Australia won first ever and Centenary Tests by the same margin

SAMPATH BANDARA

In March 1877, the world's first ever Test match was played at Melbourne between England and Australia which Australia eventually won by 45 runs. 100 years later in The Centenary Test played at the same venue Australia beat England by exactly the same margin (45 runs). It was a rare instance in the history of cricket.

The first ever Test match was played for four days 15, 16, 17, and 19 of March 1877 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Australia won the toss and batted first.

At 1.05 p.m. on March 15th Charles Bannerman made history by facing the first ball in Test cricket. Alfred Shaw delivered the first ball in Test cricket. Bannerman scored the first Test run in Alfred Shaw's second ball. On the next day Bannerman scored the first ever Test century (165 retired hurt).

Bannerman batted for four hours and 45 minutes which included fifteen fours. A hat collection at the ground for the injured Bannerman raised 165 pounds.

Australia scored 245 in the first innings and 104 in the second innings. Opener Harry Jupp top scored with 63 and England totalled 196. In the second innings T.K. Kendall bagged seven wickets for 55 runs and England were bundled out for 108 and Australia won by 45 runs.

Over 3,000 spectators gathered at the MCG on the last day to watch this historic match.

In the 4th over A. Hill (England) took the first Test wicket when he clean-bowled N. Thompson. A. Hill also took the first Test catch. First five wickets in an innings haul recorded in Test cricket history was by W.E. Midwinter (Australia) 5 for 78.

This first Test established two records of interest which still stand and one will be impossible to break. England bowler James Southerton born on November 16, 1827 was 49 years old at the time of the Test. He is the oldest Test debutante of all time and the first Test player to die in June 1880.

Charles Bannerman's first innings score of 165 was 67.3 per cent of his side's total (245). He was the star of the first ever Test.

This historic Test winning Australian team was captained by P.W. Gregory and England was led by James Lillywhite. Curtis Reid and B. Terry were the first ever Test umpires.

The Centenary Test

The Centenary of Test cricket was celebrated with a special Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from 12th to 17 of March 1977 (15th was a rest day) - 100 years after that first Test in March 1877 in the presence of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Invitations to attend as guests were sent to the 244 living cricketers who had played for Australia and England but only 26 of them were able to attend this special occasion. The oldest Australian Test player present was the 87 year old Jack Ryder while 84 year old Percy Fender was the oldest English representative.

Harold Larwood, Tony Lock, Frank Tyson with legendary Sir Don Bradmon were among those present among a crowd of 61,000.

Australia batted first and were bundled out for just 138 runs before Dennis Lillee and Max Walker ripped through England's batting. England were all out for 95.

Dennis Lillee took 6 for 26 and Max Walker bagged 4 for 54. Rodney March made his first century against England (110). Australia collected 419 in the second innings and England got 417 in the second innings. Derek Randall (England) scored 174 runs with a magnificent innings and he was named the Man of the Match. Lillee bagged 11 wickets in the match.

Australia won by 45 runs - the same margin by which they had won the first match hundred years earlier.