We have heard a lot about low Test scores in the last few days. Here we list the bowlers who were responsible.
Here we see the Lowest Test scores (40 and below, 8 or more wickets lost):
While the 35/8 in 1953 was not an all-out score, it probably would have been quite low if the match had lasted a few more overs before time ran out. India’s 36 had one batsman retired hurt.
Listing all the bowlers in these innings:
NZ 26 (Tyson 2-10, Statham 3-9, Wardle 1-0, Appleyard 4-7)
SA 30 (1896): (Lohmann 8-7, Bromley-Davenport 1-23, Hayward 1-0)
SA 30 (1924): (AER Gilligan 6-7, M Tate 4-12)
SA 35 (Haigh 6-11, AE Trott 4-19)
Aus 35/8 (Bedser 2-14, Laker 2-11, Wardle 4-7)
Aus 36 (Hirst 3-15, Rhodes 7-17, Braund 0-1)
SA 36 (Nash 4-18, McCabe 1-4, Ironmonger 5-6)
Ind 36 (Starc 0-7, Cummins 4-21, Hazlewood 5-8)
Ire 38 (Broad 4-19, Woakes 6-17)
Note that in some cases only 2 bowlers bowled through the innings.
Now we look at India’s lowest Test scores (75 or less, 8 or more wickets lost):
36 (Starc 0-7, Cummins 4-21, Hazlewood 5-8)
42 (Arnold 4-19, Old 5-21, Hendrick 0-2)
58 (1947) (Lindwall 2-11, Johnston 2-17, Miller 1-26, Toshack 5-2)
58 (1952) (Bedser 2-19, Trueman 8-31, Laker 0-7)
66 (Donald 4-14, SM Pollock 3-25, Klusener 2-16, McMillan 0-9)
67 (Lindwall 1-9, L Johnson 3-8, Loxton 1-10, Johnston 2-15, Ring 3-17)
75 (Patterson 5-24, WW Davis 3-20, W Benjamin 1-17, Walsh 1-13)
As we can see, India had the misfortune to run into the leading attacks of Australia, England and South Africa at various times.
The scores of 36 had the No 11 batsman retired hurt, and the 42 had one batsman absent hurt (though he was also No 11, so it should not have mattered much).
Toshack’s 5-2 is the best analysis by any bowler with 5 or more wickets in an innings. The next best is 6-3 by J Lawson vs Bangladesh in 2002. However, CA Walsh has taken 5-1 in an ODI.
L Johnson (Aus, 1948) was playing in his only Test.
Trueman’s 8-31 came in his 3rd Test and it remained his career-best analysis.
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