Timeless Test matches: Play until there's a result

By Peter Farrar / Roar Pro

A Test match without a final, fifth day’s play scheduled is hard to contemplate.

Imagine arriving at the first day’s play realising if the match was contested with slow batting, it could stretch well past the five days we are used to.

If you were planning to attend the Boxing Day Test, you’d be rationing out all those Christmas day leftovers as you considered if there was enough turkey and bread rolls to last you for a match that could extend beyond those five days.

Yet this is how Test matches were once played. From 1877 to 1939 Test matches were played until a match was won. (In Australia all Tests were played to these rules). If you could organise your holidays, there was the possibility of spending over a week at a Test match. Despite that many finished within the time we are used to now.

Timeless Test matches played havoc with schedules. At times a match had to be abandoned because players needed to be on a ship to travel to their next venue or return home. Another complexity was that in Australia pitches were left uncovered through the match, meaning conditions deteriorated severely through the game. When matches extended for long periods, the potential for bowlers and fielders in particular to be exhausted was a problem.

The long format enabled a few mammoth scores as well as some intriguing contests. One of the last timeless Tests played was between England and South Africa in 1939. It stretched from third March to 14th March. Having said that, fifth and 12th March were declared rest days.

Play on the eight day was also not possible. South Africa produced 530 runs over 202.6 overs. England responded with 316 from 117.6 overs. South Africa’s second innings tallied 481 from 142.1 overs. England’s reply was 5/654 from 218.2 overs, a credible run rate of three per over.

This left over 680 overs bowled. A marathon effort, considering overs included eight balls. At 90 overs a day, a current Test match could stretch to around 450 overs. You were wondering about the result of that 1939 match? After all that it was still a draw! (By agreement).

Cricket ball

It would be easy to assume that longer games constantly produced higher scores. Overall this wasn’t the case, although there is a peppering of large scores that occurred during timeless Test matches. But they weren’t unduly large by today’s standards.

There is a 600 score made by Australia against England over 149.5 overs in the second Test played in January 1925. That was a Test played over seven days. During December 1928 England scored 636 against Australia during 272.1 overs, a match lasting six days.

One especially high score is 695 made by the Australians against England, featuring Don Bradman making 232. The Australian total was scored over 256.1 overs. This was during August 1930, played at The Oval. It was a match of six days.

During April 1930 in the fourth Test at Sabina Park, England put together a handy 849, taking 258.2 overs. With a run rate over 3.0, it would have been an entertaining, if not lengthy knock. The match was declared a draw on the ninth day.

After all, England had a boat to catch. While the match was long, there were two days where conditions prevented play.

In 1938 a Test was played between England and Australia at The Oval, England. Play commenced on 20th August. Even though this was a timeless test, the match only went to 24th August. (21st August was a rest day). England scored 7/903.

Aside from a contribution from Len Hutton of 364, the match was also notable for being the highest innings score featuring a batsman out for a duck.

(Eddie Paynter being the culprit. Imagine how he must have felt!) So while at first glance this timeless Test produced a high score, play only lasted four days.

Timeless Tests ended in 1939 because of the impossibility of scheduling. It was in fact during that year the longest Test was played, between England and South Africa, mentioned earlier in this article.

After 43 hours and 16 minutes of play, the game was called off so England could catch that ship home. (Also leading to a final scheduled tour match being abandoned).

During the period of timeless Tests, touring teams to Australia had a number of tour matches scheduled, often taking them into country areas. It was difficult transporting teams to those matches without knowing when the Test match would end. Interestingly, tour matches were not played to a timeless format.

One element that timeless Tests lived up to was to achieve a result. Of the 100 Tests played, 96 provided a result.

In our current game, players may well feel they are contesting a timeless test. With Test matches so closely scheduled after each other, such as the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, it must seem at times one match stretches into the next.

At least with Test matches scheduled for five days, we can now be sure we can plan ahead to have enough sandwiches and leftovers to take along!

The Crowd Says:

2023-07-23T23:44:42+00:00

JohnnyRamen

Roar Rookie


Assuming you mean in the past, I think the answer is 'it depends'. It wasn't universal. I read an article about this recently that suggested that in Australia, by default at the time they were all endless, but that wasn't the case for others. So not sure, but I don't think the rule was universal in the earlier days.

2020-07-01T07:53:42+00:00

Mooty

Roar Rookie


You could be right, long time ago

2020-07-01T06:04:10+00:00

All day Roseville all day

Roar Guru


Australia v England playing hours in Australia, prior to 1986-87 (my reference book was published in 1986)- 1876-77 four days 1878-79 three days 1881-82 four days, could be extended if necessary (but final Test maximum four days) 1882-83 to 1936-37 to a finish (but 1891-92's final Test maximum six days) 1946-47 to 1958-59 six days (but in 1946-47 and 1950-51 final Test timeless if series not decided, and in 1954-55 final Test seven days if series not decided, and in 1958-59 final test eight days if series not decided and also weather interfered) 1965-66 to 1982-83 five days

2020-07-01T03:23:12+00:00

JGK

Roar Guru


No. Even I got board watching that Test on TV!

