Express & Star

Best of the worst - Five shocking Test scores

After Australia embarrassing capitulation at Trent Bridge, virtually handing England the Ashes on a plate, we look at the some of the worst Test innings of all time.

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1. New Zealand 45 all out vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2013

Stuart Broad's quickest ever five-wicket haul in Test cricket at Trent Bridge took the record away from Vernon Philander, who ravaged through the New Zealand order like a knife through butter.

Philander finished with the stunning figures of 5-7 from 6 overs.

Only Kane Williamson managed double figures as Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn wrapped up the tail.

Captain Brendon McCullum put his team's disastrous effort to a combination world class bowling and poor batting.

We think it was more of the latter Brendon!

2. West Indies 47 all out vs England, Kingston, 2004

The match had been tight, England had managed a narrow first innings lead towards the end of the third day despite Devon Smith's hundred.

On the fourth morning Stephen Harmison created carnage. With ferocious pace and disconcerting lift the West Indian batsmen were split asunder. Harmison had 7 for 12 in 12.3 overs and England went ahead in the series.

Although there was no rain in sight with temperatures hitting almost 100 degrees, six ducks found their way into the innings, as the West Indies batsmen crumbled in dramatic style.

3. Zimbabwe 51 all out vs New Zealand, Napier, 2012

Zimbabwe fans waking up to check on the cricket might wonder if they slept through the entire weekend, after a rolling Zimbabwe collapse spanning sixteen wickets and 43 overs brought the one-off Test in Napier hurtling to an early close.

Chris Martin took 8 wickets in the day

The innings-and-301-run defeat was their worst ever, eclipsing the loss they suffered to the same opposition in 2005 by seven runs. And though Regis Chakabva resisted valiantly with a 63 from 119 balls towards the end, it was little compensation for a catastrophic first innings in response to New Zealand's 495 for 7 declared.

4. West Indies 54 all out vs England, Lords, 2000

Twenty-one wickets fell on an astonishing second day of the 100th Test match to be staged at Lord's. The tourists only just scraped past their lowest ever Test total of 51. Andrew Caddick took five wickets for 16 runs as the West Indies were skittled out in 26.4 overs.

Dominic Cork and Darren Gough also contributed with five wickets between them with Ridley Jacobs the top scorer with 12.

And it's a good thing they were dismissed for such a pitiful total, England only just got over the line, winning by two wickets.

5. New Zealand 26 all out vs England, Auckland, 1955

The lowest score in Test history and it's the Kiwis again.

New Zealand cricket experienced its darkest day when its 11 batsman could muster only 26 runs against England (which in those days toured as the Marylebone Cricket Club).

Even in the modern environment, it's hard to imagine any team will ever score less than the 26.

Len Hutton's last test was a memorable one as Frank Tyson, Brian Statham, Johnny Wardle and Bob Appleyard led England to an innings and 20 runs win, helping them win the series 2-0

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