Top 20 lowest team totals in test match innings
Test matches are known for batsmen’s consistency and temperament thus often considered to be high scoring games. The freedom of playing unlimited overs gives the batsmen enough time to get settled and then pile up a great inning helping the team set up a big total. However on the other hand being too much defensive at times creates troubles for the batsmen as well. Similarly, bowlers being loaded with some exceptional skills particularly meant for the classic version of cricket i.e. test cricket create huge troubles in batsmen’s way of piling up the bigger total. Thus often leading a side to crumble to the minute number of runs. Lowest team totals in test match inning is the tale of the like sides who in spite of being super strong on papers, failed to put up a notable total.
Unwanted it may be, however somehow these sides have managed to pen their names in the cricket history books as well. The lowest team totals in test match inning feat belongs to New Zealand. The Kiwi side who is now considered to be a top test side was grounded down by the English bowlers to a mere 26 at Eden Park back in March 1955. Being dismissed for 200 in their first inning, New Zealand were not out of the game however what came next proved to be nightmare for them. Bert Sutcliffe was the only Kiwi batsman to have crossed the double figure mark scoring 11 runs. Five of the New Zealand batsmen were booked on a duck as the English bowler did not give away any extras.
Interestingly, South Africa the side commonly known as the chockers of mega events, features for most of the numbers in lowest team totals in test match inning. Protease fire power was iced down on just 30 runs twice by England, their worst ever record in test match history. English side itself has fallen to some of the lowest team totals in test matches however on the contrary English bowlers have been involved in most number of lowest totals in test match’s history. Almost same case is with Australia bowling their oppositions to the numbers they even don’t want to remember. Top 20 lowest team totals in test match innings list goes down as under;
Top 20 lowest team totals in test match inning
Team | Score | Opposition | Venue | Match Date |
New Zealand | 26 | England | Auckland | 25 Mar 1955 |
South Africa | 30 | England | Port Elizabeth | 13 Feb 1896 |
South Africa | 30 | England | Birmingham | 14 Jun 1924 |
South Africa | 35 | England | Cape Town | 1 Apr 1899 |
South Africa | 36 | Australia | Melbourne | 12 Feb 1932 |
Australia | 36 | England | Birmingham | 29 May 1902 |
New Zealand | 42 | Australia | Wellington | 29 Mar 1946 |
Australia | 42 | England | Sydney | 10 Feb 1888 |
India | 42 | England | Lord’s | 20 Jun 1974 |
South Africa | 43 | England | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 |
Australia | 44 | England | The Oval | 10 Aug 1896 |
South Africa | 45 | Australia | Melbourne | 12 Feb 1932 |
England | 45 | Australia | Sydney | 28 Jan 1887 |
New Zealand | 45 | South Africa | Cape Town | 2 Jan 2013 |
England | 46 | West Indies | Port of Spain | 25 Mar 1994 |
New Zealand | 47 | England | Lord’s | 19 Jun 1958 |
South Africa | 47 | England | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 |
West Indies | 47 | England | Kingston | 11 Mar 2004 |
Australia | 47 | South Africa | Cape Town | 9 Nov 2011 |
Pakistan | 49 | South Africa | Johannesburg |
1 Feb 2013 |