What Is the Lowest Innings Score in Test Cricket? Full List!

Test cricket always throw surprises at both players as well as the spectators. The reason it is known as the purest format of the game is because the game can tilt in one session. Unlike ODIs and T20Is, where batters have more say, Test cricket keeps bowlers more in the game than batters. This is because the red ball is completely different to the white ball and produces movement from the pitch. 

Over the years, Test cricket has seen some of the enthralling games that have gone down the wire and even have finished early. There have been times as well in the longest format of the game when bowlers have completely asserted their authority over the batters. This has seen teams getting all out for low totals and getting under pressure right from the start. In his piece, we take a look at the lowest innings score in Test cricket

New Zealand getting out for 26 runs against England in Auckland Test in 1955

New Zealand holds the record for the lowest innings score in Test cricket. This came in the game against England in 1955 at Auckland. The Black Caps got out for just 26 runs in the third innings which is still intact as the lowest score by any team in an innings in Tests. The Kiwis opted to bat first and they had a decent outing with the bat in first innings. 

Opening the batting, Bert Sutcliffe played a vital innings of 49 runs and made sure he stayed there at one end despite the team losing two quick wickets. John Reid, who batted at No.4, slammed a half-century and ended with an innings of 73 runs. England bowlers didn’t let other batters settle in at all and bundled out the Black Caps for 200 runs. Brian Statham was the pick of the bowlers as he picked four wickets while Bob Appleyard bagged three. 

England took a 46-run lead in the first innings based on the half-century by skipper Leonard Hutton, who played an innings of 53 runs. Peter May also played a decent hand of 48 runs. Based on collective effort with the bat, they posted a total of 246 runs. For New Zealand, Alex Moir was the star performer with the ball as he picked up five wickets. Johnny Hayes also took three wickets for the team. 

It was then a bizarre effort with the bat by New Zealand. The Black Caps got all out for just 30 runs as no other batter could go past the 12-run mark. England bowlers Bob Appleyard (4), Brian Statham (3), Frank Tyson (2) and Johnny Wardle (1) were all over the New Zealand batters and bundled them out in a flash. This saw England winning the game by a massive margin of innings and 20 runs. 

South Africa getting all out for 30 runs against England in Gqeberha in 1896 

South Africa is also amongst the teams to have gotten low scores in Test cricket. The Proteas team got all out for just 30 runs in the Test match against England at Gqeberha in 1896. Their lowest score came in the second innings and it saw them lose the game by a massive margin of 288 runs. 

England was asked to bat first and they didn’t have a great outing as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Openers Tim O’Brien (17) and George Lohmann (0) were back in the hut early. But after that, Tom Hayward (30) and  C.B. Fry (43) brought the team back into the game but couldn’t carry on after that. Bonnor Middleton was all over the opposition with the ball as he bagged a fifer and helped his team end the English innings for 185 runs. 

South Africa then came up with an even poorer batting effort than England. Tommy Routledge (22) and Frank Hearne (23) provided a vital start to the team with their opening partnership. But after that, England bowlers didn’t let the Proteas settle at all. No batter could go past the 15-run mark as George Lohmann wreaked havoc across the opposition's batting lineup. He picked up 7 wickets in a flash while Hugh Bromley-Davenport bagged two scalps as they bundled out South Africa for just 93 runs, taking a massive lead of around 90 runs. 

England then came up with a better batting performance in the second innings and extended their lead by a huge margin. Opening the batter Charles Wright (33) but none other than him from the top and middle order could get going. However, in the end, Sammy Woods (53), Lord Hawke (30) and Audley (20*) came up with vital contributions down the order. Based on their effort, they posted a total of 226 runs on the board, setting South Africa a total of 319 runs to chase. 

Chasing the target, was a forgettable effort with the bat for South Africa. They got all out for 30 runs. No batter could go past the 10-run mark as George Lohmann came up with another massive effort with the ball. He picked 8 wickets in the second innings and helped his team win the game by the massive margin of 288 runs. 

South Africa got all out for 30 runs against England in Birmingham in 1924

South Africa again features in the list of lowest scores in Test innings total in the longest format of the game. They achieved the unwanted feat against England but this time in Birmingham in 1924. The Proteas team got all out for 30 runs in their first innings which saw them losing the game by a massive margin of innings and 18 runs. 

South Africa opted to field first and they couldn’t take early wickets as England posted a massive total on the board.  The top four batters Jack Hobbs (76), Herbert Sutcliffe (64), Frank Wolley (64) and Patsy Hendren (74) slammed half-centuries to put the team in the top position. In the lower order, Roy Kilner (59) also hit a fifty that saw the Three Lions posting a total of 438 runs on the board. For the Proteas, George Parker picked 6 wickets while others around him supported him as well. 

In response, South Africa came up with a torrid effort with the bat as they were bundled out for just 30 runs. England bowlers were all over the opposition with Arthur Gilligan picking 6 wickets and Maurice Tate bagging 4 scalps. They didn’t let a Protea batter come out of the shell as no batter could go past the 7-run mark.

England then enforced a follow on and this time around South Africa came up with the better batting performance. But 30 all-out in the first innings cost them big time as they failed to go past the opposition’s total. Bob Catrell (120) slammed a staggering ton for the team to keep them in the hunt. He was supported well by Fred Susskind and Jimmy Blanckenberg, who slammed the fifties and helped the team go past 350 runs. But the Proteas got all out for 390 as Arthur Gilligan picked a fifer and helped the team win the game by innings and 18 runs. 

South Africa got out for 35 and 36 against England and Australia in 1899 and 1932 in Cape Town and Melbourne 

South Africa also features twice more in the list. They also have been bundled out for 35 runs against England. The match between the two teams took place in Cape Town in 1899. They faced a batting debacle in the last innings while chasing the target 246 runs and also went on to lose the game by the margin of 210 runs. 

The Proteas team also has gotten out on 36 runs in an innings in Test cricket. This time it came against Australia in the 1932 match, which took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While batting in the first innings, they got all out for 36 runs and then for 45 in the second innings. This saw them losing the game by the margin of innings and 72 runs. 

Australia getting all out for 36 against England in Birmingham in 1902 

The mighty Australian team was also on the unwanted list as they got all out for just 36 runs against England in the first game of the Ashes 1902. Not only in just one innings, they displayed poor batting effort in both innings. But even after the poor performance with the bat, they managed to draw the game. 

England opted to bat first and they had a great outing. Johnny Tyldesley (120) was the top performer for the team as he slammed a magnificent century and put Australian bowlers under pressure. Stanley Jackson (53) also made a decent effort along with George Hirst (48) as the Three Lions posted a total of 376 runs. For Australia, Ernie Jones was the pick of the bowlers as he picked three wickets while Victor Trumper bagged two scalps. 

Australia came up with a horrible batting effort as England's bowlers made the batters dance to their tunes. Victor Trumper was the top run-maker for the team with an 18-run knock. Wilfred Rhodes picked 7 wickets while George Hirst took three scalps as they ended the Australian innings for just 36 runs. England enforced follow and Australia lost two quick wickets but were 48/2 when the match ended in a draw.