Top 5 fewest balls bowled in a completed Test innings ft. SA vs SL 2024
Cricket, the Test format, in particular, can always take one by surprise, reminding us time and again as to why it is the toughest format and requires more than just skills to excel in.
While cricket is always looked at as a game dominated by batters, bowlers have always had their fair share of record-breaking performances, keeping the contest between the bat and the ball pretty much alive and exciting to watch at the same time.
Test cricket has seen teams put up massive totals and bat out days together. However, there have also been several instances where teams have struggled to bat out even an entire session, let alone a day or days together.
In the ongoing first Test at Durban between South Africa and Sri Lanka, the visitors were left shell-shocked as they were skittled out for a paltry total of just 42 runs in their first innings, creating several unwanted records in the process as well.
South Africa took 83 to bowl Sri Lanka out, which is also the second-fewest balls bowled in a completed Test innings. Interestingly, however, the South Africans themselves top this list.
Having said that, here are the top five fewest balls bowled in a completed Test innings.
Top 5 fewest balls bowled in a completed Test innings
#5 England - 94 balls vs Australia, 1902
During England's tour of Australia back in 1902, the second Test was played in Melbourne, where the hosts won by 229 runs. In the first innings, Australia managed to score 112 runs.
However, their bowlers led their fightback as they bowled England out for just 61 runs in the second innings of the match. Only Gilbert Jessop (27) and Archie MacLaren (13) scored in double figures. It took the hosts only 94 balls to bowl England out.
#4 Ireland - 94 balls vs England, 2019
The only Test during Ireland's tour of England in 2019 was played at Lord's. Batting first, the hosts were left stunned as Ireland bowled them out for just 85 runs and put up 207 runs in the second innings.
However, England came back into the contest, scoring 303 runs in the third innings and setting the visitors a target of 182 runs. Ireland faltered in the chase and were cleaned up for just 38 runs in the fourth innings. The hosts took just 15.4 overs, or 94 balls, to bowl Ireland out and complete a solid win.
#3 South Africa - 94 balls vs England, 1896
South Africa hosted England in 1896 and the first Test was played at Gqeberha. England managed to score 185 runs in the first innings. In reply, the hosts were bowled out for just 93 runs in the second innings.
In the third innings, the visitors scored 226 runs, setting South Africa a target of 319 runs. It proved to be way too much for the hosts to get as they were skittled out for just 30 runs, handing England a massive 288-run victory. England managed to bowl South Africa out in just 94 balls in the fourth innings of the match.
#2 Sri Lanka - 83 balls vs South Africa, 2024
In the ongoing first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Durban, Sri Lanka started well by bowling South Africa out for 191 runs in the first innings. However, the hosts bounced back in grand fashion to bundle Sri Lanka out for just 42 runs in the second innings of the game.
Sri Lanka's batters faltered as only Kamindu Mendis (13) and Lahiru Kumara (10*) got to double figures. The hosts took just 83 deliveries to clean up the Lankans, which is the second-fewest balls bowled in a completed Test innings.
#1 South Africa - 75 balls vs England, 1924
England and South Africa squared off in the first Test at Birmingham in 1924. Batting first, the hosts put up a formidable first innings total of 438 runs on the board.
In reply, however, the South Africans collapsed and were bundled out for just 30 runs as not even a single batter could reach double digits. England took just 12.3 overs, or 75 balls, to bowl the visitors out, which is the fewest balls ever bowled in a completed Test innings.