Australia Philately: 1977 Test Cricket Centenary (1877-1977)

Details

Date of Issue: 19 March 1977
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer: Bruce Weatherhead
Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Process: Multicolour photogravure
Cylinders:
Paper: Shoalhaven KP6T paper unwatermarked coated stamp paper incorporating Helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: 14 x14.75 (comb)
Sheet:
Quantity:
- 5,150,000 (45c)

Subjects

18c Strip of five
45c Batsman and Keeper

Souvenir Pack

Test Cricket matches between England and Australia have their origins in a match played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th March 1877, between a visiting England team and a combined Victorian/New South Wales side. The three teams of Englishmen had visited Australia previously, but on this occasion the opposing teams were equal in numbers and the game heralded the playing of regular test matches (at that time, it was a common pratice to permit the weaker Australian teams to field up to 22 players against the English). To the surprise of all. the local team defeated the Englishmen by 45 runs, largely as a result of Charles Bannerman’s innings of 165 runs and two fine bowling performances by Midwinter (5 for 78) and Kendall (7 for 55). The confident colonials challenged their opponents to a return match. It was held a fortnight later and ended in England winning by four wickets. Exactly one hundred years later the 226th Test Match between England and Australia was played on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.