Top 20 shortest Test matches in cricket history
Let shortest test matches apart, shortest format of the game i.e. T20 is well known for its hasty nature. The modern day speedy game generates outputs in the shortest time possible. One of the main reasons for T20 format to be most popular among fans is its rapidity. People of the present era are out of time for activities like watching a whole day cricket game. With so much shortage of time these cricket lovers opt to go for the maximum amusement in the shortest possible time. And T20 cricket is the only remedy for their chaotic lifestyles. Although this is not the case all over the world. True cricket fans still enjoy hours of action going on between the best cricket teams. Even five day cricket games prove to be the most crowded sports events at times.
Test matches being the classiest version of game haven’t lost their charm despite the introduction of glitzy T20 format. As a matter of fact some test series grab much more crowd than a T20 format event. A jam-packed Ashes series between Australia and England is a glaring example of test cricket envy. And as for the duration of test matches, history has witnessed some of the shortest test matches. Sounds crazy because T20 games can be expected to be shortest considering its hurried nature but what is wrong with test cricket. A match destined to go through five days gets concluded on the very second day. The answer, we are living in a world where anything can happen now. A t20 match calculating over 450 runs and a test match getting done on day two, with a winner of course.
Usually test matches are spread over five days’ duration. A team has to play two innings with each day consisting of six hours of action or 90 overs bowled. Of course there are some exceptions in given situations as well. However the ordinary course of the game follows the same routine. So what about the shortest test matches? Actually these games were played out on some of the best cricket stadiums (for bowlers of course) who got rid of the opposition on day two eventually. No wonders these miracles are no more frequent now days. Most of these games coming to a finish on day two were played out between England and Australia, that too during late 1880s. Only on a few occasions a team has lost on day 2 in a test game after 2000.
The latest of the shortest test matches was recorded in 2005. New Zealand beat Zimbabwe on day 2 of the game played out at Harare. The other similar games detail is as under.
Top 20 shortest Test matches in cricket history (By days)
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Duration (days) | Winner | Venue | Date |
| England | Australia | 2 | Australia | The Oval | 28 Aug 1882 |
| England | Australia | 2 | Australia | Lord’s | 16 Jul 1888 |
| England | Australia | 2 | England | The Oval | 13 Aug 1888 |
| England | Australia | 2 | England | Manchester | 30 Aug 1888 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Port Elizabeth | 12 Mar 1889 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 |
| England | Australia | 2 | England | The Oval | 11 Aug 1890 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Port Elizabeth | 13 Feb 1896 |
| South Africa | England | 2 | England | Cape Town | 21 Mar 1896 |
| Australia | South Africa | 2 | Australia | Manchester | 27 May 1912 |
| England | South Africa | 2 | England | The Oval | 12 Aug 1912 |
| England | Australia | 2 | Australia | Nottingham | 28 May 1921 |
| Australia | West Indies | 2 | Australia | Melbourne | 13 Feb 1931 |
| South Africa | Australia | 2 | Australia | Johannesburg | 15 Feb 1936 |
| New Zealand | Australia | 2 | Australia | Wellington | 29 Mar 1946 |
| England | West Indies | 2 | England | Leeds | 17 Aug 2000 |
| Australia | Pakistan | 2 | Australia | Sharjah | 11 Oct 2002 |
| South Africa | Zimbabwe | 2 | South Africa | Cape Town | 4 Mar 2005 |
| Zimbabwe | New Zealand | 2 | New Zealand | Harare | 7 Aug 2005 |
