The lowest total defended in history was by Australia when skittled out England for 77, who were chasing 85 © Getty Images
Australia were in tatters at 168 for 7 at stumps on Day Two against England in the third Test of the ongoing Ashes at Edgbaston. They led by a mere 23, and majority expected the Test to be over by the first session on Day Three. However, the lower-order fought back with panache: Peter Nevill (59), Mitchell Starc (58), Josh Hazlewood (11), and Nathan Lyon (12 not out) all contributed as Australia stretched their lead to a fighting 120 before England got them all out. England’s tale was not improved by the fact that James Anderson’s injury persisted, and he did not take field today. In fact, he has been ruled out of the next Test at Trent Bridge as well. Live Cricket Scorecard: England vs Australia, The Ashes 2015 3rd Test at Edgbaston, Day 3
How difficult is it to defend 121? How frequently has it been done in history? The lowest total defended in history was also the Test that gave birth to The Ashes — when Fred Spofforth skittled out England for 77: they were chasing 85. The list below shows the lowest totals defended in Test cricket.
1. The Oval, 1882, target 75: Australia 63 and 122, England 101 and 77. England were bowled out for 77 by Spofforth (7 for 44) — who bowled unchanged — and Harry Boyle (3 for 19).
2. Queen’s Park Oval, 1999-00, target 99: West Indies 187 and 147, Zimbabwe 236 and 63. Zimbabwe were chasing a mere 63, but Grant Flower (26) was the only man who reached double figures. Franklyn Rose (4 for 19) and Curtly Ambrose (3 for 8) were too hot to handle.
3. Wankhede, 2004-05, target 107: India 104 and 205, Australia 203 and 93. On a rank turner where Michael Clarke took 6 for 9, anything in excess of 100 was going to be a challenge. Harbhajan Singh (3 for 32) and Murali Kartik (5 for 29) stopped them comfortably.
4. SCG, 1886-87, target 111: England 45 and 184, Australia 119 and 97. Yet another 19th-century cliff-hanger. Nobody gave England a chance after they were bowled out for 45, but Billy Barnes (6 for 28) and George Lohmann (3 for 20) strangled the hosts into submission.
5. The Oval, 1896, target 111: England 145 and 84, Australia 119 and 44. England had the best of a wet wicket, but the Australian submission was astonishing. They were 14 for 7, 19 for 8, and 25 for 9 — before No. 11Tom McKibbin managed 16 (nobody else scored half of that). The wreckers were JT Hearne (4 for 19) and Bobby Peel (6 for 23). READ: Australia bowled out for 265; England need 121 to win in 3rd Ashes 2015 Test at Edgbaston
6. SCG, 1994-95, target 117: South Africa 169 and 239, Australia 292 and 111. At 51 for 1 Australia seemed to be cruising, but Fanie de Villiers (6 for 43) broke the backbone of the side; then Allan Donald (3 for 43) hit a few crucial blows. Australia reached 110 for 8 before they crashed to an agonising defeat. Poor Damien Martyn played an “irresponsible” stroke and was dropped for a decade.
7. Kensington Oval, 1996-97, target 120: West Indies 298 and 140, India 319 and 81. It was a poor pitch, but not as bad as India made it look like. Barring VVS Laxman (19) nobody reached double-figures, and Ian Bishop (4 for 22), Ambrose (3 for 36), and Rose (3 for 19) ran amok.
Footnote:
1. The lowest target successfully defended in England in the 21st century is 202, at Trent Bridge in 2003. South Africa were not in the hunt from the beginning: they were reduced to 81 for 8 and were eventually bowled out for 131 by James Kirtley (6 for 34). READ– Australia batting collapse in 3rd Ashes 2015 Test was embarrassing: Geoffrey Boycott
2. The lowest target successfully defended in Edgbaston is 151, back in 1981. Australia were cruising at 87 for 3 when they ran into Ian Botham: it was, after all, his series, and he bowled England to a 29-run win with figures of 5 for 11.