5 lowest Test innings of all time

Test cricket does bring with it the element of surprise with every game and it amazes everyone with different stats, different numbers in almost every innings and every day. Sometimes they are good records and sometimes they are records teams (or players) would not be proud of.

And Bangladesh registered one such unwanted record as they were bundled out for a mere 43 on the first day of the first Test against West Indies in Antigua. It is the 10th lowest score in Test cricket history and the 3rd lowest in the first innings of a Test match. This 43 is also the lowest total against West Indies.

Some unwanted records tumbled for Bangladesh in this innings of 43 but here let’s take a look back at 5 of the lowest Test innings in cricket history.

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#5 36 - Australia vs England, Birmingham (1902) and South Africa vs Australia, Melbourne (1932)

South Africa's Bert Ironmonger

In the 1902 Ashes, the first Test was at Birmingham (which was a three-day Test) and England who had lost the last couple of Ashes series batted first and declared at 376/9. In reply, Australia just fell like nine pins as none of the batsmen stuck around and were eventually dismissed for just 36.

England left-arm off-spinner Wilfred Rhodes who played more than 1000 first class games in his career, took 7/17 and left-arm quick George Hirst scalped the remaining three. Opener Victor Trumper was the highest run-getter in that innings as he made 18 and was the one batsman to have registered double digits for Australia in that innings (and the next best was 5). It was the third lowest Test score back then.

30 years later, South Africa levelled this total as they slumped to 36 against Australia in the 5th match of the series in 1932. Already 4-0 down, South Africa batted first but the Aussie bowling attack just blew them away as fast bowler Laurie Nash took 4/18 while left-arm medium pacer Bert Ironmonger took 5/6. Only one South African batsman made it to double figures. This 36 is still the lowest score in the first innings of a Test match.

Australia made 153 later in reply before skittling out the Proteas for another low score and this time for 45.

#4 35 – South Africa vs England, Cape Town (1899)

Schofield Haigh

In 1899, England made their fourth trip to South Africa and it was their third tour to the Rainbow Nation of that decade. After a close first Test which England won by 32 runs, South Africa began the second Test well as they bowled England out for 92 in their first innings. In reply, they scored 177 before England came back well and posted 330 on the board.

South Africa needed 246 to register their first-ever win over England but that didn’t happen as they fell apart and were skittled out for just 35, making it the fourth lowest Test score ever and second at the time the Test match was played. The openers contributed 19 runs and there were 5 extras as well. Schofield Haigh starred as he took 6 wickets in the second innings, helping England close out this 2-match Test series.

#3 30 - South Africa vs England, Birmingham (1924)

Arthur Gilligan

Birmingham witnessed a 36 all out when Australia lost the plot completely in their batting innings in the 1902 Ashes Test match. But more than two decades later, South Africa registered the then joint-lowest total by any team in the history of Test cricket.

In the first Test of South Africa’s tour of England in 1924 which comprised of 5 Tests, the hosts put on 438 on the board after they were put in by South Africa. South Africa though, in reply, crumbled against England new-ball bowlers Maurice Tate (4/12) and Arthur Gilligan (6/7) as the two of them wreaked havoc.

In fact, none of the South African batsmen could reach the double figures mark and the highest score in that innings was 7 which was made by skipper Herbie Taylor. In the second essay, they were all out for 390 and lost the Test match by an innings and 18 runs.

#2 30 - South Africa vs England, Port Elizabeth (1896)

George Lohmann

Yes, a team like South Africa features four times in the list of lowest ever Test scores. In the first Test of the 1895/1896 Test series, England who were put into bat first, scored 185 and despite South Africa got off to a decent start, they bowled the hosts out for 93 taking an important lead.

In the second innings, England fared better than the first innings as they made 226 setting South Africa a target of 319. But they were never in the contest as they were shot out for just 30. While only one batsman in the top 7 was out for a duck, only one batsman touch double digits. South Africa lost the game and eventually lost the series. George Lohmann took 15 wickets in that Test match.

#1 26 – New Zealand vs England, Auckland (1955)

Bert Sutcliffe

This is the only inning that is from the post Second World War era and it ended up being the lowest ever score in an innings of a Test match. In the series during the 1954/55 season, England had won the first Test before the action moved to Auckland.

New Zealand batted first and amassed 200 in their first innings. England then got a 46-run lead and looked to build pressure. But that lead of 46 proved to be the difference as the Kiwis crumbled and were bundled out for a meagre 26. Trailing not too big a score, the Kiwis weren’t out of this game, but they fell together and were dismissed for 26.

Kiwi opener Bert Sutcliffe was the only batsman with a score in double-digits. Three players scored 1 while four went for ducks. All the four bowlers used in that 27-over innings were very good as well as each of them picked up a wicket at least.

Hence, 26 is the lowest ever totals in Test cricket history.