If a team registers a total in excess of 500 in the very first innings of a Test match, they are often considered the favourites to win the match. However, things may not always be all that easy if the opposition team is determined to give a tough fight and possibly turn the tables.
Most recently, the 1st Test of a 3-match series between Pakistan and West Indies saw the former score 579 for 3 in the first innings. The West Indians fell short of the Pakistani score by 227 runs but blew the hosts away for 123 in the 3rd innings. Chasing 346 to win, they gave Pakistan a scare before folding up for 289 and losing by 56 runs.
Also read: 5 all-time slowest Test innings
There have been 6 instances in the history of Test cricket, though, when teams scoring 500 runs or more in the 1st innings of the match have ended up on the losing side. Here is a detailed look at each of them:
#6 Australia beat England by 6 wickets, Adelaide, 2006/07 Ashes
England 1st innings score – 551 for 6 dec.
This was the follow-up series to the iconic 2005 Ashes series where England had scripted an unforgettable 2-1 win against the odds. The Australians were clearly out for revenge and started off the series with a majestic 277-run victory in the first Test at Brisbane.
In the second Test at Adelaide, though, the momentum looked to be tilting back in England’s favour as they batted first and rode a double century from Paul Collingwood to register a massive total of 551 for 6 in their first innings.
However, the hosts were up for the challenge and managed to notch up 513 runs, courtesy of centuries from Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke. This was followed by an inspired bowling performance, led by Shane Warne’s 4 for 49, which helped dismiss the English for just 129.
With just 168 runs to chase in the 4th innings, the Aussies went about their business at a brisk pace and finished the game in 32.5 overs with 6 wickets still intact.
(Video courtesy: Stuart YouTube channel)
#5 England beat Australia by 10 runs, Sydney, 1894/95 Ashes
Australia 1st innings score – 586 all out
The 1894/95 Ashes series was a closely-fought one with England emerging eventual winners by a 3-2 margin. The 1st Test of the series was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the home side decided to bat first after skipper Jack Blackham won the toss.
Everything went well for Australia as a double century from Syd Gregory and 161 by George Giffen propelled their first innings score to 586. The English batsmen fought hard but were unable to reach anywhere the Aussie total and ended up getting dismissed for 325.
Following on in their 2nd innings, England lifted their performance with the bat and managed to post 437 runs on the board. Opening batsman Albert Ward top-scored for them with 117 and there were important contributions from Jack Brown, Francis Ford and Johny Briggs.
Chasing 177 to win in the 4th innings, the Australians were cruising to victory at 130 for 2. However, things took a turn for the worse as they lost their last 8 wickets for only 36 runs and handed England an unlikely 10-run victory.
#4 South Africa beat Australia by 6 wickets, Melbourne, 1953
Australia 1st innings score – 520 all out
South Africa toured Australia in the 1952/53 season for a 5-match Test series which turned out to be an exciting affair. With the home side leading 2-1 after the first 4 Tests, the final one at Melbourne was a must-win game for the visitors.
The Australians batted brilliantly in the 1st innings of the match led by Neil Harvey’s 205 and recorded a score of 520. The Proteas responded strongly by putting 435 on the board, thanks to half-centuries from as many as 5 of their batsmen.
A five-wicket haul by pacer Eddie Fuller ensured that Australia were all out for 209 in their 2nd innings, leaving South Africa with a target of 295 runs to win the match. An unbeaten 76 by Roy McLean accompanied by fifties from Russell Endean and John Watkins saw them home with 6 wickets in hand.
The victory meant that the South Africans denied the Aussies a series win by drawing level 2-2.
#3 Australia beat England by 5 wickets, Melbourne, 1928/29 Ashes
England 1st innings score – 519 all out
A large part of the 1928/29 Ashes was dominated by the England side as they won the first 4 Tests of a 5-match series. The tourists were favourites to win the final Test, too, as hundreds from Jack Hobbs and Maurice Leyland took their 1st innings score to a huge 519.
The Australians, though, had nothing to lose and ran the English total close by putting 491 runs on the board when they batted. England’s 2nd innings, though, saw an inspired bowling performance from the home bowlers as they managed to dismiss the tourists for 257.
With 286 runs required to win their only Test in the series, the Aussie batsman kept eating away at the target despite losing wickets at regular intervals. In the end, it was an unbeaten 6th wicket partnership of 83 runs between Donald Bradman and Jack Ryder which ensured a 5-wicket win for Australia.
#2 England beat West Indies by 7 wickets, Port of Spain, 1968
West Indies 1st innings score – 526 for 7 dec.
The 4th Test of a 5-match series between West Indies and England back in 1968 was an important one as the first 3 matches had ended in draws. The toss was won by the home side and they had no hesitation in batting first and putting the English team under pressure.
Rohan Kanhai and Seymour Nurse scored 153 and 136 respectively as the West Indians amassed 526 for 7 in their 1st innings. The England response was a strong one but they still managed to fall short of the opposition’s total by 122 runs.
In their second innings, West Indies declared quickly at 92 for 2 and England were required to score 215 runs in quick time to register a win. Geoffrey Boycott and Colin Cowdrey led the charge for the Englishmen and put together 118 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Even after Cowdrey was dismissed for 71, Boycott was unfazed and took his team across the line by 7 wickets. The victory proved to be a decisive one as England won the series 1-0.
#1 India beat Australia by 4 wickets, Adelaide, 2003/04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australia 1st innings score – 556 all out
One of India’s greatest victories on foreign soil came against Australia at Adelaide during the 2003/04 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, no one would have imagined that they would win the match considering the fact that the Aussies scored 556 in their first innings after batting first.
The scenario changed completely when the Indians batted, though, as a brilliant 233 from Rahul Dravid led them a total of 523. Things only got worse for Australia in their 2nd innings as Ajit Agarkar’s spell of 6 for 41 ensured that the hosts folded up for 196.
Also read: Stats: India don't win Test matches abroad, but neither do others
Although India were under constant pressure while chasing 230 for a famous victory, an ice-cool Dravid did a hero turn once again by anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 72. The Indian team emerged victorious by 7 wickets and took an unlikely 1-0 lead in the 4-match series.
(Video courtesy: loduuu1 YouTube channel)
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
