Here’s the list of England’s lowest Test scores against India

Here’s the list of England’s lowest Test scores against India

England Test Team

England Test Team
England Test Team

In the ongoing pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad, England were bundled out for a paltry 81 in the second innings. As Indian spinners reigned supreme, England registered their lowest score against India in Tests. Axar Patel scalped 5 wickets while Ravichandran Ashwin bagged four to set India a target of 49 to win the game.

Their total of 81 surpassed their previous lowest score of 101 that happened at The Oval ages back in 1971. So as England rue their fortunes for missing out on the final of the innagural edition of the World Test Championship, we take a look at the infamous list of the Three Lions’ lowest scores against India.

81 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 2021

India vs England, Ahemadabad, 2021
India vs England, Ahemadabad, 2021

India’s spinners wreaked havoc at the refurbished Narendra Modi Stadium to skittle England out for a paltry 81. On a rank turner, the hosts were right on the money as the England lineup crumbled away in mere 31 overs. Rookie spinner Axar led the Indian attack with his five wickets which included the prized scalps of Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Ben Foakes. All the ten wickets feel to spin in the innings with Ashwin picking up four wickets and Washington Sundar bagging the final one. India went on to win the game by 10 wickets as they chased down the target in under 8 overs.

101 at The Oval, London, 1971

India vs England, The Oval, 1971
India vs England, The Oval, 1971

It was India’s spin attack, yet again, which saw England crumble for just 101 at the Oval. Despite a lead of 72, the hosts failed to capitalise as they registered their lowest total against India then. Leg spinner Bhagwath Chandrasekhar was the wreaker in chief on the day with a six-wicket haul to his name. Opener Brian Luckhurst was the only batsman to cross the 20 run mark in the second innings with Basil D’Oliveira’s 17 being the second-best score. As a result, India were set a target of only 173 which they chased down with ease with four wickets in hand. The win was part of India’s famous maiden Test series win in England.

102 at Emerald Headingley Stadium, Leeds, 1986

India vs England, Leeds, 1986
India vs England, Leeds, 1986

On a rapidly deteriorating pitch, a wrong call at the toss proved costly for the toss. Winning the toss, India put up a fighting total of 272 before skittling the hosts for a paltry 102. Roger Binny starred with the ball with a five-wicket haul as England registered their second-lowest total against India. For England, Bill Athey starred with the bat with 32 runs while no other batsman could score half the runs he did. As the pitch continued to worsen, India put up a daunting total of 408 to chase for the hosts. The second innings was no different as England handed the visitors a 279 run win in just three and a half days.

102 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, 1981

India vs England, Mumbai, 1981
India vs England, Mumbai, 1981

A closely contested Test match between saw an unexpected climax as England folded rather easily while chasing a target of 241. On a pitch that bounced variably from the onset, a fine display of bowling by Kapil Dev and Madan Lal undid the visitors. A last-wicket stand of 27 between Derek Underwood and Bob Willis helped England avert the indignity of their lowest score in a Test against India. But the total became the Three Lions’ lowest score in India then beating the 159 they made in Madras in 1972-73. All-rounder Ian Botham top-scored in the second innings as India sealed the game 138 runs.

112 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, 2021

India vs England, Ahemadabad, 2021
India vs England, Ahemadabad, 2021

The recently concluded pink ball match saw England script unwanted records for the lowest totals in India. While the second innings was their lowest against India overall, their first innings total of 112 features at number five on the list. On a rank turner, local boy Axar Patel was the wreaker in chief once again as he scalped six wickets. Barring Zak Crawley, who scored a fabulous fifty, no other Englishman was able to breach the twenty-run mark.

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