5 biggest victory margins by runs in Tests

Second Test - Australia v Pakistan: Day 3

As far as Test match defeats are concerned, the one by an innings is perhaps the most embarrassing but the ones in which teams lose by a whopping run margin can be equally embarrassing.

It is a record that remains in the record books for eternity and is a constant reminder of a harrowing Test match defeat. It reveals a huge gulf in the abilities of the winners and the losers.

Here is a look at the 5 of the heaviest defeats suffered by a team in Test cricket in terms of runs.

#5 Australia beat Pakistan by 491 runs at Perth (2004)

Pakistan have suffered their fair share of embarrassing Test defeats over the years but none were quite as bad as the mauling they received at the hands of Australia at Perth back in 2004. In the 1st Test of that series, Australia were put into bat first and although the bowlers did well, Justin Langer’s 191 saw the hosts score 381. When Pakistan batted Michael Kasprowicz (5 for 30) and Shane Warne (3 for 38) proved too much as Pakistan were bundled out for 179.

With a 202 run lead in pace, Australia piled on the misery with the 90s from Langer and Ricky Ponting and a century from Damien Marty. They declared at 361 for 5 and set Pakistan a target of 564. Everyone must have expected a bit of fight from Pakistan to save the Test, but they ran into Glenn McGrath. The Australian legend carved open their top order and picked 8 wickets for 24 runs in 16 overs as Pakistan crashed to 72 all out in the 32nd over. The 491 run margin of victory remains the 5th highest in history.