The First Test Match: Australia vs England, Melbourne 1877
The first-ever Test cricket match was played between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877 — and Australia won by 45 runs.
The Birth of Test Cricket
The first officially recognised Test match in cricket history was played between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from 15 to 19 March 1877. The match was not arranged as a 'Test' — the term was applied retrospectively — but was a representative match between an English touring side and a combined Australian XI. It is now accepted as cricket's inaugural Test match.
What Happened in the Match
Australia batted first and scored 245 (Charles Bannerman scored 165, contributing 67.3% of the total — still the highest percentage of a Test total by a single batsman). England replied with 196. Australia's second innings of 104 left England to chase 154. England were dismissed for 108, giving Australia victory by 45 runs. Charles Bannerman of New South Wales scored cricket's first Test century.
The Centenary Test, 1977
Exactly 100 years later, Australia and England played the Centenary Test at the MCG to celebrate the occasion. Extraordinarily, the Centenary Test produced the same result — an Australian victory by 45 runs — as if fate had scripted the centenary. The coincidence is one of cricket's most remarkable historical footnotes. The Centenary Test was one of the great Test matches and helped drive the momentum that eventually created the World Series Cricket revolution.
Frequently asked questions
When was the first Test cricket match?
The first Test cricket match was played between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground from 15 to 19 March 1877.
Who scored cricket's first Test century?
Charles Bannerman of Australia scored cricket's first Test century — 165 in the inaugural Test match at Melbourne in March 1877.