Over and out: Five shortest Test matches in terms of balls bowled
Not often we get to see Test matches getting called off with a very short amount of play taking place. Unless there is an issue with the pitch or outfield, the officials are always hopeful about the weather improving at some point in the course of the match. Only in outstanding situations, the Test matches got called off with play taking place for less than a session. Here are the shortest completed Test matches in terms of balls:
132 balls – West Indies vs India, Port of Spain 2016:
India took a 2-0 lead in the 4-match Test series in West Indies in 2016 and were set to extend their winning margin to 3-0 in the final game at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. West Indies elected to bat first after a delayed start but 22 overs of play was possible before lunch where they made 62/2. The return of rain saw no more play on an opening day and the same continued on the remaining four days due to wet outfield.
104 balls – England vs Australia, Nottingham 1926:
Australia’s 5-match Test series in England in 1926 started with a washout at Trent Bridge where only 50 minutes of play was possible. England, who elected to bat first, made 32/0 in 17.2 overs before the game was halted by a heavy rainstorm. The weather and ground conditions never improved in the following three days. The match was called off in the afternoon of the 4th and final day’s play. The 104 balls bowled in the game was the fewest in a match across the first 100 years of Test cricket.
72 balls – Sri Lanka vs India, Kandy 1993:
India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 1993 started with a rain-affected Test match in Kandy. No play was possible on the first day of the match but the game kicked off on the 2nd day where India elected to bowl. The Indian pacers troubled the hosts enough as they were reduced to 24/3 in 12 overs spread across 49 minutes. The heavens opened up yet again and no further play was possible in the game. The rest day was free from rainfall but there was no provision of using it for lost time.
61 balls – West Indies vs England, Kingston 1998:
West Indies welcomed England in 1998 with a dangerous surface for the batsmen at Kingston in Jamaica. England elected to bat first on a surface that had a shining nature only to be on the receiving end of the blows due to the uneven bounce off the pitch. England was reduced to 17/3 in 10.1 overs with the players getting hit on quite a few occasions as well. The English team physio was made to run onto the field almost six times in the first hour itself. The officials had a long chat for one and half hour before deciding to call off the game.
10 balls – West Indies vs England, North Sound 2009:
Another Test match hosted by West Indies didn’t last long this time due to the outfield. The 2nd Test between West Indies and England in 2009 was hosted by the stadium in Antigua named after Sir Vivian Richards. The match was called off only after 10 balls of play due to the sandy layer in the run-up area. The game in fact was interrupted by the rain for a short while after 7 balls before the umpire took a decision given the risk involved in for the bowlers with the outfield.
