The India-England Test at Lord's will be the 2000th in the history of the game. Mail Today looks back at the journey.
It is considered an anachronism in the fast-paced modern world with its craving for instant results. But the five-day format has not only survived, but also flourished amidst the surfeit of One-Day Internationals and the Twenty20 format.
Ask any cricketer worth his salt and he will tell you that the satisfaction gained from excelling in a Test match cannot be felt in any of the shorter versions. Despite several experts from time to time painting doomsday scenarios for Test cricket, the magic still keeps true lovers of the game spellbound.
As Test cricket reaches another major milestone, let's sit back and remember some memorable moments in its history.
THE DON
He is the yardstick against which all batsmen are measured. His Test average of 99.94 is the most sacred statistic in the game, probably never to be emulated. A national icon for Australia, his feats with the willow only prompt amazement in v cricket lovers down the generations.
NUMBER 800
Muttiah Muralitharan is the Don Bradman of bowling and his Test aggregate of 800 wickets may never be matched. The one-man bowling army for Sri Lanka had a dream farewell, taking his 800th wicket on the final day of his last Test to set up a victory against India in MAGICAL DELIVERY
Leg-spin was considered a dying art when Shane Warne took the ball against England at Old Trafford in the first Ashes Test of 1993. But cricket was never the same once Mike Gatting was bowled by a delivery that pitched well outside leg-stump to hit the top of off. As someone said: "Gatting looked like someone has stolen his lunch."
IT'S A TIE
The rarity of a tie can be gauged by the fact that there have been only two in history. The first one, between Australia and the West Indies in Brisbane (1960-61), was a nerve-jangling affair. Aussie Ian Meckiff was out going for the run that would have won it.
GARDEN OF EDEN
It was the mother of all comebacks. Forced to follow on at Kolkata's Eden Gardens in 2001 after trailing by 274 runs against Steve Waugh's mighty Australians, on a 16-match winning streak, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid dug in to bat for well over a day to turn the tables. Laxman scored 281 and Dravid 180. Harbhajan Singh did the rest with the ball to seal an amazing victory.
EPIC NO. 50
There are not many batting records out of Sachin Tendulkar's closet. The Mumbai maestro, who has the highest run aggregate in Test cricket, also has 51 hundreds in the longest format of the game. It is said that when he goes out to bat, the whole of India goes out with him. Comparisons with the Don are commonplace. WELL PLAYED
It was one moment when cricket truly was the winner. After England won one of the greatest Tests by beating Australia by two runs at Edgbaston in 2005, Andrew Flintoff consoled the brave Brett Lee before celebrating with his England teammates.
STANDING THE TEST OF TIME
The first Test was played between Australia and England in Melbourne from March 15 to March 19, 1877. Australia won the Test by 45 runs
The first ball was bowled by England's Alfred Shaw to Australian batsman Charles Bannerman
The first wicket: England's Allen Hill took the first wicket when he dismissed Australian opening batsman Nat Thomson
The first hundred: Charles Bannerman was not only the man to score the first run, but also the first ever centurion. He scored an unbeaten 165 before retiring hurt
The first bowler to take five in an innings: England's Alfred Shaw was the first bowler to take five wickets in an innings. He achieved the feat in the second innings when he took five for 38
Highest score: West Indies' Brian Lara holds the record of the highest individual score. He scored 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004
Highest individual total in a Test: England's Graham Gooch scored a total of 456 runs against India at Lord's in 1990. He scored 333 in the first innings and 123 in the second
Shining on debut: West Indies' Lawrence Rowe is the only batsman to score a double century and century on debut. Against New Zealand at Kingston in 1971-72, he scored 214 and 100 not out
Youngest centurion: Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful is the youngest to score a century. He made 114 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001, aged 17 years and 61 days
Oldest to 100: England's Jack Hobbs scored 142 against Australia in Melbourne in 1928- 29, at the age of 46 years and 82 days
Most dismissals: South Africa's Mark Boucher has 521 dismissals (499 catches and 22 stumpings) - the most for a wicketkeeper
Perfect 10: Anil Kumble is one of only two bowlers to take all 10 wickets in an innings. He emulated England's Jim Laker by taking 10-74 against Pakistan in Delhi in 1998-99
Safe hands: Rahul Dravid holds the record for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper. In 153 Tests, he has 203 catches
All-round prowess: South Africa's Jacques Kallis is the most successful all-rounder. In 145 Tests, he has 11,947 runs at 57.43 while taking 270 wickets and 166 catches
Longest reign: Australia's Allan Border captained his team in 93 Tests, the most by a skipper
Most Tests: England have played 911 Tests, the most by any team in the history of the game
Most victories: Australia have emerged victorious in 341 Tests. No other team in the history of the game has been so successful
Most defeats: England have lost as many as 261 Tests and hold the record for the most defeats in the game
300 Club: India's Virender Sehwag is one of a select band of players to have two scores of above 300 in Tests - the others being Don Bradman, Lara & Chris Gayle
It is considered an anachronism in the fast-paced modern world with its craving for instant results. But the five-day format has not only survived, but also flourished amidst the surfeit of One-Day Internationals and the Twenty20 format.
