Google Doodle celebrates 140 years of Test cricket with animation reliving first match

Google on Wednesday dedicated a Doodle to celebrate the 140th anniversary of official Test cricket, remembering the first Test match, played between England and Australia in 1877. The match was played between an established English team and a newly-formed Australian squad at the Melbourne Cricket ground. It finished in a 45-run win for Australia. [caption id=“attachment_3335136” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] The Google Doodle commemorating the first Test match on 140th anniversary of the longest form of the game.[/caption] The hosts won the toss and batted first and the first ball was bowled by Alfred Shaw to Charles Bannerman, who went on to become the first centurion in Test by scoring 165 when he retired hurt with a right hand index finger injury. J Southerton from the England side still holds the record for the oldest test debut at 49 years, 199 days. There were only four balls in each over at that time. More information and a detailed score card of the first cricket test match can be found on ESPN Cricinfo. England, however, squared the two-Test series by winning the next game at the same venue by four wickets. “Today’s Doodle hits the deck with a light-hearted rendering that captures the spirit of sportsmanship and the inaugural Test match,” Google said. “Mustachioed and muscle-bound, the batsmen, bowlers and opposition fielders spring into action, never losing sight of the red ball,” it said. The letters of the Google logo are spread across players from both the teams across the pitch. Strangely enough, although the two participating teams were from England and Australia, the Google Doodle for the 140th anniversary of the first cricket Test match is only being delivered to the cricket crazy nations of India and Australia. With IANS inputs.