Test cricket: Difference between revisions

''{{short description|Longest form of cricket}}

{{about|the format for men's international cricket|the women's format|Women's Test cricket}}

{{float box|{{ICC Test Championship rankings}}|style=font-size:80%|margins=0px 0 6px 20px}}

The first officially recognised Test match took place between 15 and 19 March 1877 and was played between [[History of Test cricket (to 1883)#The first Test tour: 1876/77|England and Australia]] at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] (MCG).<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62396.html Australia v England 1st Test 1876/1877] – [[ESPNcricinfo]].</ref> In October 2012, the ICC recast the playing conditions for Test matches, permitting [[Day/night cricket|day/night Test matches]].<ref name="ICC paves way for Day-Night Tests">{{cite news| url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/icc-paves-day-night-tests/32709| title=ICC paves way for Day-Night Tests| publisher=Wisden India| date=29 October 2012| access-date=30 October 2012| archive-date=30 June 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630231143/http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news/icc-paves-day-night-tests/32709| url-status=dead}}</ref> The first day/night game took place between [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2015–16|Australia and New Zealand]] at the [[Adelaide Oval]], [[Adelaide]], on 27 November – 1 December 2015.<ref name="Adelaide">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/892403.html |title=First day-night Test for Adelaide Oval |access-date=29 June 2015 |publisher=ESPNCricinfo}}</ref>

Sides designated as "England" began to play in the late 18th century, but these teams were not truly representative. Early international cricket was disrupted by the [[French Revolution]] and the [[American Civil War]]. The earliest international cricket match was between [[United States v Canada (1844)|USA and Canada]], on 24 and 25 September 1844.<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/usa/engine/match/318995.html United States of America v Canada 1844] – [[ESPNcricinfo]].</ref> This has never been officially considered a "Test match". Tours of national English sides abroad took place, particularly to the US, Australia and New Zealand. The [[Australian Aborigines]] team became the first organised overseas cricketers to [[Australian Aboriginal cricket team in England in 1868|tour England]] in [[1868 English cricket season|1868]].

Test status is conferred upon a country or group of countries by the ICC. There are currently twelve men's teams that have been granted this status. International teams that do not have Test status can play [[first-class cricket]] in the [[ICC Intercontinental Cup]], under conditions which are similar to Tests.

#{{cr|Australia}} ([[English cricket team in Australia in 1876–77#First Test: England v Australia (15–19 March 1877)|15 March 1877]])

#{{cr|England}} ([[English cricket team in Australia in 1876–77#First Test: England v Australia (15–19 March 1877)|15 March 1877]])

#{{cr|South Africa}} ([[English cricket team in South Africa in 1888–89#First Test - South Africa v England (12–13 March 1889)|12 March 1889]])

#{{cr|West Indies}} ([[West Indian cricket team in England in 1928#The First Test, Lord's, 23–26 June 1928|23 June 1928]])

#{{cr|New Zealand}} ([[English cricket team in New Zealand in 1929–30#Test series summary|10 January 1930]])

#{{cr|India}} ([[Indian cricket team in England in 1932#Only Test match|25 June 1932]])

#{{cr|Bangladesh}} ([[2000–01 Bangladeshi cricket season#Indian cricket team in Bangladesh|10 November 2000]])

#{{cr|Afghanistan}} ([[Afghan cricket team in India in 2018–19#Only Test|14 June 2018]])

Most of these teams represent independent sovereign nations. The exceptions are the England cricket team, which represents the [[countries of the UK|constituent countries]] of [[England]] and [[Wales]]; the West Indies, a combined team from fifteen Caribbean nations and territories; and Ireland, representing both the [[Republic of Ireland]] and [[Northern Ireland]].

Following the [[D'Oliveira affair]] in 1969, [[History of cricket in South Africa from 1970–71 to 1990|South Africa]] was suspended from all forms of cricket from 1970 until the end of the [[Apartheid|Apartheid regime]] in [[End of Apartheid|1991]].

