The Greatest Hidings in Test Cricket History

If you love thrashings, you would have thought you were in heaven today.

Firstly, the New Zealanders managed to bowl out Zimbabwe twice in one day and win the one and only test in Napier.

Then, Viktoria Azarenka, now Belarus' most famous athlete absolutely smoked Maria Sharapova to win her first Grand Slam title. It remains to be seen if Azarenka can take the next step and become the dominant ladies player amongst her peers.

What we do know for now is this list: the biggest hidings in test cricket history - taking only innings wins because let's face it losing by an innings and a bit more runs is a definite sign you have taken a bit of a hiding.

Pakistan beat New Zealand by an innings and 324 runs, Lahore, 2002

The Kiwis have always tended to struggle with the weather and dry conditions of the Indian subcontinent. This was one test they never ever mustered. They allowed Inzamam ul-Haq to score 329 and guide Pakistan to a 643 first innings lead from which they never recovered from. They were bowled out for 73 in the first innings and while they managed a more respectable 246 in the 2nd, were comfortably beaten.

Australia beat England by an innings and 332 runs, Brisbane, 1946/47


England have never liked playing in Brisbane and have suffered some of their worst losses to the Aussies there. This one takes the cake though - the first Ashes series played in Australia in post-war time saw the great Don score 187 as Australia scored 645 in their first innings. England could only muster 141 and 172 in reply with Keith Miller taking 7 wickets for 60 in England's first innings.

West Indies beat India by an innings and 336 runs, Kolkata, 1958/59


In the 1950s, India was very much a "minnow" and they were put away quite convincingly by a talented West Indies side featuring allrounder Sir Garfield Sobers. Another demoralising 600 plus score was set and India could only reply with 124 and 154. It was the worst thrashing from a visiting side until 2002.

Australia beat South Africa by an innings and 360 runs, Johannesburg, 2001/02

Hard to believe that this was the 1st test since Steve Waugh was relieved of captaincy of the Australian one day side following their early exit from their own VB Series - the same series was won by Shaun Pollock's South Africa, the same side who people said could have the measure of this great Australian side. Australia as usual did not read the script and put on yes, another 600 score - this time 652, 204 of those runs coming off Adam Gilchrist's bat. McGrath was spared batting duties and took 8 wickets in the game as South Africa  were dismissed for 159 and 133 in front of their very proud supporters.







England beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs, The Oval, 1938

The greatest thrashing of all time in test cricket and probably will be for a while yet. The new record breakers would need to score close to England's 903 - Len Hutton scored 364 of those runs, the highest by any Englishman in history. Australia's replies weren't too bad - 201 and 123 but they were really just passengers in a ceremonial England victory and one that maintained the Ashes in England.      






By the way, New Zealand's big win over Zimbabwe by 301 runs is the 8th largest win by an innings in test cricket history and naturally is their largest ever win.