FIRST TEST VICTORY ALL TEAMS

Following is brief review of first test victory of all ten test playing countries in

chronological order.

AUSTRIALIA 15-16 MARCH 1877 - MELBOURNE

Australia won the in-augural match of Test cricket played at Melbourne Cricket Ground against England by 45 runs. James Lilly White led the English touring side and Dave Gregory the home team. Charles Bannerman (165 Not-out) become test crickets first centurion as Australia scored 245. W.E Midwinter claimed 5 for 78 and England were restricted to 196 in reply. Later England fought back and dismissed Australia for 104, Alfred Shaw claimed 5 for 38 and George Ulyett 3 for 35. Yet in the end it was left arm slow bowling of Tom Kendall (7/55) which won Australia the match.

ENGLAND - MARCH 31 - APRIL 4, 1877 MELBOURNE

England immediately avenged their defeat of in-augural match of test cricket by claiming victory in the next at the same ground by 4 wickets. Australia scored 122 & 259, and England 261 and 122 for 6. Yorkshire all rounder George Ulyett scored 52 & 63.

SOUTH AFRICA JANUARY 2-4’ 1906 - JOHANNESBURG

South Africa entered in test cricket in 1888-89 but achieved their first test victory in 1906 at Johannesburg after playing 11 Tests and waiting for 17 long years. P.M Sherwell Skipperred South Africa in this victory. England scored 184 and 190 and South Africa 91 and 287 for 9 and won the thrilling encounter by 1 wicket. A. W. Nouse scored 93 not-out.

WEST INDIES - FEB: 21-26’ 1930 GEORGE TOWN.

West Indies, which along with India and Newealand were elected as Full member of ICC on 31st May 1926 and played their first test (against England) in 1928 had not to wait long for their First test victory. They achieved this victory just in the next series in 1929-30 when they beat England only in their 6th test match at George Town by 289 runs in Feb: 1930. George Headley (114 & 112) scored century in each innings, G.A. Roach scored 209 and L.N. Constantine claimed 9 wickets. West Indies were led by M.P Femandes in this match.

Scores: West Indies 471 & 290 England 145 & 327.

INDIA FEB: 6-10 1952 MADRAS

India played their First test match in June 1932 but had to wait for almost 20 years to win their first test at Madras against England on Feb: 10, 1952 by an innings and 8 runs. Vinno Mankad Claimed 12 for 132, Poly Umrigar (130) and Pankhaj Roy (111) scored centuries as India scored 457-9 declared and England were restricted to 266 and 183 in the two innings. India were led by V.S Hazare this historic victory.

PAKISTAN OCT, 23-26’ 1952 LUCKNOW

Pakistan were admitted as ICC member on 28th July 1952 and played their inaugural test series against India in 1951-52. They lost their inaugural match at New Dehli but came back strongly to win the next at Lacknow by an innings and 43 runs. The victory was architected by Fazal Mahmood's 12 for 94 and Nazar Mohammad's unbeaten 124 who carried his bat in Pakistan innings score of 331 and India scored 106 & 182. Pakistan were led by A.H. Kardar in this match.

NEW SEALAND MARCH 9-13 1955 AUCKLAND

New Zeland so far has taken the longest span of time (26 years) to achieve their first test victory since their entry in test cricket in 1930. After their long sufferings John Reid led them to victory over the visiting West Indians at Auckland by 190 runs in the forth Test of the series played from 9-3, March, 1955. John Reid scored 84 in Newzeland’s first innings of 255 West Indies scored lowly 145 & 77 as Henry Cave claimed 8 cheap wickets against 43 runs.

SRI LANKA 6-11 SEPTEMBER 1985 COLOMBO

Sri Lanka elected as full member of ICC on 1st July 1981 played their first Test match against Pakistan in February 1982. They took nearly three and half years to claim their first test victory when they beat India by 149 runs in the mach played at Colombo from 6 to 11 September 1985. LRD Mendies led Sri Lanka. Man of the match wicket keeper Amal Silva scored 111 and Roy Dias 95 and 60 Not-out, Ratnayake took 9 for 130.

Scores: Sri Lanka 385 & 206 for Declared India 244 & 198.

ZIMBABWE JAN 31ST - FEB: 4 - 1995 HARARE

Zimbabwe elected as full member of ICC on 18 July 1992 played their first test match (against India) at Harare in 1992-1993. They eventually recorded their first test victory at the same venue in 1994-95 season when they out played visiting Pakistan team by an innings and 64 runs.

Andy Flower led Zimbabwe in this historic match.

Scores: Zimbabwe 554 for 4 declared (G.W. Flower 201 not-out- A. Flower 156) - GC. Whittal 113 Pakistan 325 (H. Streak 6/90) and 158.

BANGLADESH - 5 - 9, JAN, 2005, CHITTAGONG

Bangladesh played their first test (against India) in November 2000 but it took the youngest test playing nation a little over 4 years to have a taste of victory after 31 defeats and three draws. Man of the match 18 years old spinner Enamul Haque claimed 6 for 45 and Zimbabwe collapsed to 154 in the second innings. Earlier Bangladesh had scored 488 and 204 for 9 declared. Zimbabwe scored 312 in the first. Habib-ul-Bashar Captained Baangladesh in this historic triumph by 226 runs at Chittagong.

SUMMARY

Team	Year	Venue	V/S	Captain
Australia	1876-1877	Melbourne	England	Dave Gregory
England	1876-1877	Melbourne	Australia	James Lilly White
South Africa	1905-1906	Johannesburg	England	P.A. Sherwell
West Indies	1929-1930	George Town	England	M.P. Fernandez
India	1951-1952	Madras	England	V.S Hazare
Pakistan	1952-1953	Lucknow	India	A.H. Kardar
New Zealand	1954-1955	Auckland	West Indies	John Ried
Sri Lank	1985-1986	Colombo	India	LRD Mendis
Zimbabwe	1994-1995	Harare	Pakistan	Andy Flower
Bangladesh	2004-2005	Chittagong	Zimbabwe	Habib-ul-Bashar

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2006 smyaserrafique@yahoo.com)