Zimbabwe's Test status was voluntarily suspended in 2006 because of poor performances. Its Test status was reinstated in August 2011.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/zimbabwe/news/Zimbabwe-Cricket-Resume-Test-Play-After-Six-Year-Break-126790218.html Zimbabwe Cricket Side Resume International Test Play After Six-Year Break] – [[Voice of America]].</ref>

The ICC has made several proposals to reform the system of granting Test status. Unimplemented proposals include having two tiers  with [[promotion and relegation]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1036139.html|title=NZC 'big supporter' of two-tier Test system|date=18 July 2016|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=10 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/afghanistan/content/story/1054077.html|title=Afghanistan ready to play Tests – ACB chief executive|date=4 September 2016|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=5 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1030121.html|title=BCB vice-president against two-tier Test system|date=27 June 2016|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=10 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/1052477.html|title=BCCI against four-day Tests, two-tier system|date=31 August 2016|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=31 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/1022445.html|title=ICC planning two Test divisions amid major overhaul |date=1 June 2016 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=10 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/1055073.html |title=Two-tier proposal shelved at ICC meeting |date=7 September 2016 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=21 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/1062376.html | title = Baseball-style conference structure proposed for Tests | work = ESPN Cricinfo | access-date = 21 October 2016}}</ref> or a [[play-off]] between the winners of the [[ICC Intercontinental Cup]] and the team with the lowest [[ICC Test Championship|Test ranking]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://live-cricketstreaming.com |title=Ireland and Scotland to get Test chance as ICC approves play-off |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=10 April 2014 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> These proposals have not been successful.

Statisticians have developed criteria to determine which matches count as Tests, if they were played before the formal definition of Test status. The first list of matches considered to be "Tests" was drawn up by Clarence Moody, an Australian, in the mid-1890s. Representative matches played by simultaneous England touring sides of 1891–92 ([[English cricket team in Australia in 1891–92|in Australia]] and [[English cricket team in South Africa in 1891–92|South Africa]]) and 1929–30 ([[English cricket team in the West Indies in 1929–30|in the West Indies]] and [[English cricket team in New Zealand in 1929–30|New Zealand]]) are deemed to have "Test status".

In 1970, a series of five "Test matches" was played in England between England and a Rest of the World XI. These matches, originally scheduled between England and South Africa, were amended after South Africa was suspended from international cricket because of their government's policy of [[apartheid]]. Although initially given Test status (and included as Test matches in some record books, including ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]''), this was later withdrawn and a principle was established that official Test matches can only be between nations (although the geographically and demographically small countries of the West Indies have since 1928 been permitted to field a coalition side). Despite this, in 2005, the ICC ruled that the six-day [[ICC Super Series 2005|Super Series]] match that took place in October 2005, between Australia and a World XI, was an official Test match. Some cricket writers and statisticians, including [[Bill Frindall]], ignored the ICC's ruling and excluded the 2005 match from their records. The series of "Test matches" played in Australia between Australia and a World XI in 1971–72 do not have Test status. The commercial "[[World Series Cricket|Supertests]]" organised by [[Kerry Packer]] as part of his [[World Series Cricket]] enterprise and played between "WSC Australia", "WSC World XI" and "WSC West Indies" from 1977 to 1979 have never been regarded as official Test matches.

Today, Test matches are scheduled to be played across five consecutive days. However, in the [[History of Test cricket (to 1883)|early days]] of Test cricket, matches were played for three or four days. Four-day Test matches were last played in 1973, between [[Pakistani cricket team in New Zealand in 1972–73|New Zealand and Pakistan]].<ref name="NZPak">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21814480/cremer-senses-opportunity-shorter-contest |title=Cremer senses opportunity in shorter contest |access-date=19 December 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> Until the 1980s, it was usual to include a 'rest day,' often a Sunday. There have also been '[[Timeless Test]]s', which have no predetermined maximum time. In 2005, Australia played a match scheduled for six days against a World XI, which the ICC sanctioned as an official Test match, though the match reached a conclusion on the fourth day. In October 2017, the ICC approved a request for a four-day Test match, between [[Zimbabwean cricket team in South Africa in 2017–18#Only Test|South Africa and Zimbabwe]], which started on 26 December 2017 and ended on the second day, 27 December.<ref name="approve">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21006055/test-odi-leagues-approved-icc-board |title=Test, ODI leagues approved by ICC Board |access-date=13 October 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> The ICC trialed the four-day Test format until the [[2019 Cricket World Cup]].<ref name="trial">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21008545/south-africa-play-zimbawe-inaugural-four-day-test |title=South Africa to play Zimbabwe in inaugural four-day Test |access-date=13 October 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> In December 2019, [[Cricket Australia]] were considering playing four-day Tests, subject to consensus with other Test nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/sport/cricket/australian-cricket-board-to-seriously-consider-four-day-test-matches-1.957158 |title=Australian cricket board to 'seriously consider' four-day Test matches |work=The National |access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref> Later the same month, the ICC considered the possibility of making four-day Test matches mandatory for the [[ICC World Test Championship]] from 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/28394321/icc-consider-mandatory-four-day-tests |title=ICC to consider mandatory four-day Tests |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=30 December 2019}}</ref>

