Early history The Australian cricket team participated in the first Test match at the MCG in 1877, defeating an English team by 45 runs, with Charles Bannerman making the first Test century, a score of 165 retired hurt. Test cricket, which only occurred between Australia and England at the time, was limited by the long distance between the two countries, which would take several months by sea. Despite Australias much smaller population, the team was very competitive in early games, producing stars such as Jack Blackham, Billy Murdoch, Fred The Demon Spofforth, George Bonnor, Percy McDonnell, George Giffen and Charles The Terror Turner. Most cricketers at the time were either from New South Wales or Victoria, with the notable exception of George Giffen, the star South Australian all-rounder. A highlight of Australias early history was the 1882 Test match against England at The Oval. In this match Fred Spofforth took 7/44 in the games fourth innings to save the match by preventing England from making their 85-run target. After this match The Sporting Times, a major newspaper in London at the time, printed a mock obituary in which the death of English cricket was proclaimed and the announcement made that the body was cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. This was the start of the famous Ashes series in which Australia and England play a Test match series to decide the holder of the Ashes. To this day, the contest is one of the fiercest rivalries in sport.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 13:49:53 +0000
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