Not a single run scored in an innings; Team all out for 0

Toby Strang

The crazy game of cricket has witnessed many improbable incidents in the field and this must be the most epic one of all. A team was all out for nothing on the board!

The incident took place way back in 1913 but came out to the limelight only in 2011, 98 years after the unbelievable was made possible. The Langport club's archivist, Toby Strang, decided that the side of 1913 deserve some sort of recognition for their (under) achievement.

"The scorecard from the day has been in the clubhouse for years and we thought it was about time it was recognised by Wisden [Cricketers' Almanack] or Guinness World Records," he said. Strang is now wondering if there are people who have any knowledge of this infamous team – or pictures of them.

"I started playing for the club in 1965 and there's never been anything like that since then. I think the lowest score was 18 but the conditions that day were appalling for batsmen. How can a team be out for zero? We don't know the weather or conditions that day but it beggars belief the team didn't even score an extra.

“I have press cuttings of the match. It really does not seem possible that a team could be bowled out for nought. And it’s amazing it is not recorded in the Guinness Book of Records or Wisden,” mentioned Strang about the club’s record score.

The 1913 incident that happened in the English summer found a place in Gerald Gosling and Frank Huddy’s 1993 book Somerton, Ilchester and Langport. But it is yet to be recogniaed by more reputed organisations and publications. A local newspaper cutting from the historic day reports the score "caused quite an amusing sensation" among the spectators.

H Weaver of the Langport’s was the only one to emerge with honour intact: he was not out!

Wirral, a English Cheshire League Third Division county team and Pak Pakhtoon, a Division 2 side of the Birmingham Cricket League getting all out for 3 runs were the latest instances that have come close of matching this feat. This strange game took place on a Whit Monday, June 9th when A Lisk, who also opened the batting for Glastonbury did the damage by dismissing seven batsmen.

Another unique feat was achieved by Shepstone, a side from Midlands, who have been dismissed without scoring. They were salvaged from being achievers of an unwanted record, by the help of 4 extras in 1931. Also Yorkshire side Goldsborough 2nd XI failed to score a single run from the bat, managing only 5 runs by extras.