CRICKET
Most wickets falling in a single day of a Test match
In Test cricket, some matches have witnessed an incredible fall of wickets in a single day of a Test match and have been deemed difficult for batting. Batters find it difficult to even stay in the middle let alone score runs in such pitches. The ratings for such pitches usually would either be average or poor. Despite the nature of the wicket, there would be widespread criticism over such pitches from the fans, former cricketers, experts, and others.
In the early days of cricket before the world wars, batting was considered to be the most difficult job in cricket. In those days, there were many instances of a side getting dismissed for good in just over a session or two. It used to happen very regularly. Even in the recent past, such incidents have been recorded. It shows that irrespective of the era one plays, there would be instances when the batting can be difficult.
Such things do not just depend on the nature of the wickets but also the quality of the players. Here are 5 instances where the greatest number of wickets fell in a single day’s play in a Test match.
23 – South Africa vs Australia, Cape Town 2011 (Day 2)
2011 (Source: X)
It was the Test match between Australia and South Africa in 2011 at Newlands in Cape Town. Batting first, Australia scored 284 runs on the back of Michael Clarke’s 151. Replying to it, the home side was dismissed for just 96 runs. Shane Watson and Ryan Harris claimed 5 and 4 wickets each in the innings for Australia.
South Africa gave a mammoth blow to Australia in the second innings with their exceptional bowling. The home side dismissed Australia for just 47 runs in the second innings. Vernon Philander picked 5/13, Dale Steyn picked 2/23, and Morne Morkel picked 3/9, as a whopping 23 wickets fell on the second Day of the Test match.
23 – South Africa vs India, Cape Town 2024 (Day 1)
2024 (Source: X)
It is the most recent Test match between South Africa and India. Batting first, SA was undone for a paltry score of 55 runs in their backyard. Mohammad Siraj claimed a 6/15 with the ball and inflicted the collapse against the home side. In reply to it, India was going on with a score of 153/4 at one stage.
That was when the duo of Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada ran through the rest of the batting order of India to claim 6 wickets in 11 balls coupled with a runout. Indian bowlers further made inroads into the South African innings by picking 3 wickets. The first Day of the Test ended with 23 wickets falling, the second highest on the first day of a Test match.
24 – England vs Australia, The Oval 1896 (Day 2)
1896 (Source: X)
It was the Test match between England and Australia in 1896 at The Oval. Ashes was gaining a huge hype during the period and the players were up for the contest between bat and ball like always. The fans had anticipated a good contest that would last for a good period. What followed was a feast for bowlers who dominated the game all the way.
England were dismissed for just 84 runs in their backyard in the second innings. Hugh Trumble was brilliant with the ball who picked 6 wickets. If that was not enough, England bowled even better and dismissed Australia for just 44 runs. Robert Peel picked 6 wickets after conceding only 23 runs as England won the match by 66 runs.
24 – India vs Afghanistan, Bengaluru 2018 (Day 2)
2018 (Source: X)
It was the first and only Test match between India and Afghanistan to date. The match happened in 2018 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The wicket was flat for the most part. Both the Indian openers, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, scored hundreds and helped India to score 474 runs.
Replying to it, an inexperienced Afghanistani batting lineup was dismissed twice on the same day for a score of just over 100 runs. In the first innings, India dismissed Afghanistan for 109 runs. In the second innings, India dismissed the visiting side for just 103 runs on a wicket that did not do a lot for the bowlers like the other helping wickets.
25 – Australia vs England, Melbourne 1902 (Day 1)
1902 (Source: X)
It was the Test match between Australia and England at the iconic MCG in 1902. On the very first day of the match, the batters danced to the tones of the bowlers. On a sticky wicket, there was no way out for the batters. The domination of the bowlers was written all over and they did perform so well that the batters had no answers whatsoever.
Sydney Barnes bowled a sensational spell for England. The star bowler claimed 6/42 in the first innings and reduced Australia to a total of just 112 runs. Australia bowled even better and dismissed the visiting side for 67 runs. Monty Noble claimed 7/17 in his spell of 7.4 overs. Sydney Barnes claimed 7/121 in a long spell of 64 overs and ended up losing the match.
27 – England vs Australia, Lord’s 1888 (Day 2)
1888 (Source: X)
It was the second day of play in the Test match between Australia and England in 1888. Back in time, cricket was not played regularly at the highest level. The match between the 2 sides took place at the home of cricket, Lord’s. Only in one innings did a side score more than 100 runs. It was one such Test. On the first day, the wicket was decent to play.
On the second day of the Test, the wickets fell like a pack of cards. Replying to 116 runs from Australia, England was undone for just 53 runs. Australians were dismissed for just 60 runs in their second innings. The target was 124 which was a lot on a wicket that was swinging for fun. Australia successfully defended the total as they dismissed England for just 62 runs. 27 wickets fell on the 2nd Day of the Test.