Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. It is regarded by many players and fans as the ultimate test of playing ability (as compared to One-day International cricket). The name "Test" is thought to arise from the idea that the matches are a "test of strength" between the sides involved. It seems to have been used first to described an English team that toured Australia in 1861/62, although these matches are not considered Test matches today.
Related Topics:
Sport - Cricket - One-day International
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Test matches are played between national representative teams which have Test status, as determined by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Test matches are a subset of first-class cricket, the form of cricket played over several days and officially declared as First Class by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. As of 2005, ten national teams have been given Test status, the latest to be given Test status being Bangladesh in 2000.
Related Topics:
Test status - International Cricket Council - First-class cricket - Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In 1970, a series of five "Test matches" was played in England between England and a Rest of the World XI. Although initially given Test status, this was later withdrawn and the principle that official Test matches can only be between national sides was entrenched. Similarly, a series of "Test matches" played in Australia between Australia and a World XI in 1971/72 are not considered to have Test status, nor are the Supertests organised by Kerry Packer as part of his World Series Cricket enterprise and played between Australia and Rest of the World teams from 1977 to 1979. However, the ICC has ruled that the six-day Super Series match to take place in October 2005 between Australia and a World XI will be an official Test match. Some prominent cricket statisticians, such as Bill Frindall, have decided to ignore this ruling, leading to the possibility of two competing sets of cricket statistics.
Related Topics:
1970 - Supertest - Kerry Packer - World Series Cricket - Super Series - Australia - Bill Frindall
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note: Most of the information here pertains to men's cricket. Test matches are also played in women's cricket. Unless explicitly mentioned, most Test matches or Test cricket referred to is in regards to men's cricket.
Related Topics:
Test matches - Women's cricket
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ Table of Content ~
| ► | Introduction |
| ► | History |
| ► | Test cricket playing nations |
| ► | Conduct of the game |
| ► | Competitions |
| ► | See also |
| ► | External links |
~ Community ~
| ► | History Forum Come and discuss about History, Civilizations, Historical Events and Figures |
| ► | History Web-Ring A community of sites, blogs and forums dedicated to History. Do not hesitate to submit your site. |
Latest news on test cricket
Cricket: Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra skittle Australia to secure victory for India
India wrapped up an emphatic series win over Australia today when a four-wicket haul from Harbhajan Singh and three from Amit Mishra guided them to a 172-run victory in the fourth Test in Nagpur. It is the first series defeat for Ricky Ponting's team since the 2005 Ashes in England.The task facing Australia was formidable, having begun the day needing 369 to win and level the series. Simon Katich and Matthew Hayden looked to take the attack to India's bowlers in the morning but India's new ball bowler Zaheer Khan showed nagging accuracy from the start, repeatedly beating Katich's edge in the first two overs.Ishant Sharma was no less threatening but struggled to match Zaheer's consistency. Yet, he was the more successful as he snared Katich when the left-handed batsman looked to hammer him through the leg side. Katich only managed an edge, which went high towards gully and Mahendra Singh Dhoni ran round to take the catch.Ponting followed cheaply, becoming the third Australian batsman to be run out in this Test when he pushed a ball from Zaheer to Mishra at mid-on and set off for a single only for Mishra to catch him well short of the crease with a direct hit.An unwell Michael Clarke came to the crease with the support of a runner and added 45 for the third wicket with Hayden before Ishant induced an edge from Clarke that went straight to Dhoni.Hayden, having been dropped by Rahul Dravid and Dhoni, attacked with vigour immediately after lunch, bringing up his half-century with a boundary through mid-on off Virender Sehwag and cracking consecutive boundaries off Harbhajan. Together with Michael Hussey, Hayden put on 68 runs for the fourth wicket to set India back slightly.Harbhajan, however, persevered and reaped rich rewards as he trapped Hayden in front as the left-hander attempted to work a delivery on the on-side. Mishra had by then ended the fourth-wicket stand by sending back Hussey, turning it from the rough outside off-stump and finding an edge, which Dravid held.Brad Haddin's brief stay at the crease ended when he stepped down the pitch to cart Mishra over the top. He ended up hitting straight to Sachin Tendulkar who held his 100th catch in Test cricket.Shane Watson (nine) was Harbhajan's second wicket, snaffled by Dhoni as he attempted a cut shot and he had Brett Lee caught by Murali Vijay at short leg as he lunged forward in defence. Mitchell Johnson was Harbhajan's final victim, trapped leg before to spark unrestrained celebrations from the home contingent, who were joined by former captain Anil Kumble, who retired after the third Test.India v Australia 2008India Cricket TeamAustralia Cricket TeamCricketEngland in India 2008-09guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2008 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
India's Kumble quits Test cricket
India captain Anil Kumble retires from international cricket with immediate effect.
and are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
[Under Construction] - Spiritus-Temporis.com ©2005.