Variations in Test cricket statistics

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.
1929-30
Two MCC 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.
1945-46
New Zealand played Australia in a Test Match at the Basin Reserve 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.
1970
When the South African tour was abandoned, a Rest of the World team was organised to play five matches against England. Sponsored by Guinness and managed by Les Ames it was captained by Garry Sobers. The matches were presented to the public as Test Matches but within a short period of time after the series had taken place, this status came under attack and was rescinded.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.
1970-71
The Third Test Match of the Ashes series between England and Australia, scheduled to start on 31 December 1970 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 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.
New Zealand and Australia
Apart from a single match in 1945-6, Australia were unwilling to play New Zealand in official Test matches until 1973-4. In 1949-50, an 'A' team was sent over to New Zealand. This was repeated in 1967-8 and 1969-70. However in 1956-7, a much stronger team toured. Arthur Carman in his series of New Zealand cricket annuals, invariably listed the representative match appearances by the home players with their Test Match records. No other publication adopted such a course and these matches never were regarded as full Test Matches. A similar situation occurred in 1960-1 when an MCC party came to New Zealand. Representative and not Test matches were played although Carman included them as 'Internationals'.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu