The First Cricket Test Match: The Google Doodle on Wednesday Celebrate the 140th anniversary of Test cricket, remembering the first Test match played between England and Australia teams in 1877.
The first officially-recognized test cricket match took place 140 years ago today. It was a contest between the established English side and the newly-formed Australian team. Australia won the first match, but England won the second match to draw the series 1:1. The rivalry between the English and Australian teams, forged on the field, endures to this day.
“Today’s Google Doodle hits the deck with a light-hearted rendering that captures the spirit of sportsmanship and the inaugural Test match,” Google said.
“Moustachioed and muscle-bound, the batsmen, bowlers and opposition fielders spring into action, never losing sight of the red ball,” it added.
Interestingly, though, going by the representational map provided by Google, the reach of the doodle is restricted to India and Australia, excluding even England, which was one of the teams to actually play that first match back in 1877.