Test cricket is played in ''innings'' (the word denotes both the singular and the plural). In each innings, one team [[Batting (cricket)|bats]] and the other [[Bowling (cricket)|bowls]] (or [[Fielding (cricket)|fields]]). Ordinarily four innings are played in a Test match, and each team bats twice and bowls twice. Before the start of play on the first day, the two team captains and the match referee [[the toss|toss a coin]]; the captain who wins the toss decides whether his team will bat or bowl first.

If, at the completion of Team B's first innings, Team A leads by at least 200 runs, the captain of Team A may (but is not required to) order Team B to have ''their'' second innings next. This is called enforcing the [[follow on]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-14-the-follow-on/ |title=Law 14 – The follow-on |publisher=MCC |access-date=29 September 2017}}</ref> In this case, the usual order of the third and fourth innings is reversed: Team A will bat in the fourth innings. It is rare for a team forced to follow on to win the match. In Test cricket it has only happened three times, although over 285 follow-ons have been enforced: Australia was the losing team on each occasion, twice to England, in 1894 and in 1981, and once to India in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchFollowOn.asp?FollowOn=T&Result=Lost |title=HowSTAT! Winning after Following-On |publisher=Howstat.com |access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref>

If the whole of the first day's play of a Test match has been lost because of bad weather or other reasons like bad light, then Team A may enforce the follow on if Team B's first innings total is 150 or more fewer than Team A's. During the [[New Zealand cricket team in England in 2013#2nd Test|2nd Test]] between England and New Zealand at [[Headingley Cricket Ground|Headingley]] in 2013, England batted first after the first day was lost because of rain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/566922.html |title=2nd Test: England v New Zealand at Leeds, May 24–28, 2013 &#124; Cricket Scorecard |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 July 2013}}</ref> New Zealand, batting second, scored 180 runs fewer than England, meaning England could have enforced the follow on, though chose not to. This is similar to four-day first-class cricket, where the follow on can be enforced if the difference is 150 runs or more fewer. If the Test is 2 days or fewer then the "follow-on" value is 100 runs.

After 80 overs, the captain of the bowling side may take a [[Cricket ball|new ball]], although this is not required.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-4-the-ball/ |title=Law 4 – The ball |publisher=MCC |access-date=29 September 2017}}</ref> The captain will usually take the new ball: being harder and smoother than an old ball, a new ball generally favours faster bowlers who can make it bounce more variably. The roughened, softer surface of an old ball can be more conducive to spin bowlers, or those using [[reverse swing]]. The captain may delay the decision to take the new ball if he wishes to continue with his spinners (because the pitch favours spin). After a new ball has been taken, should an innings last a further 80 overs, then the captain will have the option to take another new ball.

*'''All four innings are complete.''' The team batting fourth are ''all out'' before overtaking the other team, usually before matching the other team's score. The team that batted third are the winners by a margin equal to the difference in the aggregate runs scored by the two teams (for example, "Team A won by 95 runs"). Very rarely (in over 2,000 Test matches played, [[Tied Test|it has only happened twice]]) the scores can end level, resulting in a [[Tie (cricket)|tie]].

*'''Time for the match expires without a result being reached.''' This usually occurs at the end of the last day of the match. The result is a [[Draw (cricket)|draw]]: there is no winner, no matter how superior the position of one of the sides. Rain causing a loss of playing time is a common factor in drawn matches, although matches may be drawn even without interference from the weather: usually as a result of poor time management or an intentional effort on the part of one team to avoid losing.

