WI vs AUS: Top 5 Lowest Totals in Test Cricket

Top 5 Lowest Totals in Test Cricket: Since its inception over a century ago, Test cricket has seen many highs and lows. This also applies to the scores made in these five-day behemoth matches. One of the most unique sporting formats in the world has seen some peculiar score sheets. Today, we will discuss some of the weirdest.

This list will chart the lowest Test scores of all time. From the inception of international Test match cricket approximately 150 years ago to the present, the sport has undergone significant changes. From amateur players from Australia and South Africa competing against a dominant England side in the 1800s to the present day, with several strong teams on the global stage, this list encompasses matches from various eras of the sport.

Here are the top 5 lowest totals in Test cricket. The list includes matches from the 19th century, the early 20th century, and the most recent Test match to date.

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Top 5 Lowest Totals in Test Cricket

5) South Africa: 35/10 vs England (Cape Town – 1899)

At the time this two-match series was played, England’s tour to South Africa was not considered a Test tour. These matches were retrospectively designated as Tests. After a defeat in the first match, South Africa took a massive 185-run lead after the first inning.

But then, the English made 330 runs in the third inning, giving the Proteas a 246-run target. In response, the entire side was bowled out for 35 runs, losing the game by 210 runs.

This match at Cape Town is South Africa’s first of many appearances on this list, all of which come from an era of uncertainty for professional cricket in the country.

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4) South Africa: 30/10 vs England (Birmingham – 1924)

This was a more prominent series in the history of these two nations. This time, South Africa toured England for a five-match series. The first match of the series, played at Edgbaston in Birmingham, saw the home side bat first and make 438 runs.

In response, South Africa was bowled out for 30 in just 13 overs. This inning not only foreshadowed future events in the series, but it also marked the lowest total ever achieved on English soil.

England ended up winning this match by an inning and 18 runs and went on to win the series 3-0 after the last two games were interrupted by rain.

3) South Africa: 30/10 vs England (Gqeberha – 1896)

Yet another game that was retrospectively granted a Test status, the first match of England’s 1896 tour to South Africa is the oldest match on this list and was also the joint-lowest Test total for over half a century.

The first game of this three-match series was played at St. George’s Park in the city then called Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha. The game saw England bat first and take an 88-run lead. In their second inning, the Three Lions made 226 runs, giving the Proteas a 319-run target.

In response, the home side got out for 30, losing the match by 288 runs. The match was over within two days. The whole series was quite uncompetitive, with England winning all games by a fair margin.

2) West Indies: 27/10 vs Australia (Kingston – 2025)

The newest match on this list is a record breaker. For some context, Australia’s ongoing tour to the West Indies first saw the two teams compete in a three-match Test series. Despite massive margins to win for the Aussies in the first two matches, both games, at one point in time, hung in the balance.

However, the third match at Sabina Park in Kingston wasn’t so. After conceding 225 runs while bowling first, the Windies fell behind by 82 runs. Then, in the third, the Kangaroos made 121, with the home side needing 204 runs to win the match and avoid a whitewash.

Instead, they lost three wickets without even scoring a run. Half of the team had returned to the pavilion for just seven runs. By the time 11 runs were made and six wickets had fallen in just five overs, the tailenders started coming in. Justin Greaves was the team’s highest run scorer with 11, as the whole side was bowled out for 27, with seven batters scoring a duck.

Not only is this the lowest Test score in 70 years, but it is also the lowest against a non-English side. Scott Boland took a hat-trick in the first over of the game, while Mitchell Starc took the fastest fifer in Test history, doing so in just 15 balls. While this is beyond humiliating for the West Indies, they avoided making the lowest total in a Test match, a record that still stands with –

1) New Zealand: 26/10 vs England (Auckland – 1955)

England was on a massive tour to South Asia and Australia in 1954-55. This was going to end with a two-match Test series in New Zealand against the Kiwis. The first match of the series saw the hosts lose by eight wickets. But it was the second and final Test of this series that was to go down in the history books.

After the English took a 46-run lead in the first innings after batting second, New Zealand had to take a decent lead in the third innings. Instead, they were bowled out for 26. Opener Bert Sutcliffe made 11 runs, while five batters scored a duck.

This broke the over 50-year-old record of being the lowest score ever in a Tet match and has stood firm as the record for 70 years now, coming very close to being breached recently.