The first century in Test cricket is a significant moment in the history of the game. A century is scored when a batsman scores 100 or more runs in a single innings, and it is considered a major achievement in cricket. In this blog, we will look at the history of the first century in Test cricket and the player who achieved this feat.
The first Test match was played between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from 15-19 March 1877. The match was played over four days, and it was the first time that a Test match was played between two nations. Australia won the match by 45 runs, and there were many significant moments in the game, including the first-ever wicket in Test cricket, which was taken by England’s Alfred Shaw.
The first century in Test cricket was scored by an Australian batsman named Charles Bannerman. He opened the batting for Australia and scored 165 runs out of the team’s total of 245 in the first innings. Bannerman’s innings lasted for nearly six hours, and he hit 18 fours in his innings. His innings was a masterclass in batting, and it set the tone for future Test matches.
Bannerman’s innings was crucial in Australia’s victory over England, and it marked the beginning of a new era in cricket. His innings helped to establish the importance of scoring runs in Test cricket, and it set a benchmark for future players to aim for. Bannerman’s record for the highest percentage of runs in a completed innings stood for over 100 years, until Hanif Mohammad of Pakistan broke the record in 1958.
Since Bannerman’s innings, there have been many great centuries scored in Test cricket by some of the game’s greatest players. The likes of Don Bradman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara have all scored multiple centuries in Test cricket, and their records have inspired future generations of cricketers.
In conclusion, Charles Bannerman’s innings of 165 in the first Test match between England and Australia at the MCG in 1877 was the first century in Test cricket. It was a landmark moment in the history of the game, and it set the benchmark for future players to aim for. The achievement of scoring a century in Test cricket is still considered a major accomplishment for any batsman, and it remains an integral part of the game’s rich history.