Ask any cricketer worth his salt and he will tell you that the satisfaction gained from excelling in a Test match cannot be felt in any of the shorter versions. Despite several experts from time to time painting doomsday scenarios for Test cricket, the magic still keeps true lovers of the game spellbound.
As Test cricket reaches another major milestone, let's sit back and remember some memorable moments in its history.
THE DON
He is the yardstick against which all batsmen are measured. His Test average of 99.94 is the most sacred statistic in the game, probably never to be emulated. A national icon for Australia, his feats with the willow only prompt amazement in v cricket lovers down the generations.
NUMBER 800
Muttiah Muralitharan celebrates his 800th Test wicket after despatching Pragyan Ojha in Galle. Agencies
Leg-spin was considered a dying art when Shane Warne took the ball against England at Old Trafford in the first Ashes Test of 1993. But cricket was never the same once Mike Gatting was bowled by a delivery that pitched well outside leg-stump to hit the top of off. As someone said: "Gatting looked like someone has stolen his lunch."
IT'S A TIE
The rarity of a tie can be gauged by the fact that there have been only two in history. The first one, between Australia and the West Indies in Brisbane (1960-61), was a nerve-jangling affair. Aussie Ian Meckiff was out going for the run that would have won it.
GARDEN OF EDEN
It was the mother of all comebacks. Forced to follow on at Kolkata's Eden Gardens in 2001 after trailing by 274 runs against Steve Waugh's mighty Australians, on a 16-match winning streak, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid dug in to bat for well over a day to turn the tables. Laxman scored 281 and Dravid 180. Harbhajan Singh did the rest with the ball to seal an amazing victory.
EPIC NO. 50
Sachin Tendulkar looks up as he celebrates his 50th Test ton on the 4th day of the first Test against South Africa in Centurion on December 19, 2010. AP
It was one moment when cricket truly was the winner. After England won one of the greatest Tests by beating Australia by two runs at Edgbaston in 2005, Andrew Flintoff consoled the brave Brett Lee before celebrating with his England teammates.
STANDING THE TEST OF TIME
The first Test was played between Australia and England in Melbourne from March 15 to March 19, 1877. Australia won the Test by 45 runs
The first ball was bowled by England's Alfred Shaw to Australian batsman Charles Bannerman
The first wicket: England's Allen Hill took the first wicket when he dismissed Australian opening batsman Nat Thomson
The first hundred: Charles Bannerman was not only the man to score the first run, but also the first ever centurion. He scored an unbeaten 165 before retiring hurt
The first bowler to take five in an innings: England's Alfred Shaw was the first bowler to take five wickets in an innings. He achieved the feat in the second innings when he took five for 38
Highest score: West Indies' Brian Lara holds the record of the highest individual score. He scored 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004
Highest individual total in a Test: England's Graham Gooch scored a total of 456 runs against India at Lord's in 1990. He scored 333 in the first innings and 123 in the second
Shining on debut: West Indies' Lawrence Rowe is the only batsman to score a double century and century on debut. Against New Zealand at Kingston in 1971-72, he scored 214 and 100 not out
Youngest centurion: Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful is the youngest to score a century. He made 114 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2001, aged 17 years and 61 days
Oldest to 100: England's Jack Hobbs scored 142 against Australia in Melbourne in 1928- 29, at the age of 46 years and 82 days
Most dismissals: South Africa's Mark Boucher has 521 dismissals (499 catches and 22 stumpings) - the most for a wicketkeeper
Perfect 10: Anil Kumble is one of only two bowlers to take all 10 wickets in an innings. He emulated England's Jim Laker by taking 10-74 against Pakistan in Delhi in 1998-99
Safe hands: Rahul Dravid holds the record for the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper. In 153 Tests, he has 203 catches
All-round prowess: South Africa's Jacques Kallis is the most successful all-rounder. In 145 Tests, he has 11,947 runs at 57.43 while taking 270 wickets and 166 catches
Longest reign: Australia's Allan Border captained his team in 93 Tests, the most by a skipper
Most Tests: England have played 911 Tests, the most by any team in the history of the game
Most victories: Australia have emerged victorious in 341 Tests. No other team in the history of the game has been so successful
Most defeats: England have lost as many as 261 Tests and hold the record for the most defeats in the game
300 Club: India's Virender Sehwag is one of a select band of players to have two scores of above 300 in Tests - the others being Don Bradman, Lara & Chris Gayle
