The Google Doodle for 15 March 2017 celebrates 140 years of Test cricket. It was on this day, in 1877, that England and Australia faced off in the first-ever Test match.
Australia had got the better of England by 45 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground [MCG] in a match where each over consisted of four deliveries.
The ongoing Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh is the 2254th Test match in the history of the game. 1501 of those matches have seen a result, while 750 matches were drawn and two tied.
Interestingly, the Doodle’s reach has been limited to just India and Australia, despite there being 10 Test teams.
Today
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 15, 2017
Test cricket is 140 years old
ODI cricket is 46 years -2months-10 days old
T20I cricket is 12 years-26 days old#internationalcricket
“The first officially-recognized test cricket match took place 140 years ago today. It was a contest between the established English side and the newly-formed Australian team,” read a statement from Google.
“Australia won the first match, but England won the second match to draw the series 1:1. The rivalry between the English and Australian teams, forged on the field, endures to this day.
“Today’s Doodle hits the deck with a lighthearted rendering that captures the spirit of sportsmanship and the inaugural test match. Mustachioed and musclebound, the batsmen, bowlers and opposition fielders spring into action, never losing sight of the red ball.”
