Biggest Innings Defeats In Test Cricket: Test cricket has seen numerous matches that one will never forget, but some are remembered for the sheer dominance that one team enjoys over the other.
Innings defeats in Test cricket are the worst kind of humiliation, where a team does not even manage to equal the opponent’s first-innings score in both their innings. The most recent example appeared in August 2025, when Zimbabwe experienced one of the worst innings defeats in Test cricket history.
List of the 7 biggest innings defeats in Test cricket
1. England Defeated Australia by an Innings and 589 Runs – The Oval, 1938
The largest ever innings win in Test cricket history was achieved in The Ashes 1938. England heaped up a staggering 903/7 declared, which remains the second-highest team score in Tests.
Australia responded with 201 and 123, not being able to come back from Len Hutton’s triple-century record-breaking effort. Bill Bowes and Ken Farnes made the visitors have no hope. This innings and 589 runs margin has been the worst Test innings defeat for almost a century.
2. Australia Crush South Africa by an Innings and 360 Runs – Johannesburg, 2002
In 2002, Australia inflicted the worst home Test defeat on South Africa at the Wanderers when Adam Gilchrist smashed a marvelous double hundred as Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne ripped through the South African batting lineup. It was Australia’s largest innings win in Test history.
3. New Zealand Humiliate Zimbabwe by an Innings and 359 Runs – Bulawayo, 2025
In August 2025, Zimbabwe collapsed to their worst innings defeat to date, losing to New Zealand by an innings and 359 runs.
This defeat surpassed their worst ever (innings and 301 runs against New Zealand in 2012).
It was also the third time the Black Caps had handed Zimbabwe a thumping innings defeat. The game was also significant, being Brendan Taylor’s comeback to the team after almost four years.
4. West Indies Thrash India by an Innings and 336 Runs – Eden Gardens, 1958
India’s biggest innings defeat came at home to the West Indies in 1958. Rohan Kanhai scored a double century, while Butcher and Garry Sobers also scored hundreds, to put together an enormous first innings total.
Roy Gilchrist picked up six wickets to clean up the tail in the third innings. This has been India’s worst innings defeat, and the biggest innings win in the history of Indian Test cricket.
5. Australia Thrash England by an Innings and 332 Runs – Brisbane, 1946
Eight years since their worst innings loss to England, Australia retaliated with an overwhelming victory. A record total of 645, supported by Don Bradman’s century, was the perfect beginning. Keith Miller and Ernie Toshack tore apart England with 7 and 6 wickets respectively. This remains the biggest innings win in Australia’s Test cricket history.
6. Pakistan Dominates New Zealand by an Innings and 324 Runs – Lahore, 2002
A huge innings defeat involving New Zealand was also experienced in Lahore, 2002. Inzamam-ul-Haq dominated Pakistan with a rare triple century. Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria shared 11 wickets between them, clinching an authoritative victory. It has always been difficult to play in Pakistan, and this game showed why.
7. West Indies Rout New Zealand by an Innings and 322 Runs – Wellington, 1995
Completing the list is the crushing victory of the West Indies against New Zealand on the latter’s home turf. A whopping 660/5 declared was constructed on centuries from Jimmy Adams, Brian Lara, and Junior Murray. Courtney Walsh took 13 wickets to claim the Player of the Match award. This is New Zealand’s heaviest home innings defeat.
Largest Winning Margins in Test Cricket (by an Innings and Runs)
| Rank | Winning Team | Losing Team | Margin | Venue | Year |
| 1 | England | Australia | Innings and 579 runs | The Oval | 1938 |
| 2 | Australia | South Africa | Innings and 360 runs | Johannesburg | 2002 |
| 3 | New Zealand | Zimbabwe | Innings and 359 runs | Bulawayo | 2025 |
| 4 | West Indies | India | Innings and 336 runs | Eden Gardens | 1958 |
| 5 | Australia | England | Innings and 332 runs | Brisbane | 1946 |
| 6 | Pakistan | New Zealand | Innings and 324 runs | Lahore | 2002 |
| 7 | West Indies | New Zealand | Innings and 322 runs | Wellington | 1995 |
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