On 28th March 1955, New Zealand got the unwanted record of the lowest test score in an innings against England. New Zealand scored 200 in the first innings and England replied by scoring 246. Batting in the second innings with a 46 run deficit the New Zealand team were all out for just 26 runs and gave England the most unlikely innings win.
The chief destroyers for England were Bob Appleyard who took four for seven and Brian Statham with three for nine. For New Zealand, only the opener Bert Sutcliffe reached double-figure with four batsmen scoring ducks. This was a great way for Len Hutton to bid farewell to international cricket. England were returning victorious after a hard-fought Ashes in Australia and as was the trend those days they stopped in New Zealand to play a short series. This win gave them a 2-0 scoreline in the series.
Although we have some very low scores followed this match and this record was threatened many times, it is still there for more than 60 years now. In 2011 at Cape Town against South Africa, Australia were on 21 for nine and were on the verge of creating a new record. But a 26 run partnership between Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon saved the face for Australia. In 2018, England were on 23/8 against New Zealand and looked like an act of revenge was on its way. Then thanks to a 33 from Craig Overton that England passed 50 and finally all out for 58.
Out of the 10 lowest team totals in test matches seven were registered before the Second World War. The uncovered pitches in those days were key reasons for that. In this current age of T20 cricket, there are some magnificent collapses and you never know a total of less than 26 may be registered very soon.
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