Winning Low First innings Totals
The prospect of India winning the first test against New Zealand in Mohali having scored only 83 in their first innings prompts the question "is this a record?" The short answer is no, but it would be the lowest winning first innings total in tests
Peter Hoare
14-Oct-1999
The prospect of India winning the first test against New Zealand in
Mohali having scored only 83 in their first innings prompts the
question "is this a record?" The short answer is no, but it would be
the lowest winning first innings total in tests for almost fifty years
and the lowest for a home side since 1907.
Here is a list of all lower instances in the 122-year history of test
cricket. The teams listed first won the matches.
Year Match Venue Total Batted Result 1st or 2nd 1887 England v Australia Sydney 45 1st 13 runs 1882 Australia v England The Oval 63 1st 7 runs 1894 England v Australia Melbourne 75 1st 94 runs 1950 Australia v S Africa Durban 75 2nd 5 wkts 1907 England v S. Africa Leeds 76 1st 53 runs 1935 England v W Indies Bridgetown 81-7d 2nd 4 wkts
England's 45 in 1887 remains their lowest ever test score, achieved
after being put in by PS McDonnell, the first time a captain had made
this choice after winning the toss.
Australia's victory in 1882 began the Ashes legend when The Sporting
Times carried a mock obituary of English cricket.
It may seem surprising that England would have declared on such a low
score in their first innings in 1935. Rain had produced a 'sticky'
wicket. It was quite common for teams to declare in these conditions
to get the opposition in (and out) before the sun returned the pitch
to a normal state. Remarkably, West Indies also declared their second
innings at 51-6, setting England only 73 to win.
Australia's fightback in 1950 was one of the great rearguard actions
of test history. Their 236 run first innings deficit may be partly
explained by the fact that Neil Harvey and Sam Loxton batted at nine
and ten (anybody know why?). South Africa were dismissed for 99 and
when Australia were 95-4 in their second innings it looked all
over. Enter the genius of Neil Harvey with 151*. Supported by Loxton
and McCool he saw Australia to their target of 336 with five wickets
and 25 minutes to spare.
In the modern era of monitored and covered pitches an Indian victory
would be a remarkable achievement.