While Test cricket is known as the longest format, there have been instances when some Tests didn’t last long. Here we’ll look at the shortest completed Test match by balls bowled.
Shortest Completed Test Matches
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Balls Bowled | Venue | Match Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa (55 & 176) | India (153 & 80/3) | 642 | Cape Town | 3 Jan 2024 | India won by 7 wkts |
| Australia (153) | South Africa (36 & 45) | 656 | Melbourne | 12 Feb 1932 | Australia won by an inns and 72 runs |
| West Indies (102 & 51/6d) | England (81/7d & 75/6) | 672 | Bridgetown | 8 Jan 1935 | England won by 4 wkts |
| England (172) | Australia ((fo) 81 & 70) | 788 | Manchester | 30 Aug 1888 | England won by an inns and 21 runs |
| England (53 & 62) | Australia (116 & 60) | 792 | Lord’s | 16 Jul 1888 | Australia won by 61 runs |
| South Africa ((fo) 47 & 43) | England (292) | 796 | Cape Town | 25 Mar 1889 | England won by an inns and 202 runs |
| England (176 & 14/0) | South Africa (95 & 93) | 815 | The Oval | 12 Aug 1912 | England won by 10 wkts |
| India (145 & 49/0) | England (112 & 81) | 842 | Ahmedabad | 24 Feb 2021 | India won by 10 wkts |
| Australia (132 & 205/2) | England (172 & 164) | 847 | Perth | 21 Nov 2025 | Australia won by 8 wkts |
| Australia (218 & 35/4) | South Africa (152 & 99) | 866 | Brisbane | 17 Dec 2022 | Australia won by 6 wkts |
| New Zealand (42 & 54) | Australia (199/8d) | 872 | Wellington | 29 Mar 1946 | Australia won by an inns and 103 runs |
| South Africa (248/8d & forfeit) | England (0/0d & 251/8) | 883 | Centurion | 14 Jan 2000 | England won by 2 wkts |
| Pakistan (59 & 53) | Australia (310) | 893 | Sharjah | 11 Oct 2002 | Australia won by an inns and 198 runs |
Key Insights on Shortest Completed Matches and Lowest Totals in Test Cricket
Record for Shortest Completed Test Matches (By Balls)
The 2024 Cape Town Test between South Africa and India is the shortest completed match in Test history, lasting for 642 balls (107 overs) just over two days.
The 1888 Lord’s Test between England and Australia was the first Test match to get over within 1000 balls.
India and England played the shortest completed day-night Test match; the 2021 Ahmedabad Test lasted for 842 deliveries (140.2 overs).
South Africa vs Zimbabwe (Gqeberha, 2017) and India vs Bangladesh (Eden Gardens, 2019) are the other day-night Tests to have results within 1000 balls.
Lowest Team and Match Aggregate Records
The shortest Test match, irrespective of the result, happened between the West Indies and England in North Sound in 2009, which had to be abandoned after just 10 balls due to unfit outfield conditions.
Australia and South Africa collectively scored 234 runs in the 1932 Melbourne Test, setting the record for the lowest match aggregate in Test cricket.
This 234 runs aggregate is also the lowest match aggregate to not involve a half-century from a single batter.
South Africa contributed 81 of the 234 runs, which is the lowest runs scored by a team across both innings in a Test match.
South Africa’s 30 all out in the 1924 Birmingham Test is the joint third-lowest total by a team in a Test innings.
Unique and Historical Team Performances
South Africa has also been involved in the shortest complete Test innings, when England wrapped up their first innings for 30 runs in 75 balls in the 1924 Birmingham Test.
The 2000 Centurion Test between South Africa and England recorded the only instance of a team declaring their innings on the score of zero. England declared their first innings on zero and went on to win the Test by two wickets. Here are the lowest declared Test totals in Test cricket.
Australia, England, and South Africa have featured in 10 or more Test matches that lasted for fewer than 1000 balls.
Likewise, Australia, England, and South Africa have played in 10 or more Tests that lasted for two days.
