About the Test Cricket

Test cricket is the longer format of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national, as determined by the ICC, with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a max 5 days. It is generally considered the ultimate test of playing capability and survival in the sport.

The 1st officially recognized Test match commenced on 15 March 1877, contested by England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where Australia won by 45 runs. England won the 2nd match by 4 wickets, thus drawing the series 1-1. This was not the 1st ever international cricket match however, which was played among Canada and US, on 24 and 25 of September 1844.

A Test match to celebrates 100 years of Test cricket was held in Melbourne from 12 - 17 March 1977. Australia won this match by 45 runs, the same result as the 1st Test match in 1877.

Test cricket playing teams

There are currently ten teams playing test Cricket Match.

There are India, Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

In 2003, the ICC announced its aim to confer Test status upon Kenya in the near future. Kenyan cricket has been through difficulties since then. Ireland has stated its intention to apply for Full Membership of the ICC with the aim of achieving Test status.

Playing times

Test cricket is played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days. On each day there are usually three two-hour sessions, with a forty minute break for "lunch" and a twenty minute break for "tea".

• First session: 10am - 12 pm


• Second session: 12:40 pm - 2:40 pm


• Third session: 3 pm - 5 pm

In addition, short breaks (5 mins) may be taken during each session for "drinks", commonly after an hour of play. A 10 minute interval is also taken between changes of innings.

Game Result

A Test match may end in one of five scenarios:

1. All four innings have concluded. The winners are the team with the higher aggregate run total, and the winning margin is the difference between the two teams' run totals. Ex: won by 100 Runs


2. All four innings have concluded with the scores tied. To be tied, the aggregate run total of each team must be equal. However, such an occurrence is rare; in over 1,900 Test matches played only two have been tied.


3. The team batting in the fourth innings overtakes the opposing team's run total. The match ends immediately and the batting team is the winners. Ex: Won by 6 Wickets.


4. The third innings concludes with the team that batted twice still trailing the team that batted once. The match ends without playing a fourth innings and the team that batted once are the winners. Ex: won by Innings & 100 runs


5. Time for the match expires without a result being reached. This usually occurs at the end of the fifth day. The match is drawn.

Vasanth Raj is passionate about all format of cricket particularly at international level. He is a contributor to the Test Cricket Blog that features all the latest cricket news and comment. To learn more visit http://test-cricketinfo.blogspot.com/