Cricket is a funny game. Maybe that is why there is a belief that in Test cricket, it is always good to have a great first innings total on board. Teams that score 400 or above in their first innings rarely go on to lose Tests. Most captains in world cricket are bat first captains who like to put a score on the board, and more often than not, end up looking for a reason so that they can bat first.
A huge total on the board puts pressure on the opposition and makes bowling easier as bowlers can concentrate on taking wickets rather than containing the run flow. Even teams with relatively weaker bowling attacks get away by putting up huge totals on the board, courtesy their batsmen.
However, there are games where the opposition has come from behind to win the Test despite facing against a massive total on board. To be precise, there have been 15 instances when a team has scored 500+ in their first innings and still lost the Test match.
Have a glance at 5 highest first innings totals that resulted in losses.
#5 Bangladesh, against West Indies – Dhaka - November, 2012
The first Test of the West Indies tour of Bangladesh saw the Windies win the toss and opt to bat first. A double hundred by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and centuries from opener Kieron Powell and keeper Denesh Ramdin took them to 527.
Bangladesh bettered the effort in their first innings by posting 556, a lead of 29. Naeem Islam was the only centurion but Nasir Hossain, Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Shakib hit half-centuries.
Despite conceding the lead, West Indies batted confidently and scored 273, courtesy another century in the match by Kieron Powell. This set a target of 245 for the Bangladeshis on a tricky Dhaka wicket. None of their batsmen crossed 30 as Tino Best and Veerasamy Permaul wreaked havoc, bowling out the hosts for 167 to win the match by 77 runs.
#4 Australia, against India – Adelaide – December, 2003
India had drawn the first Test at Brisbane and had taken some of that confidence to Adelaide, where a sensational double hundred from Ricky Ponting took Australia to a huge total of 556 in the first innings.
India were unperturbed and replied with panache, posting a total of 523 thanks to Dravid’s 233 and Laxman’s 148, the duo putting up a 303-run stand.
Ajit Agarkar, inspired by India’s fightback, decided that it was his turn to step up and ran through the Aussie batting line-up with a 6/41, bowling out the hosts for a paltry 196. With 230 to win, Dravid anchored the chase, remaining unbeaten on 72 as he led India to a terrific four-wicket win to go one up in the series.
#3 Pakistan, against Australia – Melbourne – January, 1973
Centuries from Ian Redpath and Greg Chappell had been the foundation of Australia’s first innings total of 441 against a tired Pakistani bowling attack. If they thought that the total was enough to win the match, Pakistan had other ideas.
Hundreds from Sadiq Mohammad and Majid Khan took Pakistan to 574, a lead of 133. Australia were on the back foot but Paul Sheahan and John Benaud fought back with a 233-run partnership for the second wicket. The duo scored centuries and Greg Chappell hit a quick fire 62 to take Australia to 425, setting a target of 293 for the visitors.
Pakistan ran out of answers against a superb all-round bowling display from Australia that saw them dismissing Pakistan for 200. Dennis Lillee picked up two wickets while Max Walker took 3.
#2 Australia, against England – Sydney – December, 1894
The 1st Test of the 1894/95 Ashes saw Australia pile up 586 in their first innings. A double century from 242 balls by Syd Gregory and a 161 from George Giffen formed the backbone of Australia’s run feast.
England looked overwhelmed by the target and were bowled out for 325, conceding a huge lead of 261. England were made to follow-on and opener Albert Ward set the platform with a superb hundred. 10 of their batsmen reached double figures as England posted 437 on the board setting Australia a target of 177 to win.
Australia began confidently and reached 113/2 at close of play on Day 5, requiring 64 on the last day to win with 8 wickets in hand [6 day Tests]. They proceeded to a score of 130/3 before a dramatic collapse in the hands of left arm spinner, Bobby Peel, saw them bowled out for 166. As many as 9 wickets fell in the final session of play, 6 of which were taken by Peel.
#1 Bangladesh, against New Zealand – Wellington – January, 2017
A Bangladesh record stand of 359 for the 5th wicket between Shakib-al-Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim took Bangladesh to 595/8 before they declared their innings. Shakib had made 217, Bangladesh’s highest individual score in Tests, while skipper, Rahim made 159.
New Zealand replied through Tom Latham’s 177 and enterprising half-centuries from Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner and Henry Nicholls. They were bowled out for 539, conceding a lead of 56.
The Kiwi bowlers bowled with discipline and purpose as they bowled out Bangladesh for 160 in the second innings. Trent Boult took three while Neil Wagner and Mitchell Santner picked two each.
Needing 217 to win, New Zealand made light work of the chase as their captain, Williamson notched up an 89-ball hundred, the fourth fastest in the final innings of a Test. A 122-year-old record was thus broken as Bangladesh’s first innings total of 595 is the highest now in Tests to result in a loss.
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