Slow and slower: India’s slowest innings in Test cricket
Team India got bowled out in just 21.2 overs in the 2nd essay of the Adelaide Oval Test where they were short of patience. However, the same was not the case in the first innings where they batted out the first two sessions of the match scoring only 108 runs for the loss of three wickets. Though India improved their run rate in the final session, it is not often India maintain low run rates in the longer format.
Here we look at India’s top four lowest run rates in a completed Test innings:
4) 1.47 vs Australia in 1947, Brisbane:
Australia made a solid start to the match by posting a total of 382/8 while batting first. In response, India got bowled out for just 58 runs as Ernie Toshack took a 5-wicket haul in only 19 balls. Australia decided to make India bat again and the visitors didn’t make a great difference. They made 98 runs in the 49.7 8-ball overs at a run rate of just 1.47 as per 6-ball overs.
3) 1.46 vs England in 1964, Kanpur:
England, who batted first, declared on 559/8 after batting for nearly two days. India, in response, decided to tire the visiting team’s bowlers as they batted 182.1 overs for only 266 runs. They scored those runs at 1.46 run rate as Dilip Sardesai led the charge with a 79-run knock which came in 410 minutes. The match ended in a draw as India scored 347/3 while following-on.
2) 1.31 vs Australia in 1960, Chennai:
The 1960 Test match hosted by Chepauk between India and Australia turned out to be a low-scoring one. Australia made 342 in their first-innings batting 153 overs while India, in reply, scored 149 in 77.1 overs. Aussies enforced follow-on over India and the hosts tried to bat for a draw. However, they got bowled out for only 138 despite batting for 105 overs and had a run rate of 1.31.
1) 1.01 vs West Indies in 1962, Bridgetown:
India had a run rate of 1.01 during the 1962 Bridgetown Test while trying to avoid an innings defeat. India conceded a first-innings lead of 217 runs by the 4th day of the Test match that was scheduled for six days. India batted 94 overs by the end of the day’s play where they scored only 104/2. Dilip Sardesai and Vijay Manjrekar batted out the final session scoring 39 runs without losing a wicket.
The duo extended their partnership for 3rd wicket to 89 runs by adding 45 runs across 48 overs on 5th day morning session. Sardesai reached 60 while Manjrekar was unbeaten on 41 and completed his half-century after Lunch. Just when India were set to avoid an innings defeat, Lance Gibbs took all the remaining 8 wickets of Indian innings for six runs across 95 balls he bowled. India ended up with 187/10 in 185.3 overs and lost the game by an innings and 30 runs.
