The following is a list of the top ten lowest test scores ever recorded in Test match cricket. Getting some early breakthroughs with the ball is usually the key to success in Test cricket. When the ball is new and moving well, or when the track provides a lot of bounce or turn, life becomes a lot more difficult for those holding the willow. We have seen numerous occasions where early wickets have proven to be the catalysts for major victories, but these breakthroughs can also lead to utterly disastrous results for the batting side. But what is the lowest Test cricket score? Many people have been stumped by this question in the past.
Such moments humiliate the batting units while providing the bowling units with as much satisfaction as winning a major match in Test cricket. Here is a list of the top ten such instances, which resulted in teams posting the lowest totals in Test cricket history.
Top 10 lowest scores in Test cricket history | Lowest totals in Test cricket All-Time Rankings
| Team | Lowest Total Score | Overs Played | Run Rate | Innings Played | Opposition Team | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 26 | 27.0 | 0.96 | 3 | England | Auckland | 25 Mar 1955 |
| South Africa | 30 | 18.4×5 | 1.91 | 4 | England | Port Elizabeth | 13 Feb 1896 |
| South Africa | 30 | 12.3 | 2.4 | 2 | England | Birmingham | 14 Jun 1924 |
| South Africa | 35 | 22.4×5 | 1.84 | 4 | England | Cape Town | 1 Apr 1899 |
| South Africa | 36 | 23.2 | 1.54 | 1 | Australia | Melbourne | 12 Feb 1932 |
| Australia | 36 | 23.0 | 1.56 | 2 | England | Birmingham | 29 May 1902 |
| India | 36 | 21.2 | 1.68 | 3 | Australia | Adelaide | 17 Dec 2020 |
| Ireland | 38 | 15.4 | 2.42 | 4 | England | Lord’s | 24 Jul 2019 |
| New Zealand | 42 | 39.0 | 1.07 | 1 | Australia | Wellington | 29 Mar 1946 |
| Australia | 42 | 37.3×4 | 1.66 | 2 | England | Sydney | 10 Feb 1888 |
1. New Zealand Holds The Record For The Lowest Test Score Ever In Test Cricket History- 26 Runs Against England In 1955
It took New Zealand nearly 5 decades to win their first-ever Test match, and they had plenty of disastrous results along the way. One such instance occurred in Auckland in 1955, when the city hosted Leonard Hutton’s England. New Zealand’s team total of 26 runs against England in Auckland in 1955 remains the lowest ever in Test cricket. Aside from the opener, Bert Sutcliffe, who scored 11 runs, the rest of the batsmen were all out for single-digit scores, and five batsmen went back without opening their accounts. England triumphed by an innings and 20 runs.
2. South Africa Holds The Record For The Second Lowest Score In Test Cricket- 30 Runs Against England In 1896
In 1896, South Africa hosted England for three Tests. England’s visit to South Africa in 1895/96 was only the third international series in which South Africa participated, with the first two also taking place against England. England dominated the first three innings of the first Test in Port Elizabeth, setting the hosts a target of 319 runs. South Africa was bowled out for a paltry total of 30 runs, with no batsman reaching double figures. George Lohmann finished the game with figures of 8/7 as England won by 288 runs.
3. South Africa- 30 Runs Against England In 1924 At Birmingham
When South Africa went to England in 1924, they faced a Three Lions team that included some of the game’s greatest players, including Sir Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Patsy Hendren, and Frank Woolley. The English top order contributed crucially to a 438-run victory in the first Test in Birmingham. South Africa responded by being bowled out in 12.3 overs for 30 runs, the shortest number of overs ever faced by a team before being all-out in a Test. The 11 extras contributed the most to South Africa’s total. For England, Maurice Tate (4/12) and Arthur Gilligan (6/7) finished the job with the ball. South Africa managed to score 390 runs in the second innings while trailing by an innings and 18 runs.
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4. South Africa- 35 Runs Against England In 1899 At Cape Town
South Africa came close to registering their first Test win in the 1899 Cape Town Test against England, but the hosts were dissolved for just 35 runs as 10 batters recorded a single-digit score. Proteas got off to a strong start in the second Test in Cape Town, bowling England out for 92 runs and taking an 85-run first-innings lead. However, Johnny Tyldesley’s century in the second innings helped England set a target of 246 runs, which proved too much for the hosts. Schofield Haigh smashed the Proteas line-up with seam bowling, finishing with figures of 6/11. Together with Albert Trott, who took four wickets, the duo bundled out South Africa for 35 runs in 22.4 overs and went on to win the game by 210 runs.
