Five Quickest finishes in Test Cricket(fewest balls bowled)

Here are some of the quickest Test matches (by fewest balls bowled):

1. Australia vs South Africa (1932) – 656 balls

• Total Overs: 109.2
• Quickest completed Test match in history
• Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
• Result: Australia won by an innings and 72 runs
• Duration: 5 sessions (Finished in less than 2 days)
• Key Performers:
  • Bert Ironmonger (Australia) – 11 wickets in the match
  • South Africa all out for 36 & 45 in both innings!

2. England vs West Indies (1935) – 672 balls

• Total Overs: 112
• Dominated by bowlers on a difficult pitch
• Venue: Bridgetown, Barbados
• Result: England won by 4 wickets
• Duration: 1.5 days
• Key Performers:
  • George Francis (WI) – 4 wickets in England’s first innings
  • Manny Martindale (WI) – 5 wickets in England’s second innings
  • Les Ames (ENG) – 49 runs, highest score of the match

3. Australia vs South Africa (1899) – 788 balls

• Total Overs: 131.2
• Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
• Result: Australia won by 10 wickets
• Duration: 2 days
• Key Performers:
  • Monty Noble (AUS) – 6/17 in South Africa’s second innings
  • Hugh Trumble (AUS) – 4 wickets in the match

4. England vs Australia (1888) – 792 balls

• Total Overs: 132
• Venue: Lord’s, London
• Result: England won by an innings and 137 runs
• Duration: 2 days
• Key Performers:
  • Bobby Peel (ENG) – 7/31 in Australia’s second innings
  • Johnny Briggs (ENG) – 6/49 in the first innings

5. India vs England (2021) – 842 balls

• Total Overs: 140.2
• Match ended inside 2 days due to spin-friendly conditions
• Venue: Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium) – Pink Ball Test
• Result: India won by 10 wickets
• Duration: 1.5 days (Two-day Test!)
• Key Performers:
  • Axar Patel (IND) – 6/38 & 5/32 (11 wickets in the match)
  • Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) – 7 wickets in the match
  • Joe Root (ENG) – 5/8 (as a part-time bowler!)

Many of these matches ended in less than two days, with bowlers dominating completely destroying the batting lineup!