Test Cricket is the oldest form of the sport with a history spanning more than a century. With the ICC World Test Championships, Test Cricket has found a new rhythm with games becoming more entertaining and nail-biting.
Test series like The Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, The Pataudi Trophy, and Gandhi-Mandela series among others have enthralled fans to the fullest in the last few years. Moreover, viewers also keep a keen eye on Test matches to know which team will reach the ICC WTC finals.
Although Test Cricket does not have limited overs, pitch and weather conditions often help bowlers to dominate batters. In some games, bowlers crushed the batting side thoroughly resulting in low totals. In this listicle, we glance at the top 10 lowest 1st innings score in Test Cricket.
10 Lowest 1st Innings Score In Test Cricket
10. England- 58/10 vs New Zealand (March 2018)
At the 10th spot, we have England with a 1st innings total of just 58 in a Test match against New Zealand. During England vs New Zealand 1st Test in March 2018, the Kiwis bowled out the Englishmen for just 58 in 1st innings. Later, they replied with a gigantic 427/8. Bowling out England for 32 in 2nd innings, the Blackcaps also won the encounter by an innings and 49 runs.
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9. South Africa- 58/10 vs England (June 1912)
Long ago in June 1912, England bowled out South Africa for 58 runs in 1st innings at Lord’s, London. This holds the record for the 9th lowest 1st innings total ever in Test Cricket. England posted 337 in reply and later bowled out Proteas for 217 in 2nd innings to win the match.
8. South Africa- 55/10 vs India (Jan 2024)
South Africa also gets the 8th spot on this list with a recent batting collapse against India. In the ongoing South Africa vs India 2nd Test, the Proteas got out for just 55 in 1st innings. This accounts for the eighth-lowest 1st innings score in Test cricket. The match takes place in Cape Town.
7. Zimbabwe- 54/10 vs South Africa (Mar 2005)
In March 2005 during a Test match between Zimbabwe and South Africa, the former was bowled out for just 54 in 1st innings. This records for the 7th lowest total in Test cricket. Zimbabwe arrived with a better total of 265 in 2nd innings. However, South Africa piled up 340 in 1st innings to eventually win the match by an innings and 21 runs.
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6. Australia- 53/10 vs England (June 1896)
Australia grabs the 6th spot on this unwanted list. When Aussies toured England for a Test series long back in 1896, they could only pile up 53 in 1st innings. The match at Lord’s witnessed Australia losing the match by 6 wickets in the end. This forgotten game is part of record books as it is one of the lowest 1st innings totals in Test cricket.
5. New Zealand- 45/10 vs South Africa (Jan 2013)
During the New Zealand vs South Africa match in January 2013, Blackcaps were bundled out for just 45 in 1st innings. The home team South Africa last won the match by an innings and 27 runs. Proteas posted 347/8 in 1st innings and it was enough to outplay the visitors New Zealand in the match.
4. England- 45/10 vs Australia (Jan 1887)
England holds the record for 4th lowest total ever in 1st innings of Test cricket. In January 1887 during the Australia tour, the English side was bundled out for 45 in 1st innings. It is one of the oldest Test matches when only a few nations used to play cricket.
However, despite a collapse in 1st innings, England won the match by 13 runs in the end. They posted 184 in 2nd innings and bowled out Australia for just 97 in the final innings against a target of 111.
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3. Bangladesh- 43/10 vs West Indies (July 2018)
Bangladesh got all out for just 43 in 1st innings during a Test match against West Indies in July 2018. It is the 3rd lowest 1st innings total ever. Bowling out Bangladesh for 43 & 144 in both innings, West Indies won the Test by a huge margin of an innings and 219 runs. The Carribean side piled up 406 in the lone innings they batted.
2. New Zealand- 42/10 vs Australia (Mar 1946)
New Zealand holds the unwanted record of 2nd lowest total in Test Cricket in 1st innings. During a clash with Australia in March 1946, New Zealand got all-out for 42 in 1st innings in Wellington. Australia replied with 199/8 (d) and again bundled out Kiwis for 54 in 2nd innings, winning by an innings and 103 runs.
1. South Africa- 36/10 vs Australia (Feb 1932)
South Africa has the record for the lowest-ever total in 1st innings of a Test match. During a clash against Australia in February 1932, Proteas got all out for just 36 in 1st innings. Australia also bowled them out for 42 in 2nd innings and won the match by an innings and 72 runs. Earlier, the Aussies posted 153 in 1st innings.
