Five Lowest Innings Totals in Test Cricket History: Red-ball cricket is undoubtedly one of the most competitive formats even in a generation when T20 Cricket is the most popular. Test cricket has witnessed all sorts of records being broken and created. Records created by batters, bowlers and fielders in test cricket have been broken after every generation.
In this piece, we discuss the lowest innings totals registered by five teams in an innings in the history of test cricket in the longer format. If a batting team posts a big score then the batters of that team are credited while when a bowling team bowls out a batting team cheaply the credit for this goes to the bowlers of the bowling. There have been instances when bowlers have dominated with some brilliant bowling and in this piece, we take a look at five of those instances in detail.
Five Lowest Innings Totals in Test Cricket History
- New Zealand 26 all out vs England in 1955
- South Africa 30 all out vs England in 1896
- South Africa 30 all out vs England in 1924
- South Africa 35 all out vs England in 1899
- South Africa 36 all out vs Australia in 1932
1. New Zealand 26 all out vs England in 1955 in Auckland, New Zealand-
England toured New Zealand in 1955. During the second test at Auckland, New Zealand scored 200 in the first innings while England was bowled out for 246 in their first innings.
New Zealand were bowled out for just 26 in the second innings as England medium-pacer Robert Appleyard took 4 wickets while another fast bowler Brian Statham took 3/9. Both England pacers destroyed the New Zealand batting lineup. The Three Lions won the match by an innings and 20 runs.
2. South Africa 30 all out vs England in 1896 at Port Elizabeth, South Africa –
During the 1st test at Port Elizabeth when England toured South Africa, England batted first and were all out for 185 in the first innings. South Africa were bowled out for 93 in their first innings.
England scored 226 in their second innings on a difficult wicket that aided bounce and pace. South Africa while chasing a target of 319 was bowled out for just 30 runs. England’s pacer George Lohmann bowled with tremendous pace and accuracy claiming 8 wickets. he registered figures of 7/8 in the second innings and took 15 wickets in the entire game helping England win the match by 288 runs.
3. South Africa 30 all out vs England in 1924 at Birmingham, England-
South Africa toured England in 1924 and had a difficult time when they lost the five-match series 3-0. In the first test, England scored 438 runs in the first innings while the Proteas were bowled out for 30 as all-rounder Arthur Gilligan registered figures of 7/6 and shot out the South African batting order with his pace and swing.
South Africa were allowed to follow on in the second innings and were bowled out for 390. England won by an innings and 18 runs in that test.
4. South Africa 35 all out vs England in 1899, Cape Town, South Africa-
England dominated the two-match test series when they toured South Africa in 1899 by winning the test series 2-0. In the first England batted first but were bowled out for just 92. South Africa managed to get a lead of 85 after scoring 177. The Three Lions made a strong comeback in the second innings when their batters adjusted to the pace of the wicket well scoring 330.
England bowlers bowled brilliantly and bowled out South Africa for 35 helping the team win by 210 runs. England allrounder Schofield Haigh outgunned the South African batting lineup with his clever seam movement claiming 6/11.
5. South Africa 36 all out vs Australia in 1932, Melbourne, Australia-
Australia smashed the Proteas by winning the five-match test series 5-0 at home. South Africa were bowled out for 36 in the first innings as Australian left-arm orthodox spinner Herbert Ironmonger claimed 5/6.
South Africa was bowled out for 45 in the second innings as Ironmonger caused problems for the South African batters claiming 6/18 and helping his team win by an innings and 72 runs.
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