5 teams that have been dismissed for under 100 the most number of times in the past decade

Vernon Philander celebrates after taking a wicket
Australia put on a dismal show at Hobart

The 2nd Test of the ongoing Test series between Australia and South Africa at Hobart saw a dreadful batting performance from the home side as they were shot out for 85 in their first innings. This was one of a number of occasions on which the Australians have capitulated for a score of under 100 in recent years.

However, they are certainly not the only team to have suffered this ignominy in the past decade or so. In fact, there have been nearly 30 instances during this period when multiple Test playing nations have been skittled out for a score which was below 100 runs.

Also read: Stats: Lowest scores in Test Cricket

Here are 5 countries which have suffered this fate at the hands of the opposition bowlers in the last 10 years:


#5 England – 3 times

England were dismissed for 51 during a Test match against West Indies in 2009

England may have been one of the strongest Test teams over the past decade but they, too, have had their fair share of embarrassments. This includes their batting line-up succumbing to scores of under 100 on three separate occasions against Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan respectively.

While the match against Sri Lanka ended in a draw forced by inclement weather conditions, the other two Tests saw the Englishmen losing pretty badly to their opponents. Their lowest score in the last 10 years is their 51 all out against West Indies at Kingston in 2009, where no batsman other than Andrew Flintoff scored in double figures.

#4 New Zealand – 3 times

The Kiwis were skittled out for 45 by South Africa at Cape Town in 2013

New Zealand have been among the most improved sides in the longest format of the game in the past few years but it hasn’t been smooth sailing for them all the time. On more than one instance, their batsmen have been found wanting against quality bowling attacks, getting dismissed for totals below the 100-run mark.

In the year 2013, the Blackcaps were bowled out for 45 by South Africa at Cape Town in January and once again for 68 by England at Lord’s in May. Prior to that, they had also folded up for 99 against Pakistan at Wellington in 2009. On all three occasions, the Kiwis ended up suffering a huge loss in the match.

#3 South Africa – 4 times

India’s S Sreesanth bowled a dream spell at Johannesburg in 2006 to help restrict South Africa to 84

South Africa are known to possess one of the most brutal bowling attacks in world cricket at present and have often decimated sides by dismissing them for sub-100 scores in Tests. However, there have been times when opposition bowlers have given the Proteas a taste of their own medicine.

In the past decade, the South Africans have been skittled out for under 100 runs four times, twice against India and once each against Australia and England. During this period, their lowest total was 79 all out and it came during the 3rd Test of their series against the Indian team last year at Nagpur.

#2 Australia – 5 times

Australia lived a nightmare in Cape Town in 2011 as they were shot out for a paltry 47

Australia may not be as strong a side as they used to be a few years back but they are still counted among the top teams in world cricket. However, the chinks in their armour have often been exposed in recent years as opponent teams have bowled them out for embarrassingly low scores.

Including their 85 all out against South Africa in the ongoing Test, the Aussies have been dismissed for below 100 runs 5 times in the last 10 years. Incidentally, their worst performance also came against the Proteas as they were sent packing for 47 in a match at Cape Town in 2011.

Arch-rivals England have also made Australia suffer a similar fate twice in the past decade while Pakistan have done it once.

#1 Pakistan – 7 times

Pakistan were blown away for 49 by Dale Steyn & Co at Johannesburg in 2013

The Pakistan team holds the dubious distinction of being dismissed for under 100 the most number of times in the past decade of Test cricket. There have been as many as 7 occasions during this period when the sub-continent team has failed to cross 100 runs as a team.

England have been the opposition team on 4 out of these 7 instances with 3 of them coming in the 2010 series between the two sides. Apart from that, South Africa have been able to achieve the feat twice whereas one of them was pulled off by Sri Lanka.

The lowest sub-100 total the Pakistanis have been able to manage in the last 10 years is 49, which they scored against the Proteas at Johannesburg in 2013.

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Edited by Staff Editor