Top 10 lowest team totals in test cricket

Only twice teams have been bowled out under 30 runs in an innings in test cricket.

Test cricket is the oldest format of the game, which tests the skillset of players for five consecutive days. But, the different playing conditions, different types of cricket balls and different pitches make the lives of the players more difficult.

Test cricket has seen many highs and lows, from teams scoring almost 1000 runs in a single innings to some of the most horrific batting blunders. This article is also related to one such stat, where we will talk about some of the lowest team totals ever.

Since the inception of this format, there have been some weird scorecards where batters couldn’t buy a single run. Here we will talk about the top ten lowest ever totals in test cricket history.

List of the Top 10 lowest team totals in test cricket

10. New Zealand – 42 vs Australia, Wellington, 1946

New Zealand registered one of the lowest scores in tests back in 1946 at Wellington against Australia. This game saw a horrible batting show from the Kiwis, managing less than 100 runs across two innings. In the first innings, they were bowled out for just 42 runs, with only two batters registering double-digit scores. In the second innings, they scored only 54 runs and lost the game by an innings and 103 runs.

9. Ireland – 38 vs England, Lord’s, 2019

Ireland are the latest team to get test cricket status. They are very amateur in this format. In 2018, they made their test debut, and in 2019 against England at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, they registered their lowest test total.

It was a low-scoring thriller, where they bowled out the hosts for just 85 in the first innings before scoring 207 and gaining a lead of 122 runs. Following that, they conceded England 303 runs in the second innings, setting themselves a target of 182 runs. However, that proved out to be too much for the visitors as they were bundled for 38 runs, their lowest total in this format of the game.

8. India – 36 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2020

Indian fans can never forget the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2020-21 in Australia, which started with a horrible loss at the Adelaide Oval. It was a day-night test, and India were in a good position with a 53-run lead in the first innings.

But, they were blown away within a session for just 36 runs in 21.2 overs. No Indian batters scored in double digits. Josh Hazlewood (5/8) and Pat Cummins (4/21) broke the back of the Indian batting. India lost that game by eight wickets.

7. Australia – 36 vs England, Birmingham, 1902

Australia are among the oldest teams in this format and have had many ups and downs in their history. Their lowest test total came in a drawn match in Birmingham in 1932. England declared the first innings at 376/9. Opener Victor Trumper scored 18 runs for Australia, and the whole team managed a 36-run all-out in 23 overs. But because a lot of time was lost, the game ended in a draw. This is the only instance of a drawn game involving a team getting all out in less than 50 runs.

6. South Africa – 36 vs Australia, Melbourne, 1932

South Africa had great difficulties in this format initially as an amateur team. They have multiple low scores in tests. One of them came against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1932, where they were bowled out for just 36 runs in 23.2 overs. Interestingly, this score included eight extras. In the second innings, they scored 45 runs and lost the game by an innings and 72 runs.

5. South Africa – 35 vs England, Cape Town, 1899

Another low score for South Africa came at Cape Town in 1899 against England during the chase.

In the first innings, South Africa dismissed England for 92 runs before scoring 177 and gaining a lead of 85 runs. England bounced back well in the second innings and scored 330 runs, setting a target of 246 runs. However, the hosts succumbed for 35 and lost the game by 210 runs.

4. South Africa – 30 vs England, Birmingham, 1924

South Africa’s joint-lowest test total came at Edgbaston in 1924. In reply to England’s 438, South Africa had a horrible batting display, losing all ten wickets for just 30 runs in 12.3 overs, which included 11 extras. Arthur Gilligan (6/7) and Maurice Tate (4/12) caused the chaos with the ball. Though they scored 390 runs in the second innings, they lost the game by an innings and 18 runs.

3. South Africa – 30 vs England, Gqeberha, 1896

South Africa‘s lowest test total came in the early years for them in tests. It was also against England at Gqeberha in 1896. South Africa only managed 123 runs across two innings, which included a 30-run all-out in the second innings. Only Robert Poore (10) scored in double digits for them, and four batters got out on ducks. South Africa lost that game by an innings and 288 runs.

2. West Indies – 27 vs Australia, Kingston, 2025

The lowest team total in test cricket in the 21st century came in a Day/Night test between the West Indies and Australia in Kingston in 2025. It was a low-scoring test with no batters scoring a fifty across four innings.

Australia made 225 and 121 in two innings, and West Indies had the scores of 143 and 27. In the second innings, where the West Indies were chasing 204, they were mauled by Mitchell Starc, who took 6/9, and Scott Boland (3/2) who took a hat-trick.

West Indies managed to put only 27 runs in the scoreboard, which included six byes. Australia won the game by 176 runs.

1. New Zealand – 26 vs England, Auckland, 1955

The unwanted record for the lowest test total is registered under the name of New Zealand. It came in a home encounter for New Zealand against England in 1955 in Auckland. After scoring 200 runs in the first innings, the hosts conceded 246 runs to the visitors. Trailing by only 46 runs, the Kiwis were bowled out for just 26 runs to lose the game by an innings and 20 runs. Their innings included five ducks.

(All stats updated till 15th July, 2025)

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