Test cricket – It remains the format that is an ideal test for any cricketer to recognize his abilities, hard work and temperament to survive in a red-ball cricket (Test Cricket). Throughout the long history of cricket many great players have played cricket at the highest level but they still couldn't taste the success in test cricket as much as from the limited overs cricket. There are fine examples of cricketers like Michael Bevan and Yuvraj Singh Who were match-winners for their teams in limited overs cricket but when it comes to test cricket they have been struggling to either find the form or try to change their footwork.
With the advent of T20l cricket, the values of test cricket has been buried with the matches being ended up in a three days, thanks to modern day rules which gives more advantages to a batsman from a bowler point of view and batsman look to follow the same technique in test cricket which he follows in limited overs cricket and ended up being giving his wicket away cheaply to set the momentum of worst collapse. Although there are records in test cricket which have amazed the people but there are some records which definitely not good very proud moments for a team or captain.
Having said, let us take a look at the top five lowest scores in test cricket.
36 - INDIA VS AUSTRALIA, ADELAIDE, 2020:
India tour of Australia 2020, the first test match of the 4-match series begins at Adelaide after team India have decided to bat first after winning the toss but they were bowled at 244 in the first innings after Australian Speedstar Mitchell Starc picked up 4 for 53.
in the first innings. In reply the hosts Australia were restricted at the score of 191 runs thanks to Ashwin who picked up 4 for 55 alongside Umesh Yadav who picked up 3 crucial wickets to stop the opposition to take the lead. With the lead of 53 runs, team India was all set to dominate Australia with its complete batting to give the big target to Australia in the fourth innings of the match. But what happened next was the worst collapse of a decade or I had ever seen since my childhood as team India was 9 down for 36 before Mohammad Shami was retired hurt and no Indian batsman were able to reach double digits before giving the target of 90 runs to Australia in the fourth innings. Pat Cummins (4) and Josh Hazelwood (5) shared 9 Wickets in the second Innings to wrap up the best batting line-up of team India.
43 – BANGLADESH VS WEST INDIES, NORTH STAND ANTIGUA, 2018:
Bangladesh tour of West Indies, the first test match of a 2-match test series and hosts after winning the toss have decided to bowl first and in an span of few overs Bangladesh has registered the lowest total of 43 runs in the first innings of test cricket after the top-notch bowling from Kemar Roach who picked up 5 wickets for 8 runs. In reply, hosts West Indies have scored 406 runs in the first innings with the brilliant century from Karlos Brathwaithe (121) and handy knocks of from Shai Hope (67), Devon Smith (58) and Keiran Powell (48) to make the good lead in the first innings.
In the second innings, Kemar Roach was not playing due to hamstring injury but still Bangladesh only managed to score 144 runs and lost the match by 219 runs and an innings. Shannon Gabriel picked up 5 wickets in the second innings of West Indies. Kemar Roach was awarded Man of the match for his performance of 5 wickets for 8 runs in the first innings to help West Indies take 1-0 lead in the series.
Here is the wickets of Bangladesh that fell during first innings –
60 – AUSTRALIA VS ENGLAND, TRENT BRIDGE, 2015:
Australia toured England for a 5-match test series and they were already 2-1 in a series and it had come down to the fourth test match for Australia to keep the series alive. England after winning the toss have decided to bowl first and within the span of 93 minutes of match had played Australia registered his name into the history with the score of 60 runs in the first innings in terms of balls faced 111 by the team. Stuart Broad picked up 8 for 15 the best bowling stats by a bowler who featured in a Ashes Series Rivalry. In reply the hosts England has declared their first innings at the score of 391 runs for the 9 wickets.
Australia began their second innings with a solid opening partnership of 113 runs between David Warner and Chris Rogers before Ben Stokes strikes and removed the first three Australian batsmen to breach the defense of line-up as Australia only managed to score 253 runs in the second innings and lost the match by 78 runs and an innings. Stuart Broad was awarded with Man of the match as England took the 3-1 lead in the series.
Here is the wickets of Australia that fell during first innings –
51 – ENGLAND VS WEST INDIES, JAMAICA, 2009:
England tour of West Indies for 5-match test series. The tourists (England) won the toss and decided to bat first in the first test match of a series against the good pace attack of West Indies in the form Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach, Fidel Edwards and Sulieman Benn. England in the first innings scored 318 runs thanks to the brilliant knock from Kevin Pietersen (97) who just missed the century by 3 runs. In reply the hosts passed the first innings total of England to score 392 runs with a brilliant century from Sarwan (107) to help West Indies to take 78 runs of lead in the first innings.
England began the second innings and with the addition of 10 runs on the board they have lost their opener which triggered the collapse and within the addition of next 41 runs on the board they have lost the whole team at the score of 51 runs and lost the match by 23 and an innings. Jerome Taylor was awarded with Man of the match for his 5 for 11 in the second Innings. West Indies had taken the 1-0 and also won the series in the end by 1-0 as three matches were ended in a draw while one test match was abandoned.
Here is the wickets of England that fell during the second innings –
46 – ENGLAND VS WEST INDIES, PORT OF SPAIN, 1994:
England tour of West Indies for 5-match test series. It was all about Curtly Ambrose who picked up 26 wickets in the 5 matches of test series. Curtly Ambrose was one of the best fast bowlers ever produced by West Indies after the greats like Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding. After winning the first two games West Indies was a game away to win the series. While on the other side England had to win the third test match to keep the series alive. West Indies after winning the toss have decided to bat first and after the strong partnership at the top order but a collapse in the middle had restricted the hosts at the score of 252 runs in the first innings.
In response England had fought back after the early collapse to score 328 runs in the first innings with a brilliant knock from Graeme Thorpe (86). With the lead 76 runs England strike bowler Andrew Caddick picked up 6 wickets in the second innings to restrict the West Indies once again at the score of 269 runs. The target was 194 not a big one England but Curtly Ambrose had other plans who picked up 6 for 24 in the second innings and Within the 19.1 overs England second innings was all over at the score 46 runs. Curtly Ambrose was awarded with Man of the match for 11 Wickets in a match.
Here is wickets of England that fell during the second innings –
