Full list of lowest Test totals in an innings: West Indies avoided the embarrassment of scoring the lowest-ever total in Test cricket by just one run but registered the second-lowest Test total after they were bundled out for just 27 runs in the second innings of the third Test against Australia at Sabina Park in Kingston on Tuesday. This meant New Zealand’s 70-year-old record for the lowest Test total in an innings of 26 runs against England stayed intact.
New Zealand were all out for the lowest total in 1955. After West Indies’ 27 in the second innings, South Africa, with two 30-run totals, one 35 all-out and one 36 all-out, occupy the next four lowest totals in Test cricket. Australia and India have also registered a 36-run total.
It was Australia’s star pacer Mitchell Starc who triggered the collapse with the new ball. The day-night Test and the pink ball, which is known for its extra swing, led Starc to take three wickets in the very first over of the innings.
Starc started the innings with a first-ball wicket after opener John Campbell nicked one behind to keeper Josh Inglis to record a golden duck. He then picked up two more wickets in his first over, leaving West Indies at 0/3. No. 3 Kevlon Anderson was trapped in front for a four-ball duck before Brandon King was clean bowled on a no score off the first delivery he faced. Starc bowled a triple-wicket maiden to start the innings and was on a hat-trick after removing Anderson and King on the fifth and sixth deliveries, respectively.
Soon after, Scott Boland joined the attack and recorded a hat-trick in his second over, reducing West Indies to 26 for nine, which is the lowest Test total in cricket’s history. Boland became the 12th Australian and the 49th overall player to register a Test hat-trick. A misfield by Sam Konstas at gully in the following over allowed West Indies to get a single go past New Zealand’s lowest total, Mitchell Starc cleaned up Jayden Seales the next ball to all-out West Indies on 27 in just 14.3 overs as Australia won the pink ball Test by 176 runs and completed a 3-0 whitewash.
The 27 by West Indies is also the lowest fourth innings total by any team. The previous lowest was 30 by South Africa against England in 1896.
Full list of lowest innings totals in Tests
| Score | Team | Opposition | Ground | Result | Date |
| 26 | New Zealand | England | Auckland | lost | 25 Mar 1955 |
| 27 | West Indies | Australia | Kingston | lost | 12 Jul 2025 |
| 30 | South Africa | England | Gqeberha | lost | 13 Feb 1896 |
| 30 | South Africa | England | Birmingham | lost | 14 Jun 1924 |
| 35 | South Africa | England | Cape Town | lost | 1 Apr 1899 |
| 36 | South Africa | Australia | Melbourne | lost | 12 Feb 1932 |
| 36 | Australia | England | Birmingham | draw | 29 May 1902 |
| 36 | India | Australia | Adelaide | lost | 17 Dec 2020 |
| 38 | Ireland | England | Lord’s | lost | 24 Jul 2019 |
| 42 | New Zealand | Australia | Wellington | lost | 29 Mar 1946 |
| 42 | Australia | England | Sydney | lost | 10 Feb 1888 |
(Table updated after West Indies vs Australia 3rd Test on 15 July 2025)
