Variations in Test cricket statistics
Encyclopedia
There has been widespread continuity in the definition of Test cricket
since the 1880s and thus the statistics have involved little contention unlike the many variations in first-class cricket statistics
. There have nonetheless been a few points of interest.
parties toured this year and played what are considered official Test Matches. The team visiting the West Indies played four Test Matches. In the Cricketer
Spring Annual for 1930, they were styled 'Representative Matches.' When the West Indians came to Britain in 1933, Wisden Cricketers Almanack made reference to the earlier series and EL Roberts in his statistical notes in The Cricketer
Spring Annual 1933 listed Andy Sandham
's innings of 325, made in the last Test of the series, as a Test Match triple century. These matches have always appeared in official records as Test Matches since 1932.
Wellington
. However this status was retrospective, being granted in 1948 by the Imperial Cricket Conference. The match was thus added to existing records after that date. Ian Johnson
, Ray Lindwall
, Colin McCool
, Keith Miller
, Don Tallon
and Ernie Toshack
who appeared in the Ashes
series in 1946–47, were referred to as making their Test Match debuts in that series rather than in the New Zealand match of a year earlier.
and managed by Les Ames
it was captained by Garry Sobers. The matches were presented to the public as Test Match
es but within a short period of time after the series had taken place, this status came under attack and was rescinded. Wisden Cricketers Almanack continued for three years to include these games as 'Official' Test Matches in its records. However by 1973 they had been thoroughly expunged. Players such as John Snow
were far from happy about this. The well known journalist EW Jim Swanton was one of the few significant people in the game who argued these matches deserved the status of Official Tests. Alan Jones
of Glamorgan, alone of the participants, was denied an official cap, having previously believed he had received one.
, was washed out. Retrospectively the Australia Board decided to award caps for this unplayed match. This decision is not recognised by any major statistical publication. Caps were not awarded by the MCC
to the England Players.
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
since the 1880s and thus the statistics have involved little contention unlike the many variations in first-class cricket statistics
Variations in first-class cricket statistics
Variations in first-class cricket statistics have come about because there is no official view of the status of cricket matches played before 1947. As a result, historians and statisticians have compiled differing lists of matches that they recognise as first-class. The problem is significant where...
. There have nonetheless been a few points of interest.
1929–30
Two MCCMCC
MCC may refer to:* Marylebone Cricket Club, the home of cricket in the United Kingdom - Business-related topics:* Merchant Category Code, a code assigned to companies accepting credit cards.- Business and corporations:...
parties toured this year and played what are considered official Test Matches. The team visiting the West Indies played four Test Matches. In the Cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
Spring Annual for 1930, they were styled 'Representative Matches.' When the West Indians came to Britain in 1933, Wisden Cricketers Almanack made reference to the earlier series and EL Roberts in his statistical notes in The Cricketer
The Cricketer
The Cricketer was an English cricket magazine published between 1921 and 2003 when it was merged with Wisden Cricket Monthly and relaunched as The Wisden Cricketer....
Spring Annual 1933 listed Andy Sandham
Andy Sandham
Andrew Sandham was an English cricketer, a right-handed batsman who played 14 Test matches between 1921 and 1930. He scored over 40,000 first-class runs, but bowled only very rarely; he took just 18 wickets in his career.Sandham made his Surrey debut in 1911, and was capped in 1913...
's innings of 325, made in the last Test of the series, as a Test Match triple century. These matches have always appeared in official records as Test Matches since 1932.
1945–46
New Zealand played Australia in a Test Match at the Basin ReserveBasin Reserve
The Basin Reserve , is a cricket ground in Wellington, New Zealand, used for Test, first-class and one-day cricket. Some argue that its proximity to the city, its Historic Place status and its age make it the most famous cricket ground in New Zealand...
Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. However this status was retrospective, being granted in 1948 by the Imperial Cricket Conference. The match was thus added to existing records after that date. Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (cricketer)
Ian William Geddes Johnson CBE was an Australian cricketer who played 45 Test matches as a slow off-break bowler between 1946 and 1956. Johnson captured 109 Test wickets at an average of 29.19 runs per wicket and as a lower order batsman made 1,000 runs at an average of...
, Ray Lindwall
Ray Lindwall
Raymond Russell Lindwall MBE was a cricketer who represented Australia in 61 Tests from 1946 to 1960. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He also played top-flight rugby league football with St...
, Colin McCool
Colin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
, Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
, Don Tallon
Don Tallon
Donald "Don" Tallon was an Australian cricketer who played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953...
and Ernie Toshack
Ernie Toshack
Ernest Raymond Herbert Toshack was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Tests from 1946 to 1948. A left arm medium paced bowler who was known for his accuracy and stamina in his application of leg theory, Toshack was best known for being as member of Don Bradman's Invincibles that toured...
who appeared in the Ashes
Ashes
Ashes may refer to:* The Ashes, the Test cricket series between England and Australia* The Ashes , the rugby league Test series between Great Britain and Australia...
series in 1946–47, were referred to as making their Test Match debuts in that series rather than in the New Zealand match of a year earlier.
1970
When the South African tour was abandoned, a Rest of the World team was organised to play five matches against England. Sponsored by GuinnessGuinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
and managed by Les Ames
Les Ames
Leslie Ethelbert George Ames, CBE was an outstanding wicket-keeper and batsman for the England cricket team and Kent County Cricket Club. In his obituary, the Wisden of 1991 described him as the greatest wicket-keeper-batsman of all time...
it was captained by Garry Sobers. The matches were presented to the public as Test Match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
es but within a short period of time after the series had taken place, this status came under attack and was rescinded. Wisden Cricketers Almanack continued for three years to include these games as 'Official' Test Matches in its records. However by 1973 they had been thoroughly expunged. Players such as John Snow
John Snow
John Snow or Jon Snow may refer to:* Jon Snow, British newscaster* John Snow , founder of epidemiology and a major contributor to the development of anaesthesia* John W. Snow, 73rd United States Secretary of the Treasury...
were far from happy about this. The well known journalist EW Jim Swanton was one of the few significant people in the game who argued these matches deserved the status of Official Tests. Alan Jones
Alan Jones (cricketer)
Alan Jones was a Welsh cricketer, who played for Glamorgan for almost a quarter of a century. He also played, for a single season each, with Western Australia, Natal and Northern Transvaal.-Career:...
of Glamorgan, alone of the participants, was denied an official cap, having previously believed he had received one.
1970–71
The Third Test Match of the Ashes series between England and Australia, scheduled to start on 31st December 1970 at the Melbourne Cricket GroundMelbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, was washed out. Retrospectively the Australia Board decided to award caps for this unplayed match. This decision is not recognised by any major statistical publication. Caps were not awarded by the MCC
MCC
MCC may refer to:* Marylebone Cricket Club, the home of cricket in the United Kingdom - Business-related topics:* Merchant Category Code, a code assigned to companies accepting credit cards.- Business and corporations:...
to the England Players.