When was the last time a Test match ended within two days?

When was the last time a Test match ended within two days?

India and Afghanistan

India celebrate a wicket

A Test match is one that is usually played over 5 days. Before the advent of limited overs cricket, tests used to usually end in draws thanks to the batsmen’s patient batting and the pitches not tending to deteriorate too much. However, the situation hasn’t changed at present with conditions tending to favor the bowlers more and more. Conditions in the subcontinents have proved to be minefields suited to spin on a lot of occasions.

Despite the same, tests finishing within the first two days are very rare. They have happened only 21 times before today in Test cricket history. It has now happened for a 22nd time with India sealing victory on the second day of the third test against England in Ahmedabad. We take a look at the last time such an instance happened – incidentally it took place in India as well, two years ago.

India crushed Afghanistan within two days in 2018

India and Afghanistan
India and Afghanistan

The instance of a test finishing in two days occurred last during Afghanistan’s debut test since being awarded test status. They were up against the Ajinkya Rahane-led Indian team and on a turning track, struggled to score runs. India batted first and posted a mammoth total of 474 fashioned by centuries from openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay. In reply Afghanistan were bundled out twice on the second day for 109 and 103 after the follow-on was enforced.

The match was the only instance of a match in India ending within 2 days. Most of the other instances were on green wickets in England that a test ended before the third day began. With India now having won the third test in 2 days, it has happened for a second time in India.

Full list of matches to finish in 2 days

Team 1Team 2WinnerGroundMatch Date
EnglandAustraliaAustraliaThe Oval28 Aug 1882
EnglandAustraliaAustraliaLord’s16 Jul 1888
EnglandAustraliaEnglandThe Oval13 Aug 1888
EnglandAustraliaEnglandManchester30 Aug 1888
South AfricaEnglandEnglandPort Elizabeth12 Mar 1889
South AfricaEnglandEnglandCape Town25 Mar 1889
EnglandAustraliaEnglandThe Oval11 Aug 1890
South AfricaEnglandEnglandPort Elizabeth13 Feb 1896
South AfricaEnglandEnglandCape Town21 Mar 1896
AustraliaSouth AfricaAustraliaManchester27 May 1912
EnglandSouth AfricaEnglandThe Oval12 Aug 1912
EnglandAustraliaAustraliaNottingham28 May 1921
AustraliaWest IndiesAustraliaMelbourne13 Feb 1931
South AfricaAustraliaAustraliaJohannesburg15 Feb 1936
New ZealandAustraliaAustraliaWellington29 Mar 1946
EnglandWest IndiesEnglandLeeds17 Aug 2000
AustraliaPakistanAustraliaSharjah11 Oct 2002
South AfricaZimbabweSouth AfricaCape Town4 Mar 2005
ZimbabweNew ZealandNew ZealandHarare7 Aug 2005
South AfricaZimbabweSouth AfricaPort Elizabeth26 Dec 2017
IndiaAfghanistanIndiaBengaluru14 Jun 2018
IndiaEnglandIndiaAhmedabad24 Feb 2021
All stats taken from ESPNcricinfo

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