Every international side plan strategize and does the hard grind off the field to conjure a favourable result when the team finally steps on the field. When it comes to Test cricket, winning every session on each of the 5 days is very important which indeed puts the team in a better position to triumph in the Test. If a team loses even one of them or falls too far behind in the game, it is very difficult for the side to recover from it and then propel in the direction of a win.
While the history of the sport especially in the test cricket has seen several such encounters which went right down the wire and the winner was only decided in the dying stages of the game, there were other contests that turned out to be one-sided affairs and the winner quite convincingly ran away with the encounter. The margin of victory was a huge one, and it made its way into the record books of cricket. In the below piece, we look at 5 biggest wins in Test cricket in terms of runs:
1. England’s win over Australia by 675 runs in 1928
This huge victory came in the 1st Test of the Ashes series at Brisbane in 1928. Having won the toss, England chose to bat first and posted 521 in the first innings on the back of knocks of 169(314) by Hendren and 70(132) by Larwood. Gregory picked up 3-142 for the hosts.
In reply, Australia were bowled out for 122 and bestowed England a valuable lead. Riding high on the same, England further posted 342-8 in the second innings and set Australia a mammoth target of 742. Yet again, Australia faltered miserably in their second innings, getting dismissed for an embarrassing score of 66 and handing the visitors a victory by a gargantuan margin of 675 runs. White was the most impressive bowler for England, who finished with figures of 4-7.
2. Australia’s win over England by 562 runs in 1934
This victory came in the 5th Test of the Ashes series at London in 1934. Electing to bat first, Australia posted a massive total of 701 in the first innings, owing to superb knocks of 244(271) by Bradman and 266(422) by Ponsford. Bowes snapped up 4-164 for the hosts.
In response, England were skittled out for 321 where Leyland top-scored with 110(171) while Ebeling picked up 3-74 for the visitors. Having gained a lead, Australia batted freely in the second innings, posting 327 and setting England a target of 708 runs.
Unfortunately, England couldn’t provide any resilience in their second innings, getting bundled out for 145 and helping Australia clinch the contest by 562 runs. Grimmett scalped a five-wicket haul for the visitors in the second innings, marking it a sweet outing for him.
3. Australia’s win over South Africa by 530 runs in 1911
This achievement came in the 4th Test at MCG in 1911. Put in to bat first, Australia managed a competitive total of 328 in the first innings on the back of innings of 82(123) by Bardsley and 75(120) by Ransford. Pegler picked up 3-40 for the Proteas, leaving his impact.
In return, South Africa was dismissed for 205 in their first innings and handed Australia an invaluable first-innings lead. Building on the same, Australia posted a huge 578 in the second innings courtesy knocks of 132(196) by Armstrong and 100(98) by Hill. South Africa was set an enormous target of 702 to win the Test and upset the Australians.
Hapless, it wasn’t to be as the African nation was cleaned up for a mere score of 171 and bestowed Australia an easy win by a colossal margin of 530 runs. Faulkner was the top-scorer for South Africa with a valiant 80(93) while Hordern picked up 5-66 for the hosts.
4. South Africa’s win over Australia by 492 runs in 2018
This famous win came in the 4th Test at Johannesburg in 2018. Batting first, South Africa posted 488 in the first innings on the back of wonderful knocks of 152(216) by Markram and 95(194) by Bavuma. Cummins wreaked havoc with his rip-roaring pace, picking up 5-83 for the visitors.
In response, Australia were halted at 221 in their first innings, who could reach there due to knocks of 62(96) by Paine and 53(84) by Khawaja. Having earned the crucial lead, South Africa batted with authority in the second innings as well, posting 344-6 on the back of a well-compiled 120(178) by du Plessis and 81(250) by Elgar. Cummins was the destroyer once again with the spell of 4-58.
Set a target of 612, it was important for Australia to start well and lay the requisite foundation. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out the way they would have liked as the Aussies were decimated for a meagre score of 119 and assisted South Africa in winning the contest by 492 runs. Philander, the swing sensation snapped up 6-21 for the Proteas and played a huge role in the win.
5. Australia’s win over Pakistan by 491 runs in 2004
The Australians ran riot against Pakistan during the 1st Test at Perth in 2004. Put into bat, Australia managed a convincing total of 381 in the first innings on the back of fabulous innings of 191(280) by Langer and 69(78) by Gilchrist. The Rawalpindi Express, Akhtar scalped 5-99 for the visitors.
Pakistan, in reply, were demolished for 179 in their first innings where Kasprowicz picked up 5-30 for the hosts and exerted his impact. The lead gained gave plenty of confidence to the Aussie batters, who further posted 361-5 in the second innings and set Pakistan a target of 564 runs. This time it were Martyn, Ponting and Langer with the bat, who slammed knocks of 100(121), 98(176) and 97(145) respectively to propel Australia to a great lead.
The tourists crumbled to yet another disappointing total in the second innings, getting bowled out for just 72 and helping Australia win it by 491 runs. McGrath stole the limelight for the Aussies with brilliant figures of 8-24 and showcased his world-famous skills in test cricket.