*'''The match is awarded through a forfeiture.''' If a team refuses to take the field of play, the umpires may award the match to the opposing team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-16-the-result/ |title=Law 16 – The result |publisher=MCC |access-date=29 June 2017}}</ref> This has only happened once in Test cricket, in the [[Ball tampering controversy in August 2006|2006 fourth Test between England and Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/feb/01/england-pakistan-oval |work=The Guardian | location=London | title=England awarded abandoned Oval Test 'win' | date=1 February 2009 | access-date=27 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/5268560.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Test abandoned after ball dispute | date=20 August 2006 | access-date=27 March 2010}}</ref>

The number of matches in Test series has varied from one to seven.<ref name="Seven tests">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63065.html |title=Australia v England, Seventh Test, 1970–71 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 July 2013}}</ref> Up until the early 1990s,<ref name="Neutral umpires">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/511175.html|title=Neutral umpires|last=Rajesh|first=S.|date=16 April 2011|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=30 March 2012}}</ref> Test series between international teams were organised between the two national cricket organisations with [[Umpire (cricket)|umpires]] provided by the home team. With the entry of more countries into Test cricket, and a wish by the ICC to maintain public interest in Tests in the face of the popularity of [[one-day cricket]], a rotation system was introduced that sees all ten Test teams playing each other over a six-year cycle, and an official [[ICC Test Championship|ranking system]] (with a trophy held by the highest-ranked team). In this system, umpires are provided by the ICC. An [[Elite Panel of ICC Umpires|elite panel of eleven umpires]] was maintained since 2002, and the panel is supplemented by an additional [[ICC International umpire panel|International Panel]] that includes three umpires named by each Test-playing country. The elite umpires officiate almost all Test matches, though usually not Tests involving their home country.

| [[The Ashes]] || {{cr|ENG}} || {{cr|AUS}} || [[History of Test cricket from 1877 to 1883#Bligh reclaims the Ashes 1882/3|1882–83]] || [[2019 Ashes series|2019]]

| [[Anthony De Mello Trophy]]{{ref label|rounding|A|A}} || {{cr|IND}} ||{{cr|ENG}} || 1951<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/indiaengland-series-played-for-anthony-de-mello-trophy-bcci/article4071143.ece |title=India-England series played for Anthony De Mello trophy: BCCI |date=6 November 2012 |access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> || [[English cricket team in India in 2020-21|2020-21]]

| [[Frank Worrell Trophy]] || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|AUS}} || [[West Indian cricket team in Australia in 1960–61|1960–61]] || [[West Indies cricket team in Australia in 2015|2015]]

|[[Richards-Botham Trophy|Richards – Botham Trophy]] || {{cr|WIN}} ||{{cr|ENG}} || [[West Indian cricket team in England in 1963|1963]] || [[West Indian cricket team in England in 2020|2020]]

| [[Trans-Tasman Trophy]] || {{cr|NZ}} || {{cr|AUS}} || [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 1985–86|1985–86]] || [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2019-20|2019–20]]

| [[Border–Gavaskar Trophy|Border – Gavaskar Trophy]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|IND}} || [[Border–Gavaskar Trophy#1996–97 one-off Test|1996–97]] || [[Border-Gavaskar Trophy#2020-21 series|2020–21]]

| [[Southern Cross Trophy]] || {{cr|AUS}} || {{cr|ZIM}} || [[Australian cricket team in Zimbabwe in 1999–2000|1999]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63851.html |title=Southern Cross Trophy, 1999/00 |access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> ||[[Zimbabwean cricket team in Australia in 2003–04|2003]]

| [[Sir Vivian Richards Trophy]] || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|SA}} ||2000–01<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?bowling_pacespin=1;class=1;filter=advanced;filter_box=series;home_or_away=1;orderby=wickets;type=team |title=Statistics / Statsguru / Test matches / Team records |access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> || [[West Indies cricket team in South Africa in 2014-15|2016]]

