Largest Margin of Victories by an Innings
The oldest format of the game, Test Cricket enthrals millions of people across the world. It is regarded as the truest format because of its nature of knowing the players’ ability to perform in testing conditions. Cricket was introduced to the world with a Test Cricket game, organised between England and Australia. Both the teams played the first-ever official Test match in 1877 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Numerous close encounters between the two sides led to the formation of ‘The Ashes’- a Test Cricket Series played between both sides. It is also regarded as the biggest rivalry in Test Cricket. Test Cricket also led to a lot of other rivalries in world cricket.
It is safe to say that Test Cricket has seen some of the best games over the years. In this article, we look at 5 teams with the biggest margin of victories by an innings:
#5 Pakistan beat New Zealand by an Innings and 324 Runs in 2002
The first Test of the 2002 New Zealand tour of Pakistan was one to remember for all the Pakistan Cricket Team fans. Pakistan dominates the game on the first two days of the test, having notched a massive 643-run total in the first innings. The innings will always be remembered for Inzamam Ul-Haq’s epic knock of 329 runs off 436 balls.
New Zealand faltered in both the departments of the game in that Test. After bowling poorly, they fared badly with the ball as well. New Zealand scored 246 runs in the first innings and could only manage to score 76 runs in the second innings. Pakistan won that game by an innings and 324 runs.
#4 Australia beat England by an Innings and 332 Runs in 1946
Back in the early 90’s Australia registered a convincing win against England by an innings and 332 runs. The wins sit at fourth position in the list of largest margin of victories (by an innings). Australia batted first and posted a huge 645-run total, courtesy of two sensational knocks from Don Bradman and A Hassett, who scored 187 and 128 respectively.
England, on the other hand, could score 141 and 172 runs in the second and third innings respectively. England lost that game by an innings and 332 runs.
#3 West Indies beat India by an Innings and 336 Runs in 1958
The third Test between West Indies and India in the 1959 West Indies tour of India saw the former notching a mammoth 614-run total in the first innings. For West Indies, RB Kanhal played a sensational 256-run knock. India, in reply, could only score manage to score 124 and 154 in their two innings. R Gilchrist shone with the ball for West Indies, who picked 9 wickets in that game.
#2 Australia beat South Africa by an Innings and 360 Runs in 2001
At number two in the list of largest margin of victories in Test (by an innings) is the game between Australia and South Africa, played in 2002. Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn notched centuries, while Adam Gilchrist scored a double century as Australia posted a mammoth 652-run total in the first innings.
In reply, South Africa could only muster 159 runs in the second innings. After being enforced the follow-on, the Proteas once again succumbed to a low total and bowled out for 133 runs in the third innings. Australia won that game by an innings and 360 runs.
#1 England beat Australia by an Innings and 579 Runs in 1938
The fifth Test between England and Australia in 1938 Ashes tops the list of the biggest margin of victories (by an innings) in Tests. England batted first and posted the then highest-ever total in an innings in Test Cricket of 903 runs.
It is currently the second-highest innings total in Tests. Australia had no answer to such a huge score and then faltered for just 201 in the second innings. England as expected enforced the follow on. Australia showed a similar performance and was bundled out for 123 in the third innings of the Test match. England proved victorious by an innings and 579 runs.
