What is a test?

1

1 Answers

Tim Cook Profile
Tim Cook answered

As a sports fan, when I hear the word 'test,' I always think of a contest between two senior international sides in certain types of sport. There are three types of sport that describe such matches as 'tests.'

Cricket is the sport perhaps best known for test matches. What is now recognised as the first test match took place between England and Australia in March 1877. 

In addition to these two nations, the International Cricket Board acknowledges eight other countries as having 'test status:' South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the West Indies (a confederation of various Caribbean states), Zimbabwe and Bangladesh (also, Ireland hopes to attain test status within the next ten years). Any cricket match of a possible five day length played between these countries at full senior level is known as a 'test match.' The word 'test' to comes from such a long match being a test of each team's fitness and abilities. 

Answering This Question Could Be Considered A Test!

The two other sports which organize test matches are rugby league and rugby union. As far as rugby union is concerned, the rules as less strict and more voluntary than in cricket, and awarding test status on matches is left up to the individual countries involved, meaning matches involving teams (often youth teams) that do not represent recognised sovereign states can be awarded test status. 

In rugby league however, the situation regarding test matches is similar to that of cricket; as long as the nations involved are part of the Rugby League International Federation, a match between those two states is known as a test match.

Why not watch some highlights of the first test match between England and Australia from their 2013 series?

Answer Question

Anonymous