Which team has the lowest Test score in cricket history?

First-class cricket, commonly known as Test cricket, is the most prestigious and demanding format of the game. It tests the endurance, temperament, and skill of cricketers over a five-day match, comprising four innings (two per team), with a minimum of 90 overs scheduled each day. Played with a red ball, the outcome is determined either by scoring more runs or by dismissing the opposition twice.

In the modern era, Test cricket continues to captivate fans worldwide, drawing crowds to stadiums and millions of viewers online. The format has seen numerous legendary performances - both with bat and ball-that have carved names into the history books. While batting brilliance has helped shatter long-standing records, exceptional bowling spells have led to some of the lowest team totals ever recorded.

Here are the top five teams with lowest Test score:

5. 35 Runs – South Africa vs England, 1899

In 1899, England toured South Africa for a two-match Test series under the leadership of Lord Hawke. In the second Test at Cape Town, England’s bowling attack dismantled the South African batting lineup. Schofield Haigh claimed 6 for 11, and Albert Trott took 4 for 19, bowling the hosts out for just 35 in their second innings. England won the match by a comprehensive margin of 210 runs, asserting their dominance in the early days of Test cricket.

4. 30 Runs – South Africa vs England, 1924

South Africa’s tour of England in 1924 began disastrously. In the first Test at Edgbaston, England posted a massive first-innings total of 438, with solid contributions from Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Frank Woolley, Patsy Hendren, and Roy Kilner. In reply, South Africa crumbled for just 30 runs. Arthur Gilligan (6 for 7) and Maurice Tate (4 for 12) led England to an innings-and-18-run victory.

3. 30 Runs – South Africa vs England, 1896

In the 1896 series in South Africa, England’s George Lohmann delivered one of the most remarkable bowling performances in Test history. After England set a target of 315 runs, Lohmann took 8 wickets for just 7 runs in 9.4 overs in South Africa's second innings, dismissing the hosts for only 30. England won the match by 288 runs—not South Africa’s first-ever Test, as is sometimes misreported. Their actual first Test was in 1889, which they lost by 8 wickets.

2. 27 Runs – West Indies vs Australia, 2025

In a 2025 Test series hosted by the West Indies, Australia produced a clinical performance with both bat and ball. After scoring 225 in their first innings, the Aussies restricted the Windies to 143. Setting a final target of 204, Australia then bowled out the home side for a shocking 27 runs. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc was unplayable, claiming 6 wickets for just 9 runs in 7.3 overs and recording the fastest five-wicket haul in Test history. Seven West Indies batters were dismissed without scoring. Australia won by 176 runs.

1. 26 Runs – New Zealand vs England, 1955

New Zealand holds the record for the lowest team total in Test cricket which is a shocking cricket update. During England’s tour in 1955, the Kiwis managed just 200 in their first innings, trailing England by 46. However, the second innings saw a complete collapse. On a green, bowler-friendly pitch under overcast conditions, New Zealand were bowled out for a mere 26 runs in Auckland. This remains the lowest Test score recorded in the history of Test cricket.