Test cricket has a reputation for long-lasting and high-scoring games. However, there are times when the performances of the teams are so unexpected that their innings end with ridiculous low scores
These peculiar events usually astonish the public and make historical records, though not the one that any team would like to be a part of. Just recently, Australia surprised the West Indies by restricting them to 27 runs when they played with a pink ball.
Lowest Scores in Test Cricket
5. South Africa – 35 All Out vs England (Cape Town, 1899)
The game was held in Cape Town and the year was 1899 when England was touring South Africa. The South African team could not even reach 40 and were all out at a total of 35 runs. The bowlers of England, Schofield Haigh and Albert Trott benefited the most from the situation taking up 6 and 4 wickets in that order. It was one of numerous occasions when England had complete control over South Africa and it was one of the most embarrassing for South Africa as England won the Cape Town Test by a margin of 210 runs.
4. South Africa – 30 All Out vs England (Birmingham, 1924)
South Africa found itself in a very tough situation again in 1924 when they were bowled out for just 30 runs in their second inning in the Birmingham Test. Maurice Tate and Arthur Gilligan divided the wickets between them and did not allow the batsmen any room to breathe.
The home team had earlier made 438 runs in the first inning and enforced the follow-on to win the game by an inning and 18 runs. It was another demonstration of the difficulties that South Africa faced during their early Test history.
3. South Africa – 30 All Out vs England (Gqeberha, 1896)
In the early days of Test cricket, South Africa were playing against England in Gqeberha (then called Port Elizabeth). In their second innings, still aiming at a considerable target they were bowled out for only 30 runs.
The bowlers from England, notably George Lohmann, were too much for the batters from South Africa. Lohmann’s figures of 8 for 7 in this innings are among the greatest ever recorded in history. It was a dreary period for the South African cricket team, which was still making its way in the world of international cricket.
2. West Indies – 27 All out vs Australia (Kingston, 2025)
The West Indies scored a mere 27 runs in an innings at the Kingston Test in 2025, and the Australians were the ones to make it happen. The Australian pace attack tore through the West Indian batting order, who were left with the second-lowest total in Tests. The wicket was not impossible to bat on, but the left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc ran riot with the pink ball.
He took a 5-wicket haul in just 15 balls of the last innings. Later, he bagged 6 wickets for 9 runs in 7.3 overs, leading the Windies to a total of just 27 runs. This collapse will be noted as the most unfortunate event in Caribbean cricket history.
1. New Zealand – 26 All Out vs England (Auckland, 1955)
This is still the lowest team total in Test history. It occurred back in March 1955 at Eden Park in Auckland. In the second innings, England bowled out New Zealand for only 26 runs. The pitch certainly supported the bowlers, but the batting collapse was dramatic nonetheless.
New Zealand’s highest scorer, who was also one of the five batters that did not score at all, made only 11 runs. England’s fast bowler Bob Appleyard captured 4 wickets for a mere 7 runs. Brian Statham and Frank Tyson distributed 3 and 2 wickets, respectively, to dismiss the Kiwis for 26. It remains a record no team is eager to break.
