Modern Test cricket may be breaking records of the highest match aggregates, but sometimes the ball also rules completely. During the ICC World Test Championship, there were some matches where both innings together scored so few runs that they became the lowest combined total in the Test format. Here we have brought a list of those five unforgettable matches which became an unforgettable test for batting.
WTC matches where lowest combined total shocked everyone
India vs England, 2021 (Ahmedabad)
Runs 387 | Wickets 30 | Overs 140.2 | Run Rate 2.75 | Venue Ahmedabad | Match Date 24 Feb 2021
This Test has set a new trend in the modern era. The batting of both teams, especially England, could not stand against spin. Axar Patel took 11 wickets and the match ended in just 2 days. This became the lowest combined total match of WTC till date, where wickets fell in every session.
South Africa vs India, 2024 (Cape Town)
Runs 464 | Wickets 33 | Overs 107.0 | Run Rate 4.33 | Venue Cape Town | Match Date 3 Jan 2024
The Cape Town Test was not just a masterclass of pace bowling but also a perfect example of a batting collapse. The fall of 33 wickets in just 107 overs became a shocking moment of WTC. This match was not only included in the lowest match aggregates but also found a place in the fastest collapse list.
Australia vs South Africa, 2022 (Brisbane)
Runs 504 | Wickets 34 | Overs 144.2 | Run Rate 3.49 | Venue Brisbane | Match Date 17 Dec 2022
On the green top of Brisbane, the Australian bowlers did not allow the South African batting to settle down. Only 504 runs were scored and the result of the match was declared within two days. This Test made its place in the lowest-scoring and high-impact matches of the WTC.
Australia vs England, 2021 (Melbourne)
Runs 520 | Wickets 30 | Overs 180.4 | Run Rate 2.87 | Venue Melbourne | Match Date 26 Dec 2021
Boxing Day Test is usually a festival, but this match became a horror story for England. Australian bowlers dismantled their batting and the match total reached only 520. This also got included in ICC WTC’s Lowest combine total in Test list.
India vs Australia, 2023 (Indore)
Runs 547 | Wickets 31 | Overs 189.1 | Run Rate 2.89 | Venue Indore | Match Date 1 Mar 2023
The pitch in Indore showed the real magic of spin. Bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon maintained control in every innings. Even without any big score the match was full of excitement and the total stopped at just 547, which brought it into the elite club of lowest combined total matches.
Be it the highest match aggregates or the shortest innings, ICC WTC has given all kinds of emotions to fans. These five matches have shown that sometimes even fewer runs can become the most thrilling and memorable.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Highest Totals in ICC World Test Championship History
