International cricket in 1876–77

The 1876–77 international cricket season was from September 1876 to March 1877.^[1][2] This is the first international cricket season witnessed the first Test match between the hosts Australia and England.^[3] The series consisted with two timeless Test matches tied 1–1.^[4]

Englishman Alfred Shaw bowled the first Test delivery to Australian Charles Bannerman. Bannerman later became the first Test centurion in Test cricket history. Englishman Allen Hill had both the first Test wicket and the first catch. Billy Midwinter of Australia picked up the first 5 wicket haul in Test history whereas Australian Jack Blackham had the first stumping. James Southerton still holds the record for the oldest Test debutant at 49 years 119 days. Bannerman's score of 165 made 69.6% of his side's runs from the bat, still a record in Test matches.^[5]

Season overview

International tours
Start date	Home team	Away team	Results [Matches]
			Test	FC
15 March 1877	Australia	England	1–1 [2]	—

January

England in Australia

Main article: English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1876–77

One-off Test match
No.	Date	Home captain	Away captain	Venue	Result
Test 1	15–19 March	Dave Gregory	James Lillywhite	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne	Australia by 45 runs
Test 2	31 March–4 April	Dave Gregory	James Lillywhite	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne	England by 4 wickets

References

1. "Season 1876–77". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
2. "Season 1876–77 archive". Howstat. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
3. "The birth of Test cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
4. "Where are we 140 years later?". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
5. "What do we know about the first Test cricketer?". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2022-07-13.