On 31 May 1929 the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's voted to grant New Zealand full Test status, making it the fifth Test-playing nation. The first New Zealand Test was scheduled for January 1930 against MCC at Christchurch — the formal admission of a country whose 1927 tour of England had impressed observers across the counties.
New Zealand cricket had been organised under the New Zealand Cricket Council since 1894. The 1927 tour of England had impressed observers; the granting of Test status in 1929 was the formal admission. The MCC sent a side under Harold Gilligan in late 1929; the first Test was at Christchurch in January 1930.
New Zealand had been playing first-class cricket since 1864 and had toured England in 1927 with strong results, defeating Worcestershire and pushing several other counties. The Imperial Cricket Conference granted New Zealand Test status at its 1929 meeting, and the first Test was scheduled for January 1930 against an MCC side led by Harold Gilligan (younger brother of Arthur).
The first Test at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, was a four-day match. New Zealand, captained by Tom Lowry (who had played for Cambridge and Somerset before returning home), won the toss and were bowled out for 112 — Maurice Allom's hat-trick in only his second Test over featured among debutants on either side. England replied with 181 (Hammond — actually not on this tour — was absent; Hendren absent; the side was decidedly second-string). New Zealand made 131 in their second innings; England knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets.
The series was four Tests, three of which were drawn — New Zealand losing only the first. Stewie Dempster's 136 in the second Test at Wellington, partnered by Jackie Mills's 117, was the first New Zealand century stand and made up the highest opening partnership for the country (276) for over 60 years. New Zealand's losing 0-1 record meant the series went to MCC, but the Test status had been justified.
1929: New Zealand granted Test status by Imperial Cricket Conference
10 Jan 1930: First Test begins at Lancaster Park, Christchurch
New Zealand 112 in first Test innings
Maurice Allom takes hat-trick on debut
England win by 8 wickets; series ends 1-0 to MCC with three drawn
1929
New Zealand granted Test status
10 Jan 1930
First Test begins at Christchurch
13 Jan 1930
England win by 8 wickets
Feb 1930
Dempster 136 in second Test at Wellington
“We are a small nation but we have come to play against the best, and we have not been disgraced.”
Dempster's 136 at Wellington was the founding NZ Test hundred. Lowry's leadership of the side over the next two seasons, including a tour of England in 1931, established New Zealand as a competitive Test nation. Their first Test win came only in 1956 against the West Indies.
Christchurch January 1930 was the foundational Test of New Zealand cricket — a heavy first-Test defeat redeemed across the rest of the series by a young, league-experienced side that proved capable of holding its own at the highest level.
The 1929-30 series was the founding chapter of New Zealand Test cricket. Maurice Allom's hat-trick on debut was the second instance in Test history. Stewie Dempster averaged 65.72 in his Test career — still among the highest by any New Zealander.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.