Pakistan’s Biggest Defeat in Test Cricket

Pakistan recorded their biggest defeat in Test cricket by losing the fourth and final Test match against England by an innings and 225 runs at Lord’s on Sunday (August 29).

Pakisan’s previous biggest defeat was an innings and 198 runs against Australia at Sharjah in 2002. This match was finished in two days.

Australia inflicted on Pakistan’s first-ever defeat in less than two days by winning the Test by an innings and 198 runs at the boiling Sharjah Stadium. And for the second day running, Pakistan were bowled out for lowest-ever total of 53 with Abdul Razzaq unable to continue his innings due to a fractured wrist. As the mercury soared to 51 Celsius inside the stadium Pakistan batsmen found out both the surroundings and the Australian attack too hot to handle as the second innings lasted just 24.5 overs. In the first innings Pakistan batted for 31.5 overs in making 59. In two innings Pakistan occupied the crease for a mere 56.4 overs which shows the total capitulation of batting. Australia scored 310 in their only innings of the match.

England’s an innings and 225 runs victory was their eighth biggest win in 903 Test matches and third biggest at Lord’s after an innings and 285 runs win against India in 1974 and an innings and 261 runs victory against Bangladesh in 2005.

England’s an innings and 129 runs win at Nottingham in 1954 was the previous biggest victory against Pakistan in Tests.

** It’s been a wretched series for the Pakistan top order, most of whom have finished their work for this series after another abysmal collapse in the second innings at Lord’s. The aggregate partnership for the top four wickets in the entire series was a pathetic 498 runs in 32 completed innings. The average of 15.56 runs per dismissal is the worst for the top four wickets in a series in Pakistan’s Test history (minimum of 16 partnerships). It’s worse even than that forgettable series against Australia in Sri Lanka and Sharjah, when they were bowled for 53 and 59 in a Test.

** Pakistan’s first-innings deficit of 372 is their second-highest in a Test against England. The only time they fared worse was way back in 1954 at Trent Bridge, when England bundled out Pakistan for 157 and then declared at 558 for 6, a lead of 401.

** England won the four match series by 3-1. They have won the first Test match at Nottingham by 354 runs and second Test match at Birmingham by nine wickets. Pakistan’s only win, by four wickets, came in the third Test match at The Oval.

PAKISTAN’S BIGGEST DEFEAT IN TESTS

Margin                     Opponent             Venue            Season                    Captain
Inns & 225 runs      England              Lord’s               2010                     Salman Butt
Inns & 198 runs      Australia            Sharjah           2002-03             Waqar Younis
Inns & 185 runs      New Zealand      Hamilton        2000-01               Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inns & 174 runs      West Indies         Kingston         1957-58              Abdul Hafeez Kardar
Inns & 156 runs      West Indies         Lahore             1958-59             Fazal Mehmood
Inns & 142 runs       South Africa     Cape Town      2002-03            Waqar Younis
Inns & 131 runs       India                    Rawalpindi     2003-04              Inzamam-ul-Haq
Inns & 129 runs       England              Nottingham    1954                    Abdul Hafeez Kardar
Inns & 126 runs       Australia           Brisbane             1995-96           Wasim Akram
Inns & 120 runs       England              Lord’s                  1978                  Wasim Bari