Flashback: The Test Match That Refused to End — Durban, 1939

Imagine a cricket match so long that it had no winner, only fatigue.
Travel back to March 1939, when South Africa hosted England at the Durban’s Kingsmead Ground for the final Test of a five-match series. It wasn’t just a Test — it became the longest first-class match ever played. A timeless Test… quite literally.

How long did it last?
-Duration: 10 playing days (3 rest days in between)
-Total days: 12
-Overs bowled: 683 (timeless match rules – no over limits)
-Result: Match drawn due to time constraints

Yes, it was a timeless Test, a concept back then where the game went on until a result was achieved. No draws due to bad light or time running out. But this one still ended… in a draw.

The Match Summary
-South Africa 1st innings: 530 (Bruce Mitchell 120, Dudley Nourse 103)
-England 1st innings: 316 (Hammond 136)
-South Africa 2nd innings: 481/8 declared
-England 2nd innings: 654/5 (Bill Edrich 219, Wally Hammond 140, Paul Gibb 120)

Yes, England batted for 218 overs in the final innings and still didn’t win.

So what happened? Why no result?

After 10 days of intense cricket and over 680 overs, England were well placed at 654/5, needing just 42 more runs to win.
But there was a problem…
Their ship home was scheduled to sail the next day from Cape Town. If they didn’t catch it, they’d miss their long journey back to England — this was before commercial flights or quick travel.
So with victory in sight, England had to abandon the match and settle for a draw. Imagine batting for 654 runs, dominating the chase… only to leave it unfinished because of a boat.

Why is this Test iconic?
-It ended the era of timeless Tests. After Durban 1939, the idea of playing forever until a result was deemed impractical.
-It holds records for:
-Longest match (time-wise)
-Most runs combined (1981) in a drawn Test
-Most overs bowled in a single match (683)

Legacy of the Marathon Match

This Test became a symbol of cricket’s old-world charm — patient, punishing, and unpredictable. It’s a reminder of how much the game has changed: from timeless Tests to five-day thrillers, pink balls, and WTC finals.
But Durban 1939 remains the match that proved one thing — even timeless games can run out of time.