4 Instances when all 11 players bowled in a Test innings

The game of cricket has witnessed several iconic moments. Be it Sachin’s 100th century or Yuvraj’s six-sixes in an over, the fans have witnessed some crazy moments that lit up the game. It is of no doubt that these records will be broken someday. Well, as they say, “Records are meant to be broken”!

However, some records can’t be broken! Yes, you read that right! Cricket fans have come across rare moments when there were instances when all the eleven players bowled in a Test inning. This feat is unbreakable within the laws of the game. A feat of the maximum number of bowlers bowling in a test inning adds up to Test cricket’s reputation of being the best format in the game. 

Now, one might wonder, “What is the need of using all the eleven players to bowl out a test team?”. Well, Test cricket has the reputation of being unpredictable. As we move ahead with Test cricket surviving in this era which is dominated by T20 cricket, it surprises us with more facts.

Here are the only four instances when all the eleven players bowled in a Test inning – 

1. Third Test of Australia’s tour of England in 1884

Well, one might come across this Test match only through facts books. This test was played from the 11th of August to the 13th of August, 1884. A touring Australian team was taking on England. This was the very first instance when the captain used all his players to bowl out a Test team. Batting first, the Australians made 551 in 311 overs. 

The English captain Lord Harris used all his players to take the Australian wickets. The leading wicket-taker for England during that match was Alfred Lyttelton, who took four wickets for 19 runs in his 12 overs. In reply to Australia’s batting, the Englishmen scored 346 runs in 198 overs with a century from Walter Read, who scored 117 runs. After the Australians enforced the follow on, the Englishmen scored 85 runs off 26 overs.

The top run-scorer for the team in the second innings was Arthur Shrewsbury, who discord 37 off 33 balls. In the second inning, the Australian bowling attack comprised of five bowlers, and only Harry Boyle and George Giffen took wickets. This game is special in the history of cricket as it is one of the four instances when a team used all its eleven players to take all the wickets. Therefore, this makes it to this special list.