Australia honour 199 living Test cricketers

SYDNEY: The Australian Cricket Board are to honour the country’s 199 living Test cricketers at a special function in Sydney today.

They will each receive a commemorative baggy green cap and an official Test number, recognising each individual’s place in the list of players to have represented Australia. “The 385 players who have worn the baggy green cap have collectively contributed to a sporting tradition that in turn has helped develop our distinctive Australian national culture,” said ACB chief executive James Sutherland. Bill Brown, who made his debut against England at Trent Bridge in 1934, is Australia’s oldest surviving Test player. His commemorative cap will carry the number 150 while Queensland batsman Martin Love will be 385 following his first appearance against England last winter.

“The foundations of the game today and the commercial success that it now enjoys are a direct result of the efforts and achievements of all players who have earned the right to wear the baggy green,” said Tim May, head of the Australian Cricketers Association. “This function represents an ideal opportunity to not only recognise those players who have contributed to Test cricket’s great history, but also to remind us of the depth of such foundations.” Australia recently beat West Indies 3-1 in the Caribbean to confirm their place as the world’s top Test side. Steve Waugh’s team will return to action next month for two home Tests against Bangladesh. It will be the first time Test cricket has been played in the northern Australian cities of Darwin and Cairns.