Shortest test match in cricket history by balls bowled

Shortest test match in cricket history, India stands as the only team among the top 10 to emerge victorious in the shortest test match of the 21st century. India’s victory came in just 642 balls against South Africa in the year 2024. This article compiles a list of the shortest test matches in cricket history, measured in terms of balls bowled.

Shortest test match in cricket history

2024 – South Africa vs India (2^nd test) (642 – balls bowled)

January 3-4, 2024, India tour of South Africa 2023-24

Toss – South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first

South Africa 1st Innings – 55/10 (23.2 overs)

India 1st Innings – 153/10 (34.5 overs)

South Africa 2nd Innings – 176/10 (36.5 overs)

India 2nd Innings – 80/3 (12 overs)

Captain – Rohit Sharma

Player of the match – Mohammed Siraj

Player of the series – Jasprit Bumrah and Dean Elgar

1932 – South Africa vs Australia (5^th test) (656 – balls bowled)

February 12-15, 1932, South Africa tour of Australia

Toss – South Africa won the toss and elected to bat

South Africa 1^st innings – 36/10 (23.2 overs)

Australia 1^st innings – 153/9 (54.3 overs)

South Africa 2^nd innings – 45/10 (31.3 overs)

Australia won by an innings and 72 runs.

1935 – West Indies vs England (1^st test) (672 – balls bowled)

January 8-10, 1935, England tour of West Indies

Toss – England won the toss and elected to field

West Indies 1^st innings – 102/10 (47 overs)

England 1^st innings – 81/7d (29.3 overs)

West Indies 2nd Innings – 51/6d (19 overs)

England 2nd Innings – 75/6 (16.3 overs)

England won by 4 wickets

1888 – England vs Australia (3rd test) (788 – balls bowled)

August 30-31, 1888, Australia tour of England

Toss – England won the toss and decided to bat

Venue – Old Trafford, Manchester

England 1^st innings – 172/10 (113.1 overs)

Australia 1^st innings – 81/10 (52.2 overs)

Australia 2^nd innings – 70/10 (31.1 overs)

England won by an innings and 21 runs

1888 – England vs Australia (1^st test) (792 – balls bowled)

July 16 – 17, 1888, Australia tour of England

Toss – Australia won the toss and elected to bat

Venue – Lord’s, London

Australia 1st Innings – 116/10 (71.2 overs)

England 1st Innings – 53/10 (50 overs)

Australia 2nd Innings – 60/10 (29.2 overs)

England 2nd Innings – 62/10 (47 overs)

Australia won by 61 runs

Shortest test match in cricket history

1889 – England vs South Africa (2^nd test) (796 – balls bowled)

March 25 – 26, 1889, England tour of South Africa

Toss – England won the toss and decided to bat

England 1st Innings – 292/10 (123.1 overs)

South Africa 1st Innings – 47/10 (47.1 overs)

South Africa 2nd Innings (Following on) – 43/10 (28.2 overs)

England won by an innings and 202 runs

1912 – England vs South Africa (8^th match) (815 – balls bowled)

August 12 – 13, 1912, Triangular Tournament

South Africa 1st Innings – 95/10 (42.3 overs)

England 1st Innings – 176/10 (56.1 overs)

South Africa 2^nd Innings – 93/10 (32.4 overs)

England 2^nd innings – 14/0 (4.3 overs)

England won by 10 wickets

1946 – Australia vs New Zealand (872 balls bowled)

March 29 – 30, 1946, Australia tour of New Zealand

New Zealand 1st Innings – 42/10 (39 overs)

Australia 1st Innings – 199/8d (74 overs)

New Zealand 2nd Innings – 54/10 (32.2 overs)

Australia won by an innings and 103 runs

2000 – South Africa vs England (883 balls bowled)

January 14–18, 2000, England tour of South Africa

Toss – England won the toss and elected to field

South Africa 1st Innings – 248/8d & forfeit

South Africa 2nd Innings (Forfeited)

England 2nd Innings (T: 249 runs) – 251/8 (75.1 overs)

2002 – Pakistan vs Australia (2nd Test) (893 balls bowled)

October 11 – 12, 2002, Australia tour of Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates

Toss – Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat

Venue – Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium

Pakistan 1st Innings – 59/10 (31.5 overs)

Australia 1st Innings – 310/10 (92.1 overs)

Pakistan 2nd Innings – 53/10 (24.5 overs)

Australia won by an innings and 198 runs

Shortest test match in cricket history

1895 – Australia vs England (4^th test) (911 balls bowled)

February 01 – 04, 1895, England tour of Australia

Venue – Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Australia 1st Innings – 284/10 (83.5 overs)

England 1st Innings – 65/10 (38.5 overs)

England 2nd Innings (Following on) – 72/10 (f/o) (29.1 overs)

Win – Australia won by an innings and 147 runs

Shortest Test match in history by balls bowled?

India vs South Africa 2^nd test, Jan 3-4, 2024, India tour of South Africa 2023-24

SA first innings – 55/10, SA second innings – 176/10

India’s first innings – 153/10, India’s second innings – 80/3

India won by 7 wickets at Cape Town

Read also:

South Africa vs India 2nd Test match highlights: India won by 7 wickets

India vs Pakistan Highlights, ICC World Cup 2023: India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets