Cricket Timeline
1877- Australia compete in their first ever Test Match
- vs England
- Held at the MCG
- Australia won by 45 runs
1882- The death of English cricket is proclaimed
- Claimed to be the death of English Cricket because they could not chase down the score of 85 in a test match verses Australia.
- It was also stated that the "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.“
- Known as the Ashes this series would be the start of one of the greatest rivalries in all of sport.
1882/83- First Ashes series ever played.
- England won the first series 2-1 (3 match series)
- The rivalry hasn't and will never end
1890-1914-The golden age of Australian cricket
- Australia produced many fine bowlers, batters and all-rounders
- It lifted the game of cricket considerably above other sports at the time
- When Victor Trumper made his name
- Victor Trumper was considered the best batsman during his time
During the golden age
- 1892- Australian Cricket Council is formed
- 1892/93- First Sheffield Shield competition held
- 1905- Australian Board of Control for International Cricket forms
1930-48-The Bradman Era
Donald Bradman is considered the greatest batsmen of all time.
- batting avg of 99.94 is considered to be the greatest achievement in any sport
By the end of his career he held numerous records
- Highest score (334 vs England)
- Most no. of runs (6996)
- Most no. of centuries (29)
- The most double centuries, greatest test and first-class batting avg
- He was knighted in 1949 and his considered one of Australia’s greatest sporting heroes.
During the Bradman Era
1932/33- The Bodyline Series
- Most infamous series of cricket ever.
- Batsmen were injured because they didnt have helmets
- Caused riots and escalated into a diplomatic problem between Australia and England
- The bodyline tactics were banned after the series
During the Bradman Era
1934/5- The Australian’s women cricket team plays their first Test match
- Since then Australia’s womens cricket team has vastly improved. They take part in all 3 formats of the game
- There is even an Ashes series between the Australian and English women's cricket teams
1938-45-No cricket is played by Australia due to WW2
- Just like WW1, WW2 brought cricket to a stand-still.
- Some international cricket went to fight in the war with some not returning
1948- Team led by Donald Bradman become known as the 'Invincibles'
- First Test side to go undefeated in a tour of England
- Known as one of the greatest cricket teams of all time.
- The Australian claimed the team "is one of Australia's most cherished sporting legends“
1960/61- Australia and West Indies play the first ever tied test match
- 1st tied test in 84 years
- Have only ever been two tied tests ever
- With 1 over (8 balls) to go Australia needed 6 runs with 3 wickets in hand.
- The over went 1, Wicket, 0, 1, 1, 2 and a Wicket, Wicket
1970/71- Australia play their first ever ODI
- Held at the MCG Australia defeated England by 5 wickets in a 40 over match.
- Eng 10/190 (39.4 overs) def by. Aus 5/191 (34.6 overs)
- First of 773 ODI's
1975-2007 Australia's dominance in the world cup
- In the first world cup Australia were the runners up
- Since then Australia has won 4 world cups.
- This is the most by any nation
- They won in 87, 99, 03 and in 07
1977- Centenary Test vs England
- Played at the MCG just like the first test 100 years ago
- Australia won the first test in in 1877 as well as the 1977 centenary test by 45 runs
- Only two nations to play a centenary test
1977-79 World Series of Cricket
- organised by Kerry Packer for his Australian television network, Nine Network.
- The matches ran in opposition to established international cricket.
- World Series Cricket drastically changed the nature of cricket, and its influence continues to be felt today.
- Australia, West Indies and the World XI were the only teams
1981- Underarm bowling incident
- With 6 needed off 1 ball to the match, Australian captain Greg Chappell instructed his brother and fellow team mate, Trevor Chappell, to bowl the ball underarm and along the ground. This was to prevent a six being hit
- Seen as very unsportsmanlike.
- Richie Benaud described this as "one of the worst things I have ever seen done on a cricket field."
2004/05- Australia play their first ever T20
- Australia (5/214)Vs New Zealand (10/170)
- Australia won by 44 runs
- First of 43 twenty20's
2005- Australia lose to England 2-1
- Lose for the first time since 1986/87
- First of 3 Ashes series losses by Ricky Ponting. The most ever by any Ashes captain
2006/07- Australia win Ashes 5-0
- After lossing the 05 series the Ashes series returned to Australia
- Australia dominated every match
- The first clean sweep by either team since the 1920/21 Ashes series
References
http://cricket.com.au
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_cricket_team
http://www.abcofcricket.com/A_Legend_Is_Born/a_legend_is_born.htm
http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/bradman-era/
http://www.southernstars.org.au/
http://www.espncricinfo.com/
plus the two youtube videos which i cant link properly without fault
1914-1920- No cricket is played by Australia due to WW1
- During WW1 cricket came to a halt
- Some international cricketers went to fight in the war with some not returning
- This was also the end of the Golden Age of Australian cricket