It consists of four innings (two per team), with a minimum of ninety overs scheduled to be bowled per day, making it the sport with the longest playing time.

The first definitive list of retrospective Tests was written by South Australian journalist Clarence P. Moody two years later and, by the end of the century, had gained acceptance.

Day/night Tests were permitted by the ICC in 2012 and the first day/night match was between Australia and New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval in November 2015.

Early international cricket was disrupted by the French Revolution and the American Civil War.

The earliest international cricket match was between the United States and Canada, on 24 and 26 September 1844 (bad weather prevented play on the 25th).

[5] Overseas tours by national English teams began in 1859 with visits to North America, Australia and New Zealand.

A surprise victory for Australia inspired a mock obituary of English cricket to be published in the Sporting Times the following day: the phrase "The body shall be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia" prompted the subsequent creation of the Ashes urn.

South Africa became the third team to play Test cricket in 1888–89, when they hosted a tour by an under-strength England side.

Australia, England and South Africa were the only countries playing Test cricket before World War I.

The term "test match" was coined during the English tour of Australia in 1861–62 but in a different context.

No South African matches were included in Moody's list but three against England were also given retrospective Test status.

Following the D'Oliveira affair in 1969, South Africa was suspended from all forms of cricket from 1970 until the end of the apartheid regime in 1991.

[11] The ICC has made several proposals to reform the system of granting Test status, including having two tiers with promotion and relegation,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] or a play-off between the winners of the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the team with the lowest Test ranking.

There have been exceptional circumstances including the simultaneous England touring sides of 1891–92 (in Australia and South Africa) and 1929–30 (in the West Indies and New Zealand), all of whose international matches are deemed to have Test status.

The series of "Test matches" played in Australia between Australia and a World XI in 1971–72, and the commercial "Supertests" organised by Kerry Packer as part of his World Series Cricket enterprise played between "WSC Australia", "WSC World XI" and "WSC West Indies" from 1977 to 1979, have never been regarded as official Test matches as of 2021.

However, the times of sessions and intervals may be altered in certain circumstances: if bad weather or a change of innings occurs close to a scheduled break, the break may be taken immediately; if there has been a loss of playing time, for example because of bad weather, the session times may be adjusted to make up the lost time; if the batting side is nine wickets down at the scheduled tea break, then the interval may be delayed until either 30 minutes has elapsed or the team is all out;[20] the final session may be extended by up to 30 minutes if 90 or more overs have not been bowled in that day's play (subject to any reduction for adverse weather);[21] the final session may be extended by 30 minutes (except on the 5th day) if the umpires believe the result can be decided within that time.

[29] There have been attempts by the ICC, the sport's governing body, to introduce day-night Test matches.

[30] In 2012, the International Cricket Council passed playing conditions that allowed for the staging of day-night Test matches.

The roughened, softer surface of an old ball can be more conducive to spin bowlers, or those using reverse swing.

The captain may delay the decision to take the new ball if he wishes to continue with his spinners (because the pitch favours spin).

A Test match will produce a result by means of one of six scenarios: Traditionally cricketers play in all-white kit.

Often there is a perpetual trophy that is awarded to the winner, the most famous of which is the Ashes contested between England and Australia.

After years of delays since proposals began in 2009, a league competition for Test cricket was held in 2019–2021.

Ireland, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are not taking part in this competition, but instead play a program of Test matches with each other and other teams during the same period.