In Test cricket, we often see teams putting up a big total around 500-600 runs in an innings. However, sometimes the pitch is not favorable for the batters and we might not see high scoring clashes in Test matches.
Throughout the years, there have been several instances where the teams couldn’t even reach the score of 100 runs in a Test innings.
In the following listicle, we will have a look at the top 10 lowest team totals in Test cricket.
Lowest team Total in Test Cricket
10. Australia – 42 Runs against England in 1888
The Australian cricket team registered one of the lowest scores in Test cricket in a match against England in Sydney in February 1888. Batting first, England were bowled out for just 113 runs. However, their bowlers still did a great job to take a lead against Australia as the hosts were bundled out for just 42 runs in their first innings giving England a lead of 71 runs. After that, England went on to give Australia a target of 209 runs and Australia were bowled our for just 82 runs in the second innings losing the match by 126 runs.
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9. New Zealand – 42 Runs against Australia in 1946
New Zealand registered one of their worst performances in Test cricket in a match against Australia in Wellington from March 29-30, 1946. Batting first, New Zealand were bowled for just 42 runs with nine of their batters failing to cross the double digit mark. In reply, Australia declared on 199/8 taking a lead of 157 runs. In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for just 54 runs losing the match by an innings and 103 runs.
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8. Ireland – 38 Runs against England in 2019
Ireland were on the verge of defeating England in a Test match at Lords cricket ground in July 2019. However, a poor batting performance ruined Ireland’s chances against hosts in the first-ever Test match between both countries. After bowling England out for just 85 runs, Ireland posted 207 runs taking a lead of 122 runs in the first innings. After that, England made a comeback in the second innings scoring 303 and giving Ireland a target of 182 runs. Chasing a target, Ireland were bundled out for just 38 runs registering their lowest Test score and England won the match by 143 runs.
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7. India – 36 Runs against Australia in 2020
The Indian cricket team registered their lowest ever team total in Test cricket in a match against Australia in Adelaide in December 2020. The visitors were going in the starting of the match and took a lead of 53 runs in the first innings. Now aiming to set a big target for Australia, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for just 36 runs in their second innings. In reply, Australia chased the target of 90 runs with ease winning the match by eight wickets.
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6. Australia – 36 runs against England in 1902
Australia registered their lowest total in Test cricket in a match against England in Birmingham in May 1902. After England posted 376/9 in their first innings, Australia were bowled out for just 36 runs giving England a lead of 340 runs. Enforced to follow on, Australia scored 42 runs for the loss of two wickets before the match ended in a tie.
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5. South Africa – 36 runs against Australia in 1932
The fifth lowest score in Test cricket belongs to South Africa as they were bowled out for just 36 runs in a match against Australia in Melbourne in February 1932. Replying to South Africa’s total, Australia got all out on 153 runs taking a lead of 117 runs in the first innings. Coming to bat in the second innings, the Proteas were bowled out for just 45 runs losing the match by an innings and 72 runs.
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4. South Africa – 35 runs against England in 1899
South Africa were bundled out for just 35 runs in a Test match against England in Cape Town in 1899. After bowling England out for 92 runs, South Africa got all out on 177 taking a lead of 85 runs in the first innings. After that, England made a comeback and set a target of 246 runs for South Africa. Chasing a target, the Proteas were thrashed for just 35 runs losing the game by 210 runs.
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3. South Africa – 30 runs against England in 1924
The South African cricket team makes an appearance again in the list of lowest team totals in Test cricket. In reply to England’s 438 runs in the first innings of a Test match in Birmingham in June 1924, South Africa were bowled out for just 30 runs trailing by 408 runs. After getting enforced to follow on, the Proteas gave a tough fight with the bat but still ended up losing the match by an innings an 18 runs.
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2. South Africa – 30 runs against against England in 1896
The second lowest total in Test cricket was posted by South Africa in a match against England in Gqeberha in February 1896. Chasing a target of 319 runs, South Africa were bowled out for just 30 runs losing the match by 288 runs.
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1. New Zealand – 26 runs against England in 1955
The lowest-ever team total in Test cricket belongs to New Zealand in a match against England in Auckland in March 1955. After trailing by 46 runs in the first innings, New Zealand were bowled out for a mere 26 runs and went on to lose the match by an innings and 26 runs.
