Andrew Greenwood
A Yorkshire cricketer who stepped onto the field for England's very first Test matches, helping to forge the sport's international tradition.
1847–1889 (age 42)·English cricketer·Birthday: August 20
Biography
Andrew Greenwood's life was rooted in the industrial town of Huddersfield, where he honed a gritty, determined style of cricket. He debuted for Yorkshire in 1869, becoming a mainstay of a formidable county side during a period when the rules of professional cricket were still being written. His solid performances earned him a historic call-up: he was selected for the English team that faced Australia in the inaugural Test match at Melbourne in 1877, and again for the second Test. These matches, only later recognized as the official birth of Test cricket, place him among the sport's foundational figures. His career was cut short by illness, and he died in his hometown at just 41, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneer of the international game.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1847
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1847Born
1852Started school
1860Became a teenager
1863Could drive
President: Abraham Lincoln
1865Could vote
President: Andrew Johnson
1868Turned 21
President: Andrew Johnson
1877Turned 30
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1887Turned 40
President: Grover Cleveland
1889Died at 42
Eiffel Tower opens in Paris
President: Benjamin Harrison
Key Achievements
- Selected to play for England in the first-ever Test match against Australia in Melbourne, 1877.
- Played in the first two recognized Test matches in cricket history.
- Was a professional cricketer for Yorkshire County Cricket Club for over a decade, from 1869 to 1880.
Did You Know?
He was born, lived, and died in the same town: Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire.
The first Test match he played in was not officially called a 'Test' at the time; the term was applied retrospectively.
He played his entire first-class career for a single county club, Yorkshire.
“A straight bat and a stubborn defense win matches on difficult pitches.”
