Mitchell Starc took six wickets for nine runs and Scott Boland claimed a hat-trick as Australia dismissed the West Indies for 27 — the second-lowest total ever in test cricket — to win the third test by 176 runs on Monday (July 14, 2025)..
The West Indies missed the lowest score in test cricket by one run, due to a misfield.
South Africa were dismissed for their lowest totals four times in Test cricket viz. three times against England and one time against Australia.
Here are some of the lowest totals in Test cricket
26 New Zealand vs. England, Auckland, 1955
In this Auckland match, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. The Kiwis were bundled out for 200 with Brian Statham (4 for 28) and Bob Appleyard (3 for 38) were the main wicket takers. For New Zealand, John Reid top scored with a brilliant 73. Kiwi bowlers led by Alex Moir (5 for 62) restricted England for 246. England bowlers were on fire in the second innings and dismissed New Zealand for just 26 with Bob Appleyard (4 for 7) and Brian Statham (3 for 9) were the wreckers-in-chief. New Zealand’s Bert Sutcliffe was the top scorer with 11 and there were five ducks in the Kiwi second innings. England won by an innings and 20 runs. England bowled 27 overs to dismiss New Zealand for 26.
27 West Indies vs. Australia, Kingston, 2025
In this match, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. With some disciplined bowling from West Indian Shamar Joseph (4 for 33), Justin Greaves (3 for 56) and Jayden Seales (3 for 59), Australia were bundled out for 225 in the first innings. In reply West Indians buckled under pressure with some fiery bowling Scott Boland (3 for 34), Josh Hazlewood (2 for 32) and Pat Cummins (2 for 24) and were dismissed for 143. Leading by 82 runs, Australia was dismissed for just 121 with Alzarri Joseph (5 for 27) and Shamari Joseph (4 for 34) led from the front. Chasing a target of 204, West Indies were in the firing line of Mitchell Starc (6 for 9) and Scott Boland (3 for 2) and were dismissed for just 27 with seven ducks in the innings. Australia won the match by 176 runs. Starc’s first 15 balls delivered the fastest five-wicket haul in test history, and his 15th five-wicket innings in tests. Boland took a hat-trick in the Test. Australia needed just 14.3 overs to dismiss West Indies.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc shows the ball after dismissing West Indies’ Mikyle Louis to claim his 400th wicket in Test cricket on day three of the third Test match at Sabina Park in Kingston, on July 14, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AP
30 South Africa vs. England, Gqeberha, 1896
South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first in this match. Led by Bonnor Middleton (5 for 64), they bundled out England for 185. England’s bowling unit were on fire on that day and dismissed South Africa for 93 in the first innings. George Lohmann (7 for 38) was the main wicket-taker. Leading by 92 runs, England scored 226 in the second innings. Chasing a target of 319, South Africa were in the firing line of George Lohmann once again. He took (8 for 7) to dismantle South Africa for just 30. In all George Lohmann took 15 for 45 in the match. England won by 288 runs.
30 South Africa vs. England, Birmingham, 1924
South Africa won the toss and opted to field first. England scored a massive 438 led by some brilliant batting from Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Frank Woolley and Patsy Hendren. For South Africa George Parker took 6 for 152. South Africa were in all sorts of trouble with brilliant bowling from Arthur Gilligan (6 for 7) and Maurice Tate (4 for 12) and were dismissed for 30 in the first innings. None of the South African batsmen reached double figures in the first innings. Following on, South Africa batted well in the second innings. Riding on the century from Bob Catterall (120), South Africa were dismissed for 390. Once again it was Arthur Gilligan (5 for 83) and Maurice Tate (4 for 103) were the main wicket takers. England won the match by an innings and 18 runs.
35 South Africa vs. England, Cape Town, 1899
England won the toss and elected to bat first and immediately were in for some excellent bowling from South Africa. South Africans Jimmy Sinclair (6 for 26) and Bonnor Middleton (4 for 18) led from the front and dismissed England for 92 runs. Despite century from Jimmy Sinclair (106), South Africa were dismissed for 177 taking a lead of 85. In the second innings, England scored 330 runs with century from Johnny Tyldesley (112). Chasing a target of 245, South Africa were once again in spot bother with some exceptional bowling from Schofield Haigh (6 for 11) and Albert Trott (4 for 19) and dismissed for a meek 35. Thus England won the match by 210 runs.
36 South Africa vs. Australia, Melbourne, 1932
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, South Africa was in the firing line of some brilliant bowling from Bert Ironmonger (5 for 6) and Laurie Nash (4 for 18) and were all out for 36 in the first innings. In reply, Australia was also in spot of bother being dismissed for 153 with some excellent bowling from Sandy Bell (3 for 52), Neville Quinn (3 for 29) and Quintin McMillan (3 for 29). Leading by 117 runs, Australian bowlers once again rose to the occasion and dismissed South Africa for just 45 with Bert Ironmonger taking 6 for 18. Australia won the match by 72 runs.
36 Australia vs. England, Birmingham, 1902
It was a three-day Test match in 1902. The match started on May 29 and ended on May 31. England won the toss and elected to bat first. Riding on 138 for Johnny Tyldesley, England scored 376 for 9 declared. England’s Wilfred Rhodes (7 for 17) and George Hirst (3 for 15), rattled the Australian innings and they were dismissed for just 36. Following on, Australia saved the test match by scoring 46 for 2 in 28 overs and saved the Test match. The match ended in a draw.
36 India vs. Australia, Adelaide, 2020
Australia’s Josh Hazelwood holds up the ball after getting figures 5 for 8 runs against India at Adelaide Oval on December 19, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia.
| Photo Credit:
Cricket Australia via Getty Images
India won the toss and elected to bat first. Riding on Virat Kohli (74), Cheteshwar Pujara (43), and Ajinkya Rahane (42), India scored 244 in the first innings. Mitchell Starc took (4 for 53) and Pat Cummins (3 for 48). The Indian bowlers led by Ravichandran Ashwin (4 for 55), Umesh Yadav (3 for 40) and Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 52) restricted Australia for 191. Taking a lead of 53 runs, Indians gained upper hand but the Australian bowlers were in a different mindset. Led by some fiery spell from Josh Hazlewood (5 for 8) and Pat Cummins (4 for 21), Indians were bundled out for just 36. None of the batsmen reached double figures. Chasing a target of 90 was a cakewalk for the Australians and they finished it style winning the Test by 8 wickets.
(with inputs from AP)
Published – July 15, 2025 09:38 am IST