Top 5 lowest totals by England in Ashes Tests

England have registered a total of less than 50 in The Ashes only once.

The Ashes is the oldest test rivalry in cricket, which commenced in 1882 with a one-off test match between the Australian Cricket Team and the England Cricket Team at The Oval, London. Over the years, the test series has enthralled cricket fans with nail-biting encounters between both sides.

Currently, The Ashes is played every two years, with England and Australia hosting the campaign alternately. While both sides have registered mammoth totals in The Ashes history, there were also a few matches where they suffered a humiliating batting collapse.

According to records, a team total of less than 50 runs was registered in The Ashes on four previous occasions.

Moreover, Australia owns the unwanted record of the top three lowest totals, while England have been all out for less than 50 runs only once. On that note, below are England’s top five lowest totals in The Ashes.

England’s lowest totals in The Ashes-

5. 61/10 (AUS vs ENG 2nd Test, Melbourne, The Ashes 1901-02)

In the second test of The Ashes 1901-02 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, England were bowled out for just 61 runs in the first innings. The visitors opted to bowl first after winning the toss in the encounter, which was a low-scoring thriller.

Australia were bowled out for 112 runs in the first innings, with Sydney Barnes (6 wickets) and Colin Blythe (4 wickets) playing a crucial role in bowling.

However, England were bundled out for just 61 runs, with a stunning seven-wicket haul by Aussie all-rounder Monty Noble.

With a century by Reggie Duff, Australia bounced back with a better total of 353 in the second innings, setting a target of 405 runs for England. Getting bowled out for 175 runs, England lost the clash by 229 runs.

4. 61/10 (AUS vs ENG 5th test, Melbourne, The Ashes 1903-04)

England’s second-lowest total in The Ashes came in the 1903-04 edition, in the fifth test of the five-match series at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Electing to bat first, Monty Noble-led Australia piled up 247/10 in the first innings, with a marvellous half-century by opener Victor Trumper.

England lost their wickets like a house of cards, getting bowled out for just 61 runs. Noble (4) and Tibby Cotter (6) led Australia’s bowling attack, giving a big blow to the visitors.

Despite getting bowled out for 133 runs in the second innings, Australia set up a mammoth target of 320 runs for England. The latter were bowled out for 101 runs, losing the encounter by a huge margin of 318 runs.

3. 53/10 (ENG vs AUS 1st Test, The Lord’s, The Ashes 1988)

In the 1988 series, England struggled against Australia at home in the opening game at The Lord’s, losing the clash by 61 runs.

Opting to bat first, the visitors were bowled out for 116 runs, with none of their batters hitting a half-century. However, Australia made a wonderful comeback in bowling, demolishing England for just 53 runs with a five-wicket haul by Charlie Turner.

Later, they set a target of 124 runs for the hosts by getting bowled out for 60 runs in the second innings. England failed to win the clash despite the low target, getting all out for just 62 runs. Notably, none of the batters from both sides scored a half-century in the low-scoring thriller.

2. 52/10 (ENG vs AUS 5th Test, The Oval, The Ashes 1948)

England and Australia clashed at The Oval in the fifth and final test of The Ashes 1948. After opting to bat first, England suffered a humiliating batting collapse in the first innings, getting bundled out for 52 runs. Opener Leonard Hutton was the only batter to score in double digits with his 30 runs.

Australian pacer Ray Lindwall clinched a spectacular six-wicket haul to dominate the opposition, while Keith Miller and Bill Johnson took two wickets each.

With an impeccable century by Arthur Morris (196), Australia posted 389 in the first innings, which was enough to secure a victory in the clash. England, getting bowled out for 188 runs in the second innings, lost the encounter by an innings and 149 runs.

1. 45/10 (AUS vs ENG 1st Test, Sydney, The Ashes 1886-87)

In the entire history of The Ashes, England have registered a total less than 50 only once, which occurred in the 1886/87 edition. Interestingly, England won the encounter despite their dismal batting show. In the first test of the two-match series in Sydney, the Arthur Shrewsbury-led side bowled out for just 45 runs in the first innings after being asked to bat first.

Charlie Turner and J.J. Ferris shared 10 wickets between them, as England lost nine of their batters for single digits. Australia also suffered a similar outing with the bat, getting bowled out for just 119 runs.

In the second innings, the visitors arrived with a better show, piling up 184 runs to set a target of 111 runs for the hosts.

Although Australia were quite confident to chase the total, England pacer Billy Barnes did not give any opportunity for victory.

With his six-wicket haul, he helped England to bowl out the opposition for just 97 runs, bringing the team home by 13 runs. Even after a century has passed, this match is still remembered as one of England’s greatest comebacks in the Ashes.

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