With all the Test cricket that has been played since 1877, still play has not taken place on every day of the year. No Test cricket has been played on May 9, 12, 13, 23, or 24 and most surprisingly on September 5. The 2002 English Test calendar will remedy one, the fourth Test against India starts on Sep 5. However the dates for the May Tests against Sri Lanka are May 16-20 and May 30-June 3.

Month         First Day          Month Completed
January      Jan  2, 1879         Jan  8, 1925
February     Feb 17, 1882         Feb 29, 1932
March        Mar 15, 1877         Mar 20, 1951
April        Apr  2, 1877         Apr 30, 1978
May          May 29, 1902
June         Jun 22, 1896         Jun  4, 1957
July         Jul 11, 1884         Jul 13, 1926
August       Aug 28, 1882         Aug  3, 1979
September    Sep  6, 1880
October      Oct 11, 1902         Oct  1, 1982
November     Nov  8, 1902         Nov  7, 1969
December     Dec 31, 1882         Dec 25, 1951

Obviously, there have been more days on which a Limited-overs International match has not been played. They are May 7, 8, 10, 11, and 13; June 26, 28 and 29; July 2, 21, 23, 27, 29, and 30; August 4, 10, and 21; September 10 and, surprisingly, December 29.

January      Jan  5, 1971         Jan 28, 1987
February     Feb 11, 1973         Feb 28, 1992
March        Mar 30, 1974         Mar 28, 1993
April        Apr 12, 1978         Apr 24, 1998
May          May 24, 1978
June         Jun  7, 1975
July         Jul 18, 1973
August       Aug 24, 1972
September    Sep  5, 1973
October      Oct 16, 1976         Oct  4, 1996
November     Nov  3, 1978         Nov 26, 1995
December     Dec 20, 1975

Combining the two lists, International cricket has been played on every day of the calendar year.

© Aslam Siddiqui