5 biggest victory margins by runs in Tests

As far as Test match defeats are concerned, the one by an innings is perhaps the most embarrassing but the ones in which teams lose by a whopping run margin can be equally embarrassing.

It is a record that remains in the record books for eternity and is a constant reminder of a harrowing Test match defeat. It reveals a huge gulf in the abilities of the winners and the losers.

Here is a look at the 5 of the heaviest defeats suffered by a team in Test cricket in terms of runs.

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#5 Australia beat Pakistan by 491 runs at Perth (2004)

Pakistan have suffered their fair share of embarrassing Test defeats over the years but none were quite as bad as the mauling they received at the hands of Australia at Perth back in 2004. In the 1st Test of that series, Australia were put into bat first and although the bowlers did well, Justin Langer’s 191 saw the hosts score 381. When Pakistan batted Michael Kasprowicz (5 for 30) and Shane Warne (3 for 38) proved too much as Pakistan were bundled out for 179.

With a 202 run lead in pace, Australia piled on the misery with the 90s from Langer and Ricky Ponting and a century from Damien Marty. They declared at 361 for 5 and set Pakistan a target of 564. Everyone must have expected a bit of fight from Pakistan to save the Test, but they ran into Glenn McGrath. The Australian legend carved open their top order and picked 8 wickets for 24 runs in 16 overs as Pakistan crashed to 72 all out in the 32nd over. The 491 run margin of victory remains the 5th highest in history.

#4 South Africa beat Australia by 492 runs Johannesburg (2018)

Now, this is a Test match that must be still fresh in the memories of most cricket fans and Australia’s capitulation in a Test match that they needed to win for squaring the series, makes it even more incredible. Needless to say, they were missing two of their best batsmen in Steve Smith and David Warner, for reasons that everyone now knows. They were perhaps not in the right place mentally either and it showed as they crashed to their 2nd heaviest defeat (by runs) in history.

In response to South Africa’s 488 in the 1st innings, Australia could only make 221 and that too after the lower order showed some fight. The hosts then batten for 105 overs and declared for 344/6 to set Australia an improbable target of 612 runs. However, there was time to save the Test but Australia simply caved under South Africa’s relentless pressure. The destroyer was Vernon Philander, who took 6 for 21 in 13 overs to see to it that Australia collapsed 88 for 3 to 119 all out. They lost the game by 492 runs.

#3 Australia beat South Africa by 530 runs at Melbourne (1911)

Despite what Australia endured recently at the hands of South Africa, they can always find the heart in the fact that they had actually handed the Proteas a heavier defeat back in 1911. In the 4th Test of the series at Melbourne, Australia batted first and made 328. In response, South Africa could only muster 205.

Although the total was reached largely due to Dave Nourse’s valiant 92 not out. In their 2nd innings, Australia piled on the runs and made 579 as both Warwick Armstrong and Clem Hill got hundreds. Chasing an incredible 702 for victory, South Africa collapsed under the sheer burden of runs and were dismissed for only 171. They lost 530 runs and at the time, which was the record for the heaviest defeat in terms of runs.

#2 Australia beat England by 562 runs at The Oval (1934)

This remains one of England’s most humiliating defeats in the Ashes and remains the heaviest defeat suffered by the team in its history, in terms of runs. In the deciding 5th Test of the 1934 Ashes, Australia batted first and made a mammoth 701. Bill Ponsford made 266 and Sir Donald Bradman made 244.

In response, England could only make 321 but Australia did not enforce the follow-on and instead batted on to make 327. England were set to score 708 to win but instead of actually knuckling down and trying to draw the game, they collapsed in a heap to be all out for 145 in the 64th over. Leg-spin star Clarie Grimmett picked up 5 wickets.

#1 England beat Australia by 675 runs at Brisbane, 1928

This is the biggest victory in the history of Test cricket in terms of runs and what is remarkable about this English victory is that it came about in the 1st Test of the series that took place in Australia. England batted first but in spite of the fact that their top order did not do much, Patsy Hendren’s 169 and useful contributions from the lower middle-order saw them post 521. In their response, Australia found fast bowler Harold Larwood too hot to handle and were all out for 122, with the fast bowler returning figure of 6 for 32.

England did not enforce the follow-on and in their 2nd innings, they declared for 342 for 8. Set to score 748 to win, Australia collapsed and collapsed badly in the 4th innings. Larwood rocked their top order against with early wickets and then Jack White’s spin did the rest as Australia collapsed for only 66 runs. They lost by a hardly believable margin of 675 runs.