Centenary Test refers to two matches of Test cricket between the English cricket team and the Australian cricket team, the first in 1977 and the second in 1980. The matches were played to mark the 100th anniversaries of the first Test cricket matches played in Australia, in 1877, and in England, in 1880. None of the matches are considered to form part of the biennial competition between England and Australia for the Ashes: the early matches preceeded the first Ashes Test at the Oval in 1882, and the 1977 and 1980 matches were one-off commemorative matches, not part of an Ashes series. Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population - Total (mid-2004) - Density Ranked 1st UK 50. ... For more coverage of cricket, see the Cricket portal. ...

The first Centenary Test, generally considered the Centenary Test, was played in 1977 to commemorate the match that is considered to be the very first Test match, played in 1877. Both matches were played in March, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. Remarkably, Australia won both matches by exactly the same margin, 45 runs. Cricket at the MCG. The old Members Stand, in the centre background, has now been demolished. ... The City of Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia (after Sydney), with a population of 3. ...

A second Centenary Test was played in 1980 at Lord's in London, to commemorate the first Test match in England, at The Oval in 1880. The 1880 match was the fourth to be considered a Test match, and followed three earlier matches played between England and Australia in Australia (including the 1877 Test). The 1980 match was affected by rain on the first two days, and was drawn. This was the last Test match commentated by John Arlott. The Media Centre at Lords Cricket Ground Lords Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in St Johns Wood in London. ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... The famous gasholders, which are now listed buildings. ... Leslie Thomas John Arlott (February 25, 1914 - December 14, 1991) (known as John Arlott) was a British sports commentator for Test Match Special. ...

Centenary Test, 1977

The Centenary Test was played from 12 March to 17 March 1977, with a rest day on 15 March. At that time, Test matches in Australia were played with 8-ball overs. March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in Leap years). ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ... In the sport of cricket an over is a series of six consecutive balls bowled by a single bowler. ...

England won the toss and put Australia in to bat first. To the delight of the England team, Australia were dismissed within 44 overs for only 138 runs, with the wickets shared between the four England bolwers, John Lever, Bob Willis, Chris Old and Derek Underwood, and Australian captain Greg Chappell recording the best innings of 40 runs in almost 4 hours at the crease. In the sport of cricket, a run is the basic unit of scoring. ... A professional cricket match In the sport of cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball towards the batsman. ... Robert (Bob) George Dylan Willis (born in Sunderland 30 May 1949) is a former English cricketer who played for Surrey, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal and England. ... Derek Underwood is an English cricketer born on June 8, 1945. ... Gregory Stephen Chappell (born August 7, 1948) is a former Australian cricketer. ... An innings, or inning, is a segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably baseball and cricket – during which a side takes its turn to bat. ... In the sport of cricket, the crease is the area demarcated by white lines painted or chalked on the field of play. ...

Somewhat ominously, as it would prove, Dennis Lillee struck to dismiss the English opening batsman Bob Woolmer before the end of the first day, to leave England with wicket down for 29 runs at the close. Australia struck back decisively on the second day, with Lillee taking a further 5 wickets, ending with 6/26 in the innings, and Max Walker taking 4/54, to dismiss England for only 95, 43 runs in arrears. For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ... Cricket batsman A batsman in the sport of cricket is a player whose speciality in the game is batting. ... Robert Andrew Woolmer, (born May 14, 1948, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India), more commonly known as Bob Woolmer, is a professional cricket coach known for having coached the South African cricket team. ... This article is about the cricket term. ... Max Walked plays the tall blonde guy on the Canadian television show, 15/Love. ...

Australia regrouped, digging in in their second innings and batting through the remainder of the second day (ending at 3 for 104), through the third day (to 8 for 387), before declaring on the fourth day at 9 for 491. Rodney Marsh (110*) became the first Australian wicket-keeper to score a century against England, and there were half-centuries for opening batsman Ian Davis (68) as well as Doug Walters (66) and Doug Hookes (56). England were left to bat out the remainder of the match for a draw, or to score a world-record 463 for victory. Rodney William Marsh (born Armadale, Perth, Australia November 4, 1947) was an Australian Wicket keeper). ... A wicket keeper in characteristic position, ready to face a delivery. ... Doug Walters (born December 21, 1945) was an Australian cricketer. ...

