5 biggest upsets in Test cricket since 2000

Test cricket is considered the purest form of the sport. Quite a few cricket experts believe that the longest format is the ultimate test for any player. Not only do Tests require a player to be skilled, but he also needs to maintain his fitness and have patience to succeed.

Test matches last for five days, and each team gets an opportunity to bat twice. Unlike other formats of cricket, a draw is a frequent result in Test cricket. If there is no clear winner after five days of action, the game ends in a draw.

Generally, upsets are not so regular in Test cricket because the game lasts for five days and two innings. So the frequency of top-quality teams losing to lower-ranked opposition is comparatively less than T20Is and even ODIs.

But the cricket world has witnessed some big upsets in the red-ball arena as well. Here's a list of the top five upsets in Test cricket since 2000.

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#1 Bangladesh defeat New Zealand, 2022

Bangladesh struggled in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship. They kicked off the new WTC cycle with a 0-2 defeat against Pakistan. Soon after, the Tigers toured New Zealand for a Test series without the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman in the squad.

But a young Bangladeshi team punched above their weight and upset the reigning World Test champions on their home turf. The Blackcaps scored 328 runs in the first innings, riding on Devon Conway's ton. In reply, Bangladesh were all out for 458, taking a 130-run first innings lead.

Ebadot Hossain then bowled a fiery spell of 6/46 in the second innings as Bangladesh bowled New Zealand out for 169 runs. They chased the 40-run target with eight wickets in hand to complete a historic win.

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#2 India defeat Australia, 2021

India defeating Australia Down Under is not new, but they breached the Aussies' fortress in Brisbane last year without a majority of their regular Test players. India were hit by injuries ahead of the series decider of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, while Australia had a full-strength squad.

An inexperienced Indian playing XI, featuring two debutants, locked horns with Australia. The home side won the toss and posted a 369-run total. In reply, India scored 336 and conceded a 33-run first-innings lead.

Australia set a massive 328-run target for the visitors. No team had been able to chase such a huge target in Brisbane before, but a depleted Indian squad did the unthinkable and chased the target with three wickets in hand. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were heroes for India in that innings as they completed a historic series win.

#3 Afghanistan defeat Bangladesh, 2019

Afghanistan made their Test cricket debut in 2018, and just a year later recorded their maiden overseas Test win against Bangladesh. Playing a one-off Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

Rahmat Shah's century guided the visitors to a 342-run first-innings total. Despite playing at home, Bangladesh managed only 205 runs in their first innings to concede a 137-run lead. Captain Rashid Khan led Afghanistan from the front with a five-wicket haul.

Afghanistan set a 398-run target for Bangladesh in the second innings. The home side were all out for just 173 runs in their second innings as they lost by 224 runs. Rashid stole the show again with a six-wicket haul for Afghanistan.

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#4 Zimbabwe defeat Pakistan, 2013

Zimbabwe stunned Pakistan in a Test match at the Harare Sports Club back in 2013. The home side batted first and posted a 294-run total, riding on Hamilton Masakadza's 75. Pakistan were all out for 230 in their first innings as they conceded a 64-run first innings lead.

A half-century from Tinotenda Mawoyo helped Zimbabwe set a 264-run target for the visitors. Fans expected the Misbah-ul-Haq-led outfit to win the Test, but Tendai Chatara's five-wicket haul powered the African nation to a memorable 24-run win.

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#5 Bangladesh defeat Australia, 2017

Bangladesh made history in 2017 by recording their maiden Test win against the mighty Australian side in Dhaka. Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and asked the visitors to bowl first on a spin-friendly surface.

Bangladesh posted a 260-run total, courtesy of fifties from Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Shakib starred with the ball as well, with his five-wicket haul helping Bangladesh bowl Australia out for 217 runs and take a slim lead of 43 runs.

Iqbal scored another fifty in the second innings, helping Bangladesh set a 265-run target for the Steve Smith-led outfit. David Warner scored an excellent ton for the visitors, but his effort went in vain as Bangladesh took the 10 Australian wickets for 244 runs and won by 20 runs.