Stats: Lowest totals in Tests

West Indies plunged to a historic low in their cricketing history after getting all-out for 27 in their second innings of the third Test of the three-match series against Australia. The Roston Chase-led outfit were thoroughly unsuccessful in chasing the 204 required to end their red-ball series on a winning note after going down in the previous couple of contests.

The pace-bowling trio of Australia comprising Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland obliterated the hosts at Sabina Park in Kingston as West Indies registered their lowest Test total as well as the second-lowest innings total in the history of the longest format of the game.

Speaking of the fourth innings of the Test, the hosts’ innings lasted only 14.3 overs. Justin Greaves (11 off 24) was the only one who got to a double-digit score. There were as many as seven players who could not even open their account. The team score of 27 comprised six leg byes.

Mitchell Starc (6/9 in 7.3 overs) was the star of the show. He entered the record books by taking the fastest-ever five-wicket haul in the history of Test cricket, doing so in only 15 deliveries. The misery was compounded by Scott Boland at the end of the innings. Coming in as a replacement of Nathan Lyon, he bagged a hat-trick to wrap up a performance West Indies would like to forget.

West Indies’ next Test series, a two-match tour of India, is scheduled in Octobe. There would understandably be a lot of reinforcements to be made to their existing system to make a comeback from what has just struck them. The two matches will be played in Ahmedabad and Delhi.