Test cricket is the ultimate challenge for a player, as one battles not only against oneself, one’s opponent, but also battle the forces of time and nature. There are plenty of factors that might affect the ultimate outcome of a match that are outside the control of the players, none more so than the playing conditions. Irrespective of how you prepare for a match, when you are out there for 5 days, you are at the mercy of nature.
Test cricket has taught us to take nothing for granted. India had just become the No. 1 ranked Test team after the 3rd Test against the West Indies and looked confident to retain that spot, with Virat Kohli stressing that the No. 1 spot matters a lot to him. However, destiny and a disasturous outfield at Port of Spain had other ideas. Rain curtailed the match and Pakistan were handed the No. 1 ranking.
Here, we look at the Top 10 shortest Test matches ever played in history. (by balls bowled)
10) India vs New Zealand, Chennai, 25 – 29 Oct 1995
After comprehensively overcoming the Kiwis at Bangalore, the players made the short journey to Chennai for the second Test in a 3 match series. India were determined to wrap up the series, while the Kiwis were eager to level it up ahead of the final Test at Cuttack. Chennai is not a place known for its rains, but with recent evidence, when it rains, it does pour in the coastal city.
Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and elected to bat. Manoj Prabhakar and Navjot Singh Sidhu provided the Indians with a good start on day 1 before rain intervened. A soggy outfield prevented play on the next couple of days. While the visitors suggested playing a one-off limited overs match on the last day, the hosts were quick to dismiss the thought. On the short period on day 4 where play was possible, a young Sachin Tendulkar brought up a half-century at one of his favourite grounds.
Total balls bowled: 427 (71.1 overs)
Score: India – 144/2 in 71.1 overs, NZ – N/A
9) England vs New Zealand, Manchester, 15 – 19 August 1931
With the series in the balance at 1 – 0 in a 3 match Test series, the teams travelled to Manchester to decide the fate of the Test series in 1931. Any fan of Manchester United or Manchester City would know that it pours in Manchester, all the time. There was a similar story in this Test as rain absolutely battered down on the first couple of days, not allowing any play whatsoever.
Due to the heroic efforts of the ground staff, some cricket was played on day 3 where English batsmen Herbert Sutcliffe and KS Duleepsinjhi piled on the misery for the visitors, with the former recording a fine century. Rain intervened again and play had to be called off, with England taking the series.
Total balls bowled: 426 (71 overs)
Score: England – 224/3 in 71 overs, NZ – N/A
8) England vs South Africa, Manchester, 26 – 30 July 1924
Manchester is at it again. With the series in the bag, England and South Africa travelled to the Northwest of the country to play the 4th of the 5 match Test series. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, scoring 116 runs for the loss of 4 wickets before rain intervened on day 1. Tommy Ward, the opening batsman, helped himself to a half-century. There was incessent rain thereafter and the match had to be called off on day 3.
Total balls bowled: 401 (66.5 overs)
Score: SA – 116/4 in 66.5 overs, Eng – N/A
7) England vs Australia, Lord’s, 12 – 16 June 1902
Australia travelled to Lord’s London for the second of a 5 match Test series in bad shape. Affected by the persistent rain, a number of the players in the squad were down with flu and were complaining of weakness. Play was only possible for under 2 hours on day 1 where England elected to bat first and recovered from a poor start to get to 102 for the loss of two wickets. Archie McLaren and Stanley Jackson scored half-centuries for the hosts.
Having occured 114 years ago, this is the least recent of all the Tests in this list.
Total balls bowled: 228 (38 overs)
Score: Eng – 102/2 in 38 overs, Aus – N/A
6) Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Gujranwala, 20 – 25 Dec 1991
Two talented sides faced each other in the second of a 3 match Test series in 1991 in Gujranwala, close to Lahore. Sri Lanka chose to field and captain Aravinda De Silva rang the changes among his bowlers, trying 7 different options to dislodge the Pakistani batsmen. He had limited success as they claimed two early wickets, but Rameez Raja remained resolute on his way to a half-century.
What ensued was a comedy of errors. Rain, followed by a soggy outfield, bad lighting and dark patches ensured that there would be no more cricket over the course of the 5 days.
Total balls bowled: 216 (36 overs)
Score: Pak – 109/2 in 36 overs, SL – N/A
5) West Indies vs India, Port of Spain, 18 – 22 August 2016
With the series in the bag, the Indian contingent travelled to Trinidad in a happy mood as they had just recieved the news that they had become the No. 1 ranked Test side in the world. Captain Kohli was determined to claim a victory to retain the No. 1 ranking and started in aggressive fashion, picking up 2 early wickets. The rain came pouring down and play was interrupted for the day.
What followed was a few days of frustration as there was bright sunshine in the day, but a wet outfield and poor drainage facilities prevented any further cricket.
Total balls bowled: 132 (22 overs)
Score: WI – 62/2 in 22 overs, Ind – N/A
4) England vs Australia, Nottingham, 12 – 16 June 1926
Australia travelled to England for the Ashes in the Summer of 1926, with the first Test in Nottingham. The Test was absolutely destroyed by incessent rain, with only 50 minutes of play possible in total over the course of the 5 days. England chose to bat and enjoyed a solid start, with both the openers proving to be too good for the Australian bowlers. While there were patches of bright daylight, rain was always around the corner and there was no play possible.
Total balls bowled: 104 (17.2 overs)
Score: Eng – 32/0 in 17.2 overs, Aus – N/A
3) Sri Lanka vs India, Kandy, 17 – 21 July 1993
It was a historic match as Kapil Dev had equalled Sunil Gavaskar’s total of 125 Tests played, but it wasn’t one befitting the occasion. There was a total of 49 minutes of play, where Sri Lanka were put into bat on the second day and stumbled to 24 for the loss of 3 wickets. There was a rest day scheduled, that could have been utliised it was completely sunny, but scheduling issues prevented it from being utilisied.
At the time of this Test, it was the shortest ever. India went on to win the 3 match series 1 – 0.
Total balls bowled: 72 (12 overs)
Score: SL – 24/3 in 12 overs, IND – N/A
2) West Indies vs England, Kingston, 29 Jan – 2 Feb 1998
England travelled to West Indies in early 1998 for a long, six match Test series. The first Test was scheduled at Kingston, with the hosts boasting a strong line-up with the likes of Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose forming the backbone of the team. There was only 10.1 overs of play before the play was called off, not due to rain, but due to the pitch being adjudged too dangerous to play on.
In the 61 balls that took place, the English physio had to be called on 6 times to tend to batsmen who were hit by balls from Walsh and Ambrose. England were struggling at 17 – 3 and might be glad that the match was called off.
Total balls bowled: 61 (10.1 overs)
Score: ENG – 17/3 in 10.1 overs, WI – N/A
1) West Indies vs England, North Sound, 13 – 17 Feb 2009
England, who appear on this list 6 times, were part of one of the most embarrassing matches for the West Indies Cricket Board. After the hosts comfortably won the first Test, the players were excited for the second Test, but all that excitment was curtailed, when after just 10 balls, play had been called off. The reason for the play being called off was that the outfield was deemed a safety risk to the bowlers.
While it did rain a little, the bigger problem was the outfield. Fidel Edwards struggled to get through his bowling run up, not being able to land his feet and threw the ball away in disgust. A number of options were mooted, but the play ended up being called off after just 10 balls.
Total balls bowlled: 10 (1.4 overs)
Score: Eng – 7/0 in 1.4 overs, WI – N/A
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