when was the longest match of cricket played
Timeless Test There were 99 timeless Tests between 1877 and 1939.[1] The last was the Fifth Test between England and South Africa at Durban in 1939,[2] which was abandoned as a draw after nine days of play spread over twelve days, otherwise the England team would have missed the boat for home.[3] This match had started on 3 March. South Africa had set a target of 696 for England to win. By the time England had to leave to catch their boat home, on 14 March, England had reached 654 for 5 (the highest ever first-class fourth innings score).[4] This is the longest Test cricket match on record. The match had not been expected to take more than five days, but rain and rolling rejuvenated the pitch three times during the match, and it was still in good condition for batting when the match was abandoned.[5]
History of cricket in India to 1918 The first definite reference to cricket being played anywhere in the sub-continent is a report of English sailors of the East India Company written in 1737. It refers to cricket being played at Cambay, near Baroda in 1721. The Calcutta Cricket and Football Club was known to be in existence by 1792, but was possibly founded more than a decade earlier. In 1799, another club was formed at Seringapatam in south India after the successful British siege and the defeat of Tipu Sultan.