<P> The first officially recognised Test match began on 15 March 1877 and ended on 19 March 1877 and was played between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ( MCG ) , where Australia won by 45 runs . A Test match to celebrate 100 years of Test cricket was held in Melbourne from 12 to 17 March 1977 , in which Australia beat England by 45 runs -- the same margin as that first Test . </P>
when was the first test cricket match played
began on 15 March 1877 and ended on 19 March 1877