How Test Cricket Began in 1877

England and Australia met at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877 in the first Test match, Australia winning by 45 runs. Remarkably, when the same two sides met in the centenary Test a century later, Australia won again by exactly 45 runs.

Test cricket grew slowly, South Africa joining in 1889, the West Indies in 1928 and New Zealand in 1930. Today twelve nations hold Test status, with Ireland and Afghanistan promoted in 2018..