Six lowest team totals in England's Test history

England has yet again registered the lowest of the ebb in the traditional format. This time, the visitors fall like the pack of cards against New Zealand in the pink-ball affair at Eden Park in Auckland on March 22. The Englishmen registered their sixth overall lowest team total. Owing to their entire cricketing history, England was overhauled by the Kiwis pacemen.

Joe Root-led Three Lions was bundled out for 58 in 20.4 overs. On day one of the two-match Test series on the Black Caps shores, the Kiwis paced Trent Boult rattled England batters alongside Tim Southee.

Thus far, it was the No. nine batsman Craig Overton, who scored unbeaten 33 off 25 balls. At one stage England was tottering at 27 for nine in 15.4 overs after Kane Williamson pouched a stunner in the thirty-yard circle to remove Stuart Broad.

England survived for just 124 balls in which the visitors struck just seven boundaries and a maximum. Five fours came off Overton’s bat, as Mark Stoneman smashed two before going into the double-digit mark.

So much so, it was also the third lowest total for England in terms of balls faced in the Test innings. However, on January 1, 1992, England was humbled at 61 in 15.4 overs by Australia in Melbourne. And in 19.1 overs on the total of 46 by Windies in Port of Spain on 25th of March 1994.

The speedster Boult bagged six wickets, as South went on to claim four wickets. In overall Test No. 2,299, English batters had to bear the brunt while facing the seam bowling.

Alongside captain Root, five English batsmen were dismissed for nought. The other four players include star all-rounder Ben Stokes, wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow followed by Moeen Ali and Broad.

Moreover, England’s innings included a solitary extra in the form of leg bye.

Boult was magical as Southee proved to be a nightmare for the fifth-ranked Test side in the world.

From the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to the twilight of Auckland, England had paid the price in the red-ball cricket history has overtly suggested.

Here’s the list of six lowest England team totals since 28 January 1887: 

England 45 all out vs Australia at Sydney on January 28, 1887:

In the Test No. 25, Australian bowlers rattled England on 45 in 35. 3 overs.

Interestingly, England went on to win that Test by 13 runs. Moreover, the No. nine batsman GA Lohmann was the top-scorer with 17 off 30 balls.

Subsequently, Charlie Turner bagged six wickets after conceding 15 runs in 18 overs. And his bowling partner, J.J Ferris picked four scalps after giving away 27 runs in 17.3 overs.

England all out on 46 vs Windies in 19.3 overs at Port of Spain on March 25, 1994:

In the riveting Test Windies bowled out England on 46 when Michael Atherton-led the three lions.

It was Sir Curtly Ambrose’s bowling which inflicted the pain upon the visitors.

In the second innings, Ambrose bagged six wickets after giving away just 24 runs in 10 overs. His bowling partner, Courtney Walsh claimed three wickets for 16 in 91. overs.

Opening batsman Alec Stewart was the top-scorer for English side with 18 off 45 balls. And there was no one around who crossed the double-digit mark.

Windies went on to win the Test match by 147 runs.

England all out on 51 against Windies in 33.2 overs at Kingston on February 4, 2009:

England all out on 52 against Australia at The Oval in 42.1 over on August 14, 1948:

England all-out on 53 against Australia in 50 overs at the Lord’s on July 16, 1988:

England all out on 58 against New Zealand in 20.4 overs in Auckland on March 22, 2018: