Stats: Ireland registers one of the lowest totals in Test cricket

Ireland had the opportunity, a realistic one, to secure their maiden Test victory. Right from the start of the Test match against England, they did everything right. Tim Murtagh picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings and helped bowl out the Brits for a paltry score of 85. Then, the batsmen did quite well 207 runs and take a considerable lead.

In their second innings, England fought their way back. They scored 303 runs and did well to set a target of 182 runs to the visitors. With plenty of time left in the game, the Irishmen could have got to the total and even register a historic win. However, things turned quite awry as soon as they took the field in their second innings. Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes were on fire and didn’t let the visitors sniff a chance.

Ireland registers the lowest score in the 21st century

Both these bowlers were right on the top and kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. Three batsmen were dismissed for a duck while only two men managed to cross the 5-run mark. James McCollum, with 11 runs, was the highest run-scorer in the innings. Ultimately, Ireland was bowled out for 38 runs while Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad picked up 6 and 4 wickets respectively.

This score by Ireland is the lowest score in a Test innings in the 21st century. It has actually been quite a while since we’ve witnessed a performance as bad as this one. The lowest total in a Test innings was registered by New Zealand in 1955. In the game against England, they only managed to score 26 runs.

South Africa occupies the next place on the list and three of those performances came against England. They scored 30 twice in 1896 and 1924. In 1899, the Proteas were bowled out for 35 and for 36 against Australia in 1932. Australia also features twice in this list. They registered scores of 36 and 42, both against England, in 1902 and 1988.

New Zealand features for the second time on this embarrassing list. In 1946 against Australia in Wellington, the Kiwis were bundled out for 42 runs. India witnessed a similar fate in Lord’s in 1974 when they were bowled out for 42 against England.