from 15 March to 19 March at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This match marked the beginning of what is now considered the longest format of the game, and it lasted for four days. Since then, Test cricket has become an integral part of the sport and is considered the pinnacle of the game.
The duration of a Test match is typically five days, and each day consists of three sessions of play. The first session is played in the morning, the second in the afternoon, and the third in the evening. The game can continue for up to six hours per day, with a 40-minute lunch break and a 20-minute tea break.
In the first innings of the match, Australia scored 245 runs, with Charles Bannerman being the highest scorer with 165 runs. He retired after scoring his century, becoming the first player to do so in the history of Test cricket. Alfred Shaw and James Southerton took three wickets each for England.
In response, England could only manage to score 196 runs in their first innings, with Harry Japp being the highest scorer with 63 runs. Billy Midwinter took five wickets for Australia, while Tom Garrett took two wickets.
Australia entered their second innings with a lead of 49 runs, but their batsmen failed to make any significant contribution, and the entire team was bowled out for just 104 runs. Alfred Shaw took five wickets for England in this innings, while George Yulett took three wickets. Tom Horan was the highest scorer for Australia in the second innings, with 20 runs.
In the final innings of the match, England needed 154 runs to win, but they were all out for a paltry total of 108 runs. John Selby was the highest scorer for England with 38 runs, while George Ulyett contributed 24 runs. Tom Kendall was the star performer for Australia as he took seven wickets. John Hedges managed to grab two wickets for his team. However, Australia had already set a mammoth target, and England's defeat was inevitable.
Since then, Test cricket has grown in popularity and many changes have been made in the format, including the introduction of a maximum five-day duration for matches. The game has seen many legendary players and memorable matches over the years, cementing its place as one of the most prestigious and challenging forms of cricket.
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