Discover the top 5 lowest scores in ICC World Test Championship history, highlighting unforgettable moments of dramatic cricket collapses. The ICC World Test Championship (WTC) started in 2019 to make test cricket more meaningful. Before this, test matches were often seen as boring because losing didn’t have major consequences.
The WTC was created to find the best test team in the world. Now, every match, even unimportant ones, matters because points are given for wins and draws. This has made test cricket more competitive and exciting, with many close matches.
Batting collapses have always been a part of test cricket, and the WTC is no different. Teams have often struggled against strong bowling in tough conditions.
Let’s now look at the five lowest team scores in ICC World Test Championship history.
5. India – 36 vs Australia, 2020, Adelaide
The lowest total in ICC World Test Championship history is India’s 36 against Australia in Adelaide in 2020.
India was in control of the match after gaining a small lead in the first innings. However, in their second innings, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins destroyed India’s batting with excellent seam and swing bowling.
The two bowlers took nine wickets together, limiting India to just 36 runs (one player retired hurt).
Australia won the match by eight wickets. Tim Paine was named Player of the Match for scoring 73 runs in the first innings and taking seven catches.
4. Bangladesh – 53 vs South Africa, 2022, Durban
While chasing 274 against South Africa in Durban, Bangladesh struggled and lost the first test of the two-match series.
Their batting collapsed as South African spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer dominated. Bangladesh started well by limiting South Africa to 350 and replying with 298.
Fans had high hopes for Bangladesh to fight hard on a spin-friendly pitch. However, they couldn’t build any momentum in the chase.
Keshav Maharaj took seven wickets for just 32 runs, completely dismantling their batting. He was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
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3. Sri Lanka – 42 vs South Africa, 2024, Durban
In the first Test of Sri Lanka’s 2024 tour of South Africa, Sri Lanka was all out for just 42 runs in their first innings in Durban.
Their bowlers did a good job, limiting South Africa to 191 runs, but the Sri Lankan batsmen couldn’t support their efforts. Marco Jansen destroyed Sri Lanka’s batting, taking seven wickets in just 6.3 overs. Rabada and Coetzee took the remaining three wickets, leading to Sri Lanka’s lowest score in Test history.
2. India – 46 vs New Zealand, 2024, Bengaluru
India faced a shocking batting collapse, scoring only 46 runs against New Zealand in Bengaluru in 2024. After choosing to bat first on a damp pitch under cloudy skies, the Indian batters were completely destroyed by New Zealand’s fast bowlers.
Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and William O’Rourke took all 10 Indian wickets. Henry got five wickets, the fourth time in his career, while O’Rourke took four. New Zealand went on to win the match by eight wickets.
1. South Africa – 55 vs India, 2024, Cape Town
The second Test of India’s 2024 tour of South Africa made history. It was the shortest completed Test match ever, lasting just 107 overs (642 balls).
South Africa batted first after winning the toss but were all out for just 55 runs. Mohammed Siraj led India’s bowling attack brilliantly, taking six wickets for just 15 runs in 24 overs.
India scored 153 in their first innings, while South Africa managed 176 in their second innings. India easily chased the target of 80 runs and won the match on the second day. Siraj was named Player of the Match for his amazing bowling in the first innings.
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