On the BBC World Service, the sports (or “sport” ;^) ) broadcasts generally include info about cricket “test matches.” At first, I assumed a test match was like a scrimmage or a pre-season game: fun to watch, but it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. But some of these test matches sound like they are pretty serious – almost like playoff games.
So I’m turning to the teeming millions. What exactly is a “test match?”
-alan
A Test Match is:
A game of cricket played between international teams representing countries where those countries have attained full membership status of the ICC(International Cricket Council)
Only 10 countries have full membership status
The game (Match) is of the traditional 5-day format
A ‘Match’ is part of a ‘Series’ (of Test matches). A Series may last for any number of Matches but the usual length nowadays is between 3 and 5 Matches. He who wins most Matches in the Series is the winner.
In other words, it’s the ultimate level of competition within the sport.
Sheesh, playoff games are between club teams in a domestic competition, Test matches are international. Think of a baseball All-Stars series game between US, Cuba, Japan etc with the winner to be called the real World Champions. 
BTW L_C, it’s good to know the Poms still think of Tests as lasting 5 days … it’s been a while since we played one of those against you ;). Am looking forward to the Ashes series, and expecting it to be competitive.
My dear Woolly, I believe you are going to most unpleasantly surprised. I’m afraid the Aussie era has reached its twilight years and The Ashes are about to return to their rightful place (metaphorically speaking, of course). Feel free to compare and contrast your experiences in the sub continent this past winter with ours.
The Poms are back !
'Tis true, 'tis very true … the Indian summer that was not to be … though it took an innings of monumental brilliance to swing the result.
And anyway, why wouldn’t the English cricket team be any good? … the magority have well learned their craft in the best cricket nurseries of Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Wales, West Indies etc. etc. Oh for those halcyon days of Yorkshire v Rest of the World!
I still remember once in London. I was sitting upstairs in a double-decker and behind me was a gentleman of West Indian persuasion listening to some sports commentary on the radio. When the, likewise, West Indian conductor came by my co-passenger said something like “listen to this” and there was much rejoicing (and I couldn’t here what it was all about).
In the evening I found out that Bangla Desh was in the process of beating the pulp out of England in a test match.