5 lowest totals in Test cricket this decade

We are about to enter the year 2020 and can safely say that Test cricket is alive and kicking. There has been no dearth of thrills and spills. The decade saw Test cricket welcome two new teams- Afghanistan and Ireland. However, not many of the avid fans welcomed the initiative of players sporting numbers on the back of the jerseys in red-ball cricket.

Thank the almighty for the toss still being a part of the tradition. Touring sides mostly faced the flak as the subject of 'home advantage' seemed hard to shrug off. But there have been some historic turnarounds as well, where the hosts were humbled. Irrespective of that, the game of cricket witnessed many highs and lows in terms of performances. In this article, we take a look at the 5 lowest totals in Test cricket this decade.

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Pakistan (49) v South Africa, 2013

Dale Steyn hogged the limelight in Gareme Smith's 100th Test as Proteas skipper

In Graeme Smith’s 100th Test match as captain, the visitors’ bowling unit came together in Johannesburg to wrap up the Proteas’ star-studded batting line up for 253. But it was preceded by a stunning display of fast bowling from Dale Steyn, who jagged the ball to his advantage to floor Pakistan for 49.

There was no respite for the Asian side as Steyn scalped figures of 6/8. A solid hundred by AB de Villiers in the second innings saw South Africa declare on 275/3, meaning that Misbah-ul-Haq’s men were left to chase a daunting target of 480. The skipper, in the company of Asad Shafiq, provided some fight but it was too little too late as the home side scripted a 211-run victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series. This was Pakistan’s lowest total in whites.

Australia (47) v South Africa, 2011

Vernon Philander's five-for sunk Australia in Cape Town

Numbers don’t always tell you the story and it certainly didn’t when South Africa clinched an 8-wicket win at Cape Town against the Australia. Put in to bat first, Australia rode on Michael Clarke’s 151 to post 284 on the board. In response, the Proteas were left wanting. A five-for to Shane Watson and one less to Ryan Harris rolled out the hosts for mere 96 runs.

As one would guess, the visitors were in the driving seat. But what happened next was the least expected. Vernon Philander struck five times as Australia’s scorecard wore a string of single-digit scores.

They were skittled out for 47 and watchful hundreds from Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla ensured no further hiccups as the 195-run stand between the two shut out the opposition, chasing down 236 to end the game in less than two and half days.

New Zealand (45) v South Africa, 2013

New Zealand succumbed to the Proteas pacers during the New Year Test match in Cape Town, 2013

The hangover from New Year’s Eve didn’t really help the Kiwis. Or at least their dismal show in the first innings of the Cape Town suggests so. Brendon McCullum and his men looked out of sorts as they were bowled out for 45 in the first innings. Vernon Philander bagged five wickets as no one apart from Kane Williamson could manage to get to double figures against South Africa.

The side couldn’t really recover from the hapless show and the hosts put on 347/8, majorly thanks to a measured knock of 106 by opener Alviro Petersen. He found support from the likes of Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers- all scoring fifties to add up the deficit.

New Zealand batted out of their skin in their next attempt. A fighting ton from Dean Brownlie and few other notable contributions got them to 275 but that wasn’t enough as they failed to make the hosts bat again and therefore losing the contest by an innings and 27 runs.

Bangladesh (43) v West Indies, 2018

West Indies outplayed Bangladesh at home in the 2018 Test series

There was a lot of hype around the series. Bangladesh were expected to be better travellers, having performed well at home. But the alien conditions and bounce on the wicket did them no good. It took the West Indies just about seven sessions to pocket a comprehensive win.

And interestingly, all the four seamers bagged a total of five wickets in the game. Liton Das’ 25 was the only highlight from the Tigers’ first innings as they lost wickets in heaps, ultimately getting bowled out for 43.

They were no better with the ball either as the hosts laced boundaries after boundaries and milked the under-prepared bowling lineup. Kraigg Brathwaite hit a century and he received support from Devon Smith and Shai Hope.

Trailing by more than 360 runs, the Tigers’ character was tested again and the result was no different. Nurul Hasan struck some lusty hits en route to a 74-ball 64 but the rest of the batters didn’t do enough to pack a punch. They were handed a defeat by an innings and 219 runs.

Ireland (38) v England, 2019

Chris Woakes' six-for saved England the blushes against Ireland

Lord’s, the home of cricket was all set to host an exciting contest. The newbies of Test cricket- Ireland took on a strong England XI. The cricket pundits termed the match a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Ashes but little did they know of what was to follow.

Tim Murtagh marked his name in the honors board with a five-for that rattled Joe Root’s men. Fresh from a World Cup win in the 50-over format, the Poms were in for a reality check as they were bowled out for 85.

Ireland, in reply, put on 207 runs on the board and managed to get the opposition out in just over 300 runs, setting themselves a target of 182. The upset was just around the corner but Chris Woakes saved England from the humiliation as the all-rounder returned with figures of 6/17. He was well supported from the other end in the face of Stuart Broad, who scalped four wickets to shoot down the inexperienced side for 38.