Although Test cricket is known to be the longest format, there have been instances where some Tests did not last long. Here we look at the shortest completed Test match based on balls bowled.
Shortest completed test matches
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Balls thrown | Location | Competition date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa (55 & 176) | India (153 & 80/3) | 642 | Cape Town | January 3, 2024 | India won by 7 weeks |
| Australia (153) | South Africa (36 & 45) | 656 | Melbourne | February 12, 1932 | Australia won by one inn and 72 runs |
| West Indies (102 and 51/6d) | England (81/7d & 75/6) | 672 | Bridgetown | January 8, 1935 | England won by 4 wkts |
| England (172) | Australia ((fo)81 & 70) | 788 | Manchester | August 30, 1888 | England won by one inn and 21 runs |
| England (53 & 62) | Australia (116 & 60) | 792 | Gentleman | July 16, 1888 | Australia won by 61 runs |
| South Africa ((fo) 47 & 43) | England (292) | 796 | Cape Town | March 25, 1889 | England won by one inn and 202 runs |
| England (176 & 14/0) | South Africa (95 & 93) | 815 | The oval | August 12, 1912 | England won by 10 wkt |
| India (145 & 49/0) | England (112 & 81) | 842 | Ahmedabad | February 24, 2021 | India won by 10 weeks |
| Australia (132 and 205/2) | England (172 & 164) | 847 | Perth | November 21, 2025 | Australia won by 8 weeks |
| Australia (218 & 35/4) | South Africa (152 & 99) | 866 | Brisbane | December 17, 2022 | Australia won by 6 weeks |
| New Zealand (42 & 54) | Australia (199/8d) | 872 | Wellington | March 29, 1946 | Australia won by one inn and 103 runs |
| South Africa (248/8d & forfeit) | England (0/0d & 251/8) | 883 | Centurion | January 14, 2000 | England won by 2 weeks |
| Pakistan (59 & 53) | Australia (310) | 893 | Sharjah | October 11, 2002 | Australia won by one inn and 198 runs |
Key insights on the shortest completed matches and lowest totals in test cricket
Record for shortest completed Test matches (with balls)
The 2024 Cape Town Test between South Africa And India is the shortest completed match in Test history, lasting 642 balls (107 overs) just over two days.
The 1888 The Lord’s Test between England And Australia was the first Test match to come in 1000 balls.
India And England played the shortest completed day-night Test match; the 2021 Ahmedabad test lasted 842 deliveries (140.2 surpluses).
South Africa vs Zimbabwe (Gqeberha, 2017) and India vs Bangladesh (Eden Gardens, 2019) are the other day-night tests that include results 1000 balls.
Lowest overall team and match records
The shortest test match, regardless of the result, took place between the West Indies And England in North Sound in 2009, which soon had to be abandoned 10 balls due to unsuitable field conditions.
Australia And South Africa scored jointly 234 runs in the 1932 Melbourne Test, setting the record for the lowest match aggregate in Test cricket.
This 234 runs The total is also the lowest match total that does not involve a half-century from a single batsman.
South Africa contributed 81 out of 234 runs, which are the lowest runs scored by a team in both innings in a Test match.
South Africa’s 30 all out in the 1924 Birmingham Test is the third lowest total by a team in a Test innings.
Unique and historic team performance
South Africa has also been involved in the shortest full Test innings, then England finished their first innings 30 runs in 75 balls during the 1924 Birmingham Test.
The Centurion test from 2000 between South Africa And England recorded the only instance where a team declared their innings based on the score of zero. England declared their first innings at nil and went on to win the Test with two wickets. Here are the lowest declared Test totals in Test cricket.
Australia, EnglandAnd South Africa have entered 10 or more Test matches that lasted less than 1000 balls.
Likewise, Australia, EnglandAnd South Africa have responded 10 or more Tests that lasted two days.
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