On January 11, 1930 history was made when England managed to play two tests on two different sides of the world on the same day - That has not happened again since that series and is almost certain never to happen again.
On January 10th 1930: The test between England and New Zealand started
On 11th January 1930: A test between England and West Indies started
(and again) On Feb 21, 1930: A test match was started between England and New Zaealnd & England West Indies
STATS of England and New Zealand on 10th Jan
STATS of England and West Indies on 11th Jan
It happened because ICC wanted to promote cricket in smaller countries and when they asked England's board they agreed to send two different teams - one in New Zealand and one in West Indies.
But due to the time difference both the English teams were never seen in action at the same time. By the time play was started on the second day in West Indies, the match was already over in New Zealand and before their was rain. But in the test match started on 21st Feb the second day in New Zealand - February 22, 1930 - the start of play coincided with the last session of the first day's play in the Caribbean (where it was still February 21st).
So that was a time when the same country was playing test cricket simultaneously for less than two hours - Something which will never happen again
On January 10th 1930: The test between England and New Zealand started
On 11th January 1930: A test between England and West Indies started
(and again) On Feb 21, 1930: A test match was started between England and New Zaealnd & England West Indies
STATS of England and New Zealand on 10th Jan
Fri, 10 Jan | - day 1 - England 1st innings 147/4 (GB Legge 35*, MS Nichols 10*) |
Sat, 11 Jan | - day 2 - no play |
Sun, 12 Jan | - rest day |
Mon, 13 Jan | - day 3 - England 2nd innings 66/2 (18.5 ov) - end of match |
STATS of England and West Indies on 11th Jan
Sat, 11 Jan | - day 1 - West Indies 1st innings 338/8 (LA Walcott 7*, HC Griffith 5*) |
Sun, 12 Jan | - rest day |
Mon, 13 Jan | - day 2 - England 1st innings 233/2 (A Sandham 111*, EH Hendren 64*) |
Tue, 14 Jan | - day 3 - West Indies 2nd innings 46/1 (CA Roach 29*, GA Headley 16*) |
Wed, 15 Jan | - day 4 - West Indies 2nd innings 326/4 (GA Headley 157*, JED Sealy 5*) |
Thu, 16 Jan | - day 5 - England 2nd innings 167/3 (65 ov) - end of match |
It happened because ICC wanted to promote cricket in smaller countries and when they asked England's board they agreed to send two different teams - one in New Zealand and one in West Indies.
But due to the time difference both the English teams were never seen in action at the same time. By the time play was started on the second day in West Indies, the match was already over in New Zealand and before their was rain. But in the test match started on 21st Feb the second day in New Zealand - February 22, 1930 - the start of play coincided with the last session of the first day's play in the Caribbean (where it was still February 21st).
So that was a time when the same country was playing test cricket simultaneously for less than two hours - Something which will never happen again