The Test format has always been the heart and soul of this amazing sport of cricket. Despite the rise of limited-overs cricket in the present era, the red-ball format maintains its place and is still closer to the heart of many cricket maniacs. The tough competition between bat and ball can only be witnessed at the Test arena, where both the batsmen and the bowlers have to toil hard to achieve tremendous success. The length of the format and continuous action does take a toll on the body, but players are least bothered about the aspect and call playing the format the greatest honour in their cricketing career. As a result of this dedication, commitment and wholehearted efforts, the cricketers ensured that their side did remarkably well at the toughest format and maintained their supremacy in world cricket. Naturally, a huge margin of victories became a normal phenomenon and teams began performing well not just at home but in overseas conditions as well. We will be talking about a few such dominating wins in the present article. In the below piece, we look at 5 biggest wins by innings in the history of Test cricket :
1. England’s win over Australia by an innings and 579 runs
It came during the 5th Test in London in 1938. Batting first, England piled up a mountain of runs on the board, scoring 903-7 in the first innings on the back of fabulous knocks of 364(847) by Hutton, 187(438) by Leyland and 169(400) by Hardstaff.
Australia were bowled out for 201 in their first innings, where Bowes picked up 5-49 and helped England take a massive lead. Enforcing the follow-on, England yet again skittled out the Australians for 123 with Farnes being the pick of the bowler this time around, scalping 4-63. The home team won the contest comprehensively by an innings and 579 runs, leaving a stellar impact behind.
2. Australia’s win over South Africa by an innings and 360 runs
The victory came during the 1st Test at Johannesburg in 2002. Electing to bat first, Australia posted an enormous total of 652-7 on the board in the first innings, courtesy to wonderful knocks of 122(189) by Hayden, 133(207) by Martyn and 204(213) by Gilchrist.
In reply, South Africa were bundled out for 159 in their first innings and handed the visitors a great lead. The Australians rightly enforced the follow-on and dismissed South Africa for an even lower score, 133 to be precise and won the contest by an innings and 360 runs. McGrath was the star with the ball, picking up 3-28 and 5-21 in the first and second innings respectively.
3. West Indies’s victory over India by an innings and 336 runs
The Caribbean nation pulled off this win during the 3rd Test at Kolkata in 1958-59. The Windies while batting first, managed a commanding total of 614-5 in the first innings, owing to splendid knocks of 256 by Kanhai, 103 by Butcher and 106 by Sobers.
India, in return, were stalled at 124 and allowed the visitors a valuable opportunity to enforce the follow-on. Doing so, the Windies yet again demolished the Indian batting line-up for a meagre score of 154 and took the contest by an innings and 336 runs. Roy Gilchrist was the most effective bowler for the tourists, who scalped 3-18 and 6-55 in the first and second innings respectively.
4. Australia’s victory over England by an innings and 332 runs
The Oz accomplished this win during the 1st Test at Brisbane in 1946. Choosing to bat first, Australia scored 645 in the first innings, courtesy brilliant knocks of 187(313) by Bradman, 128(395) by Hassett and 95(153) by McCool. Wright picked up 5-167 for England.
In response, England were bowled out for 141 on the back of a terrific bowling performance by Miller, who snapped up 7-60. Enforcing the follow-on, Australia once again, restricted the Englishmen to 172 and secured a victory by an innings and 332 runs. Toshack was the destroyer for Australia this time around, picking up 6-82.
5. Pakistan’s victory over New Zealand by an innings and 324 runs
The Asian nation achieved this win during the 1st Test at Lahore in 2002. Pakistan while batting first, posted a gargantuan total of 643 in the first innings on the back of an unbelievable triple century by Inzamam, who scored 329(436) and Nazir, who struck 127(203). McMillan picked up 3-48 for the visitors.
The Kiwis, in response, could only manage 73 where Akhtar wreaked havoc with his rip-roaring pace, snapping up 6-11. Having enforced the follow-on, Pakistan bowled New Zealand out for 246 in the second innings and won the contest emphatically by an innings and 324 runs. This time it was leg-spinner, Danish Kaneria, who picked a fifer while giving away 110 runs and did the cleaning work for the Kiwis.