| [[Clive Lloyd Trophy]] || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|ZIM}} || 2001<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/102043.html |title=Test trophy to be named after Clive Lloyd |date=28 July 2001 |access-date=3 June 2016}}</ref> ||[[West Indian cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2017–18|2017]]

| [[Basil D'Oliveira Trophy]] || {{cr|SA}} || {{cr|ENG}} || [[International cricket in 2004–05#England in South Africa|2004–05]] || [[English cricket team in South Africa in 2019–20|2019–20]]

| [[Warne–Muralidaran Trophy|Warne – Muralidaran Trophy]] || {{cr|SL}} ||{{cr|AUS}} || [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 2007–08|2007–08]] || [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Australia in 2018-19|2018–19]]

| [[Freedom Trophy (cricket)|Freedom Trophy]] (Gandhi-Mandela Trophy) ||{{cr|IND}} || {{cr|SA}} || [[South African cricket team in India in 2015–16|2015–16]] || [[South African cricket team in India in 2019–20|2019–20]]

| [[Sobers–Tissera Trophy|Sobers – Tissera Trophy]] || {{cr|WIN}} || {{cr|SL}} || [[West Indian cricket team in Sri Lanka in 2015–16|2015–16]] || [[Sri Lankan cricket team in the West Indies in 2018|2018]]

| [[Ganguly–Durjoy Trophy|Ganguly – Durjoy Trophy]] || {{cr|IND}} || {{cr|BAN}} ||[[Bangladeshi cricket team in India in 2016–17|2017]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/india-vs-bangladesh-2016-test-series-to-be-named-ganguly-durjoy-trophy-451484|title=India vs Bangladesh 2016 Test series to be named Ganguly-Durjoy Trophy |date=26 May 2016 |access-date=22 December 2017 }}</ref> ||[[Bangladeshi cricket team in India in 2019–20|2019–20]]

{{main|ICC Test Championship}}

{{ICC Test Championship rankings}}

A league competition for Test cricket began in [[2019–21 ICC World Test Championship|2019–21]]. Arranged as a bilateral series in various countries with one team as host and another team as visitor. The length of each series varies between 2 and 5 matches. Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are not taking part in this competition, but instead play a program of Test matches with each other and other teams during the same period.

! colspan="8" |Final

!Most Wickets

!width=100pt | References

|[[2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship Final|2019–2021]]

| 8 wickets.

|[[Marnus Labuschagne]] (1675 @ 72.82)

|[[Ravichandran Ashwin]]

(71 @ 20.33)

|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of India vs New Zealand Final 2019-2021 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-test-championship-2019-2021-1195334/india-vs-new-zealand-final-1249875/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-06-26|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref>

It has been suggested that Test cricket may be losing popularity, particularly in the face of the advent of [[short form cricket]].<ref>https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/cricket/chris-waters-reports-death-test-cricket-have-been-greatly-exaggerated-126971 "According to Shashank Manohar, chairman of the International Cricket Council, Test cricket itself is “dying, to be honest”. Details of the funeral arrangements will be announced in due course."

 

"“Nowadays, people don’t have five days (of) time to watch a Test match,” said Manohar. “From ten to five, everybody has their own job to do, so it is very difficult for them to watch this game.

 

“T20s get over in three-and-a-half hours, like watching a movie. Therefore, it is picking up very fast.”"</ref> [[Day/night Test match]]es  have been suggested as one way to address this problem.<ref>https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cricket-australia-mcgrath/australian-mcgrath-backs-day-night-tests-to-revive-popularity-idUKKCN20K24F</ref> However, the lack of popularity has been disputed, with a [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] poll showing that 86% of all cricket fans support Test cricket, more than any other format.<ref>https://www.lords.org/lords/news-stories/test-cricket-popularity-strong-as-ever-says-mcc-wo "Over 13,000 responders from more than 100 countries took part in the survey, with the majority of responders supporting England, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Overwhelmingly, Test cricket came out as the format that interests fans the most, regardless of country supported or age.

 

An average of 86% of the responders placed Test cricket as their preferred format to watch, follow and support over One-Day Internationals, T20 Internationals and domestic T20 matches."</ref>

* [[List of Test cricketers]]

{{Team Sport}}