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 (2nd 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
![Shortest test match in cricket history](https://sportsinfo.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/siraj.png)
1932 – South Africa vs Australia (5th 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 1st innings – 36/10 (23.2 overs)
Australia 1st innings – 153/9 (54.3 overs)
South Africa 2nd innings – 45/10 (31.3 overs)
Australia won by an innings and 72 runs.
1935 – West Indies vs England (1st test) (672 – balls bowled)
January 8-10, 1935, England tour of West Indies
Toss – England won the toss and elected to field
West Indies 1st innings – 102/10 (47 overs)
England 1st 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 1st innings – 172/10 (113.1 overs)
Australia 1st innings – 81/10 (52.2 overs)
Australia 2nd innings – 70/10 (31.1 overs)
England won by an innings and 21 runs
1888 – England vs Australia (1st 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 (2nd 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 (8th 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 2nd Innings – 93/10 (32.4 overs)
England 2nd 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 (4th 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 2nd 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