Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 08:57:29 +1000
Subject: Re: The etymology of "test" cricket?


Not sure if it deals with the subject in this level of detail but Simon
Gikandi's Maps of Englishness opens wth a very good discussion of
cricket (esp. World Series) in the conext of colonization and
decolonization. 

Ajaa69-AT-aol.com wrote:
> 
> Dear list members:
> 
> I am writing an essay on cricket and imperialism and I was wondering
> if you
> could
> help me understand the origins of the word "test match." My sense of
> it is
> that
> the MCC created the term at a time (early 1880s, perhaps just prior to
> 1882)
> when they considered the Australians as inferior to themselves. Hence
> the
> latter were subject to "tests" of their cricketing prowess, which, of
> course,
> represented development in other facets of colonial life. Now this is
> an
> informed guess. It is also possible that a "test match" was supposed
> to gauge
> or "test" the skill level of each player.
> 
> I have read a great deal on cricket (Sandiford, Stoddart, Altham and
> Swanton,
> etc.) but have found nothing on the origins of this term. Any help
> would be
> most appreciated.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Ajaa


-- 
Denise Cuthbert
Associate Dean (Graduate Studies)
Faculty of Arts
PO Box 11 A
Monash University
Victoria 3800
Australia

Phone:  613 990 52116
Fax:      613 990 51497


     --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---