Bob Woolmer was out cheaply for a second time at the start of England's second innings, but England continued positively, with a partnership of 83 between Mike Brearley and Derek Randall for the second wicket (Brearley out for 43) and 166 between Derek Randall and Dennis Amiss for the third wicket (Amiss out for 64) seeing England to 3 for 279, and the victory target only 184 runs away. Despite Randall going on to score 174, his first Test century, and captain Tony Greig and wicket-keeper Alan Knott both recording scores of 41 and 42 resepctively, England were finally dismissed on 417, with another 5 wicket haul for Lillee (5/139). Despite playing with an injured back, and leaving the ground in a chair, Lillee finished with match figures of 11/165. Robert Andrew Woolmer, (born May 14, 1948, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India), more commonly known as Bob Woolmer, is a professional cricket coach known for having coached the South African cricket team. ... John Michael Brearley (born in Harrow, Middlesex, on 28 April 1942) was a cricketer who captained the England cricket team in 31 of his 39 Test matches, winning 17 and losing only 4. ... Derek Randall, known to cricket fans as Arkle after the famous racehorse but always Rags to himself, was a Nottinghamshire and England batsman of the late seventies and early eighties beloved far beyond what his figures might suggest. ... Derek Randall, known to cricket fans as Arkle after the famous racehorse but always Rags to himself, was a Nottinghamshire and England batsman of the late seventies and early eighties beloved far beyond what his figures might suggest. ... Dennis Leslie Amiss (born April 7, 1943 in Harborne, Birmingham, Warwickshire) was an English cricketer, who played cricket for both Warwickshire County Cricket Club and England. ... Anthony Tony William Greig (born October 6, 1946), normally known as Tony, is a famous ex-cricketer. ... Alan Philip Eric Knott (born April 9, 1946) was an English cricketer, a wicket-keeper-batsman for the England Test side between 1967 and 1981. ...

Australia won by 45 runs. Remarkably, Australian won the 1877 match by exactly the same margin of victory.

The 1877 match was a timeless Test played from 15 March to 19 March 1877, with a rest day on 18 March, using with 4-ball overs. Australia scored 245 in the first innings, with 165 from Charles Bannerman, the first Test century, before he retired hurt (over 69% of the total, a Test record that still stands). The England team, captained by James Lillywhite , scored 196 in reply, with William Midwinter taking 5/78, the first Test "five for". Australia scored 104 in their second innings, with Alfred Shaw taking 5/38, setting England a target of 153 to win, but England were bowled out for 108, with Thomas Kendall taking 7/55. March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... Charles Bannerman was an Australian cricketer. ... External link Cricinfo page on James Lillywhite Categories: Cricket stubs | 1842 births | 1929 births | Cricketers | English cricketers | Sussex cricketers | English test cricketers | English bowlers | Cricket umpires | English cricket captains ...

Centenary Test, 1980

The 1980 Centenary Test was played at Lord's from 28 August to 2 September 1980, with a rest day on 31 August. The Media Centre at Lords Cricket Ground Lords Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in St Johns Wood in London. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (246th in leap years). ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining, as the final day of August. ...

Australia, captained by Greg Chappell, won the toss and elected to bat. Although the first two days were affected by rain, Australia ended the first day on 227 for 2 and the second on 278 for 4, declaring at 385 for 5 on the third day, with centuries for Graeme Wood (112) and Kim Hughes (117). England were bowled out for 205, with Len Pascoe taking 5/59 and including a duck for England captain, Ian Botham. Australia declared on 189 for 4 in their second innings, setting England an unlikely target of 370 in less than one day to win. Geoffrey Boycott batted out the rest of the day, scoring 128 not out, leaving England on 244 for 3 at the close, and the match was drawn. Gregory Stephen Chappell (born August 7, 1948) is a former Australian cricketer. ... Kimberley John Hughes (born January 26, 1954 at Margaret River Western Australia) was an Australian Cricket captain. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ... For more coverage of cricket, go to the Cricket portal. ...

England won the 1880 Test by 5 wickets. The three-day match was played at The Oval from 6 September to 8 September 1880. The England team included three Grace Brothers, W. G. Grace, E. M. Grace and G. F. Grace. England won the toss and batted first, with W. G. Grace scoring 152, the first century by an Englishman, in England's first innings total of 420. Australian were bowled out for 149, followed on, and scored 327 in their second innings, including 152 not out for Billy Murdoch. England lost 5 wickets before reaching the target of 57. The famous gasholders, which are now listed buildings. ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Myer is an Australian chain of department stores founded in 1900 by Sidney Myer, in the regional Victorian town of Bendigo. ... William Gilbert Grace (July 18, 1848–October 23, 1915) was an English cricketer who, by his extraordinary skills, made cricket perhaps the first modern spectator sport, and who developed most of the techniques of modern batting. ... Edward Mills Grace (born 28 November 1841 in Bristol, England; died 20 May 1911 in Gloucestershire, England) was a member of the famous cricketing Grace family, and brother of WG Grace and Fred Grace. ... William Gilbert Grace (July 18, 1848–October 23, 1915) was an English cricketer who, by his extraordinary skills, made cricket perhaps the first modern spectator sport, and who developed most of the techniques of modern batting. ... Follow-on is a term (noun and verb) used in the sport of cricket. ... William (Billy) Lloyd Murdoch (born 18 October 1854 in Sandhurst, Victoria - died 18 February 1911 in Melbourne, Victoria) was an Australian cricketer, probably best remembered for captaining the Australian tours to England in 1880, 1882 (when the Ashes legend was born), and 1884. ...

External links

• Randall recalls centenary fireworks (BBC News, 12 March 2002)
• Leaflet from the Melbourne Cricket Club (PDF)
• Ashes scorecards and reports from 334notout.com

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References

• Scorecard of the 1877 Melbourne Test from Cricinfo
• Scorecard of the 1977 Melbourne Test from Cricinfo
• Cricinfo report of the 1977 Test

• Scorecard of the 1880 Oval Test from Cricinfo
• Scorecard of the 1980 Lord's Test from Cricinfo