Initially billed as the Lillywhite XI against a Combined Australian XI at the MCG starting March 15, 1877, these two sides took part in what is now recognised as the first official test match. International cricket had been played as far back as the late 1700’s however travel, money and external influences prevented tours being a regular feature. With many players maintaining amateur status, spending months abroad playing cricket was not the wisest career choice. English teams had toured overseas but those were deemed as first-class contests rather than tests.
James Lillywhite’s XI, named after their captain, were a touring party of professional English players taking part in 23 matches around Australia and New Zealand between December 1876 and April 1877, which included the now original (and second) test match. That tour was organised in competition with a rival tour of big name amateurs, run by Fred Grace, the brother of W.G. Grace, which eventually fell through giving the professional side clear air.
Just after midday on March 15, 1877 play commenced at the MCG and while it was not classed as a test at the time, it has been since classed as the first of its kind. The test did not follow the three-session pattern we are so used to seeing now, with play commencing just after midday and lasting until approximately 5pm. Australia’s team was predominantly made up of players from New South Wales and Victoria (unconfirmed reports suggest this was the first time the state favouritism joke was made as well). Australian fans may not want to mention that all bar four of their side were actually born in England, thankfully the eligibility rules were a bit more relaxed back then.
Australia batted first and from the outset, the innings belonged to 26-year-old Charles Bannerman who piled on a mammoth 126* by the close of play. Day two saw Bannerman push his score to 165 before retiring hurt as the Australians put up 245 in their first innings. Bannerman’s contribution of 69.6% of his team’s total runs remains a test match record for highest percentage of a team’s runs in an innings.
England’s first innings was somewhat less eventful as they tallied 196 before being bowled out midway through day three of the test. Australia’s Billy Midwinter claimed the first ‘five-for’ in test history collecting 5/78 from his 54 overs. Bannerman could not repeat his first up effort being dismissed for 4 in the second innings after being hampered by the finger injury which resulted in the end of his first time at the crease.
Overall Australia’s second innings was significantly less successful compared to its first as they were bowled out for 104 in just 68 overs. England’s Alfred Shaw bettered Midwinter’s numbers with 5/38 from 34 overs. England were set a target of 154 for victory and set out to chase that down. Australia’s Tom Kendall ripped through the English lineup starting off with English opener Allen Hill of his second delivery. Kendall finished with 7/55 off 33.1 overs including dismissing English captain Lillywhite for the second time in the match. England’s final total was 108, giving Australia the first ever test victory by a margin of 45 runs.
England’s tour continued with the second test commencing on March 31 also at the MCG where England were able to tie the series, claiming that by 4 wickets. An English side captained by Lord Harris toured again in January 1879 for a one-off test following on from an Australian tour which concluded two months prior. Australia won the lone test on that tour by 10 wickets thanks to Fred Spofforth collecting 6/48 and 7/62 in the English innings. It was in 1882 when the famous test which began The Ashes was played however the roots of the Australian and English cricket rivalry can be traced back to the first test on March 15, 1887.