5. South Africa-36 Against Australia In 1932 At Melbourne, the fifth-lowest test score in the history
South Africa’s most devastating cricketing series was the 1932 tour to Australia, as it was the only time they lost a Test series 5-0. Proteas were dismissed for less than 50 runs twice in the same Test match. In the 1932 Melbourne Test, they were belittled at the hands of Australia. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, South Africa’s first innings was dismissed for 36 runs.
Syd Curnow is the only South African batsman with a double-digit score of 16 runs; the rest of the batsmen were all out for a single-digit score. South Africa scored 45 runs in the second inning, but Australia won by an innings and 72 runs. Sir Donald Bradman, Australia’s greatest batsman, scored 806 runs in the first four Tests but was unable to play in the final Test in Melbourne due to injury. Bert Ironmonger went on to take 11 wickets in that game.
6. Australia– 36 Runs Against England In 1902 At Birmingham
On Australia’s Ashes tour to England in 1902, they recorded their lowest total score in Test cricket, which still stands at the top of the list. The immortal Wilfred Rhodes hammered the visiting side with a sensational bowling performance, and Johnny Tyldesley’s 138 got them to 376 in their first innings. Despite having big names like Victor Trumper, Clement Hill, Syd Gregory, and Joe Darling (Skipper) in their lineup, the Aussies only managed to score 36 runs in the first innings and were bowled out in 23 overs. Wilfred Rhodes took 7 wickets in the first innings. Australia managed to score 46/2 in the second innings (Following on) and the match was drawn.
7. India- 36 Runs Against Australia In 2020 At Adelaide
Team India is one of the top teams, with the top spot in the Men’s Test team rankings, but this score shocked and surprised everyone, as the Indian team was bowled out for 36 in the Adelaide Test in 2020, the first day-night match between the two sides. This was India’s lowest-ever total in an international innings across all formats. As Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ran through the line-up, they were the main architects of this devastation, picking up 5 and 4 wickets respectively. The innings ended with India at 36/9, and Australia was set a 90-run target, which they chased down in 21 overs.
8. Ireland- 38 Runs Against England In 2019 At London
Ireland, the newly promoted Test team, was about to record their most memorable victory of 2019 against England at The Lord’s. The visitors bowled out England for 85 runs, establishing a 122-run first-innings lead. In response, England batted better than they did in their first innings, and with the fifties from Jack Leach and Jason Roy, the Ireland team was set an achievable target of 182 runs. On what appeared to be a historic day in Irish cricket, the dreams were dashed sooner than expected, as they were thrashed for 38 runs in 16 overs. As Chirs Woakes and Stuart Broad took 6 and 4 wickets, respectively, and destroyed Ireland.
9. New Zealand- 42 Runs Against Australia In 1946 At Wellington
It is New Zealand’s second-lowest total in Test cricket history, after being bowled out for 42 against Australia in Wellington in 1946. New Zealand batted first, led by Walter Hadlee, and was dismissed for 42 runs in 40 overs. The visitors (Australia) took a 157-run lead. The Kiwis were bowled out for 42 runs in their first innings and 54 runs in their second. Australia won by an innings and 103 runs, with skipper Bill Brown’s and Sid Barnes’ half-centuries proving crucial. With the legendary Billy O’Reilly and Ernie Toshack in full flow, the team led by Walter Hadlee got off to a disastrous start. Bill O’Reilly took five wickets, while Ray Lindwall chipped in with one.
10. Australia- 42 Runs (Lowest Test Score Ever) Against England In 1888 At Sydney
In 1988, England visited Australia for a single Test match in Sydney. The Sydney Test between Australia and England in 1888 is noteworthy. Batting first, the visitors scored 113 runs, but Australia was bowled out for 42 runs in their first innings, with Tom Garrett (10 runs) reaching double figures. England scored 137 runs in their second innings on a difficult batting surface. Chasing 209 runs, the hosts were dismissed once again on the lowest total of 82 runs. England dominated the Test of the tour, winning by 126 runs.
Conclusion
So, there you have it lowest test score ever we hope that this article has covered everything you need to know about the lowest totals of all time in test cricket history. This lowest test score ever is based on reports from other news sources, and ESPNcricinfo. Our website does not claim that all of the facts stated are authentically verified.