AUTHOR

2020-07-01T03:14:04+00:00

Peter Farrar

Roar Pro


Yes, well done. You were there? if I recall it was the only match of the series where England had a fairly strong chance.

2020-06-30T23:40:02+00:00

DaveJ

Roar Rookie


It’s not a bad idea Peter, or at least they could have six or seven days available. Six probably enough these days with faster scoring rates in tandem and also provisions to make up time lost to bad weather/light, something they didn’t have in the old days.

2020-06-30T23:32:16+00:00

DaveJ

Roar Rookie


I believe that’s correct, also for series in SA and Windies, hence those two cases in Peter’s article.

2020-06-30T23:30:54+00:00

DaveJ

Roar Rookie


Pretty sure it was officially a five-day match, certainly recorded that way. It had a rest day- maybe you’re thinking of that.

2020-06-30T10:49:04+00:00

Mark Scarfe

Roar Guru


I agree. This 3 day agreement premise is lost on me.

AUTHOR

2020-06-30T06:18:55+00:00

Peter Farrar

Roar Pro


Appreciate the comment Tim. As far as I can tell most timeless tests indeed did finish within a reasonable time. I don't know how many went beyond 5 days, would be interesting to know. During the period of timeless tests it may have been difficult to get away to a scheduled tour match if the game went beyond 5 days. I certainly don't suggest timeless tests are introduced although it would be interesting to use that format if a series was poised even. (Such as two sides having won one or two tests each).

2020-06-30T05:38:43+00:00

Anush

Roar Rookie


:thumbup: yeah

2020-06-30T04:42:55+00:00

JGK

Roar Guru


Pretty much the only good prediction I've ever made on The Roar - before lunch on Day 2 of that Test, Aust still batting: https://www.theroar.com.au/2017/12/27/ashes-boxing-day-test-live-scores-blog-australia-vs-england-day-2/?comment_id=6087881#comments-section

AUTHOR

2020-06-30T04:23:21+00:00

Peter Farrar

Roar Pro


What a great article. So many sub plots to the game. Someone appealing in their sleep! Another deciding he should marry the woman who had watched every ball! Even a reference to a cravat being worn. Not to mention 'ironic laughter.' While I was reading this I was thinking it's a television mini series waiting to be made.

AUTHOR

2020-06-30T04:11:00+00:00

Peter Farrar

Roar Pro


Quite right Anush. And that's why the format was eventually abandoned. Scheduling was pretty much impossible.

AUTHOR

2020-06-30T04:08:55+00:00

Peter Farrar

Roar Pro


Thanks Pope Paul. I did notice there were instances of 4 day tests played after timeless tests had ended so I don't think you're far off.

2020-06-30T03:16:47+00:00

Anush

Roar Rookie


If this happens boards and the teams could not plan and decide their schedule for the future. There is a risk of more injuries for players. So I think this 5-day format is the best format.

2020-06-30T02:54:37+00:00

All day Roseville all day

Roar Guru


Rain washed out play just after tea. The team got a warning during the interval, by ham radio, that a thunderstorm had broken 15 miles away. Batting team captain Hammond was asked to return the next morning, but refused. By then, everyone had stopped caring. Playing conditions allowed pitch rolling each morning if it had rained overnight, so each day's pitch just kept being rolled flatter and harder.

2020-06-30T02:50:01+00:00

JGK

Roar Guru


I seem to recall that between the wars in England, the last match of the series (inevitably at The Oval) were timeless if they were a deciding match.

2020-06-30T02:44:15+00:00

JGK

Roar Guru


The most extraordinary thing about that Durban Test was that England were only 40 odd runs short of chasing down nearly 700 to win. No other team has come close to chasing that sort of target before or since (indeed, there have only been a few chases slightly bigger than 400). You'd think somewhere along the line they might have stepped up the pace.

2020-06-30T02:39:54+00:00

Pope Paul VII

Roar Rookie


Tests in England were three day matches for a long time vs Australia, up to and including 1921. Then, they were 4 days up until WW2 unless otherwise designated. Meanwhile England continued to play 3 day test vs WI, India, SA, when hosting up until WW2. I’m not quite sure but I think tests in Aus vs WI, Ind, SA played 4 day tests ( plus rest day) up until 1947/48 but I could be wrong. Pakistan played a 4 day test in 1964/65 in Australia. NZ and Pakistan played a series of 4 day tests in 1973. I think Zimbabs and Bangers may have played 4 day tests. Again I might be wrong but I think the last test to go to the 6th day in Aus was vs India 1978. A series decider and a forgotten epic.

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