The West Indies cricket team recently found themselves in the history books for an unwanted reason, being bowled out for a mere 27 runs against Australia, marking the second-lowest total ever recorded in Test cricket.
A Near-Record Collapse
In a stunning turn of events during the second innings of the third Test against Australia at Sabina Park in Kingston, the West Indies were bundled out for just 27 runs. This shocking performance meant they avoided setting a new lowest Test total by a mere one run.
The long-standing record for the lowest Test innings total remains with New Zealand, who were dismissed for 26 runs against England way back in 1955. While the West Indies narrowly escaped that specific ignominy, their 27-run total is still an incredibly rare and unfortunate milestone.
Australia’s Bowling Masterclass
The dramatic collapse was largely triggered by Australia’s star pacer, Mitchell Starc, who exploited the conditions of the day-night Test and the extra swing offered by the pink ball. Starc was unplayable with the new ball, claiming three wickets in the very first over of the innings.
Opener John Campbell was Starc’s first victim, nicking the ball behind for a golden duck. Starc continued his rampage, dismissing No. 3 Kevlon Anderson leg before wicket and clean bowling Brandon King on his first delivery, leaving the West Indies reeling at 0 for 3.
Boland’s Hat-Trick Adds to the Carnage
The destruction continued when Scott Boland joined the attack. In his second over, Boland achieved a rare feat, recording a hat-trick that further devastated the West Indies lineup and reduced them to a staggering 26 for nine. This moment brought them to the brink of the absolute lowest total in Test history.
Boland’s hat-trick made him the 12th Australian and the 49th overall player to achieve this milestone in Test cricket. Despite a misfield that allowed a single, momentarily pushing the score past New Zealand’s record of 26, Mitchell Starc soon returned to clean up the final wicket of Jayden Seales, ending the West Indies innings at 27 in just 14.3 overs.
An Unwanted Place in History
The West Indies’ 27 is not only the second-lowest Test total overall but also marks the lowest fourth-innings total ever recorded by any team. The previous lowest in a fourth innings was 30 by South Africa against England in 1896.
Historically, other low totals include South Africa’s two instances of 30 all-out, a 35, and two 36-run totals. Australia and India have also recorded 36 runs in an innings, highlighting the extreme rarity of such low scores in Test cricket.
- The West Indies were bowled out for 27 runs against Australia, marking the second-lowest total in Test cricket history.
- New Zealand holds the lowest Test total record with 26 runs, set in 1955.
- Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland were instrumental in the collapse, with Starc taking three wickets in the first over and Boland achieving a hat-trick.
- This 27-run total is also the lowest ever recorded in the fourth innings of a Test match.
Australia ultimately won the pink-ball Test by 176 runs, completing a dominant 3-0 whitewash in the series.
