South Africa were bowled out for 55 in the second Test match, at Cape Town. Here is a look at the lowest team scores in Test cricket against India.
Despite losing the toss, India bowled South Africa for 55 by lunch in the second Test of the two-match series, at Newlands, Cape Town. Mohammed Siraj led the rout with 6-15, while there was support from Mukesh Kumar (2-0) and Jasprit Bumrah (2-25).
Lowest scores in Test matches against India
South Africa’s 55 is the lowest total by any side against India, eclipsing New Zealand’s 62 at Mumbai in 2021/22. The four lowest team scores against India have all come since 2015/16. The previous lowest total by a team against India at home was 83, by Australia in the Melbourne Test match of 1980/81.
55 South Africa, Cape Town 2023/24
62 New Zealand, Mumbai 2021/22
79 South Africa, Nagpur 2015/16
81 England, Ahmedabad 2020/21
82 Sri Lanka, Chandigarh 1990/91
Lowest totals in Test cricket
However, South Africa’s 55 is nowhere close to being the lowest total in the 146-year history of Test cricket. Barring New Zealand’s 26 all out, the first entry on that list, most entries towards the top are from before the Second World War.
26 New Zealand v England, Auckland 1955/56
30 South Africa v England, Port Elizabeth 1895/96
30 South Africa v England, Birmingham 1924
35 South Africa v England, Cape Town 1898/99
36 Australia v England, Birmingham 1902
36 South Africa v Australia, Melbourne 1931/32
36 India v Australia, Adelaide 2020/21
Lowest totals in 21st-century Test cricket
India’s 36 all out against Australia at Adelaide is the lowest team total in the 21st century, while Ireland’s 38 against England at Lord’s is the only other total under forty.
36 India v Australia, Adelaide 2020/21
38 Ireland v England, Lord’s 2019
43 Bangladesh v West Indies, North Sound 2018
45 New Zealand v South Africa, Cape Town 2012/13
47 West Indies v England, Kingston 2003/04
47 Australia v South Africa, Cape Town 2011/12
Lowest Test match totals at home in the 21st century
Predictably, most entries on the above list have come away from home. It is uncommon for teams to get out cheaply in the familiarity of home conditions. In the 21st century, South Africa’s 55 is the second entry on the list, after only West Indies’ 47 against England at Kingston in 2003/04.
47 West Indies v England, Kingston 2003/04
55 South Africa v India, Cape Town 2023/24
59 Zimbabwe v New Zealand, Harare 2005
67 England v Australia, Leeds 2019
73 Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Kandy 2006
Lowest scores by South Africa since their readmission to Test cricket
Until the mid-1960s, South Africa were among the weaker sides in Test cricket. They peaked in the second half of the decade, only to be boycotted for over two decades. Since their readmission, in 1992, this was their lowest total.
55 v India, Cape Town 2023/24
73 v Sri Lanka, Galle 2018
79 v India, Nagpur 2015/16
83 v England, Johannesburg 2015/16
84 v India, Johannesburg 2005/06
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