The first ever cricket test match was played between Australia and England on 15, 16, 17 and 19 March 1877, at Melbourne, Australia. Australia won the match by 45 runs. A hundred years later, England visited Australia to play the centenary match from 12 to 17 March at Melbourne and lost by a similar margin. 45 runs! All past Ashes cricketers and royalty were present at the outstanding cricket and social occasion.
England put Australia in and shot them out for 138. The Aussies went one better by dismissing the Englishmen for 95. Thanks to a Rodney Marsh hundred, Australia piled up runs in the second innings and declared at 419 for 9, setting England to score 463 for a win.
With Derek Randall's brilliant 174 in the second innings of that test match, England were at one stage, 346 for 4. The England tail however could not hold on. After the great innings of Randall ended, 80,000 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket ground gave him a standing ovation. Moved by the enthusiastic acclamation, Randall - head down and bat raised - walked through the wrong gate. When he looked up, he found himself at the door to the royal box - not the dressing room. He was greeted, not by his captain, but by Prince Philip himself!