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

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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

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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 Although initially given Test status, this was later withdrawn and the principle that official Test matches can only be between national sides was entrenched.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

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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

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