Historic Lows and Bowling Feats: Key Stats from Test in Durban

Sri Lanka’s shocking collapse to just 42 runs in their first innings against South Africa in Durban has set several records, marking both ignominious lows and extraordinary achievements in Test cricket.

Sri Lanka's Record-Breaking Collapse

• 42 Runs: Sri Lanka’s total is their lowest ever in Test cricket, breaking their previous record of 71 all out against Pakistan in Kandy in 1994.
• World Test Championship: This is the second-lowest total in the Championship’s history, only behind India’s infamous 36 all out against Australia in 2020.
• 13.5 Overs: Sri Lanka’s innings is the second-shortest all-out innings in Test history. The shortest remains South Africa’s 12.3-over collapse for 30 runs against England in the 1924 Birmingham Test.

Jansen’s Exceptional Bowling

• 41 Balls: Marco Jansen’s seven wickets came from just 41 deliveries, tying the record for the fewest balls needed to claim seven wickets in a men’s Test innings. The only other bowler to achieve this was Hugh Trumble, who did so against England in 1904.
• 13 Runs Conceded: Jansen’s seven-wicket haul came at the cost of just 13 runs. Only three bowlers in men’s Test history have conceded fewer runs while taking seven or more wickets, with George Lohmann leading the list (8 for 7 against South Africa in 1896).
• Single-Digit Victims: All seven of Jansen’s dismissals were batters who scored in single digits. Since 1970, only Stuart Broad (2013, Lord’s) and Mitchell Johnson (2013, Adelaide) have achieved a similar feat.

Lowest Totals Against South Africa

• Lowest Against South Africa: Sri Lanka’s 42 is the lowest Test total ever scored against South Africa, surpassing New Zealand’s 45 all out in Cape Town in 2013.
• Third-Lowest in South Africa: It ranks as the third-lowest Test total recorded in South Africa, behind the home team’s 30 all out (Gqeberha, 1896) and 35 all out (Cape Town, 1899), both against England.

Other Notable Records

• Five Ducks: Five Sri Lankan batters failed to score, equalling their record for the most ducks in a Test innings. This has occurred twice before: against India in Chandigarh (1990) and New Zealand in Wellington (2006).
• 149 Runs Lead: South Africa’s first-innings lead of 149 runs is the highest ever by a team bowled out for under 200 in their first innings. The previous record was Australia’s 118-run lead against Pakistan in the 1981 WACA Test.
• Jayasuriya’s Milestone: Prabath Jayasuriya reached 100 Test wickets in just 17 matches, making him the joint second-fastest to the mark alongside legends like Sydney Barnes and Yasir Shah. George Lohmann holds the record, achieving the milestone in just 16 Tests.

This remarkable day at Kingsmead highlighted the extremes of Test cricket, from Sri Lanka’s historic struggles to Jansen’s phenomenal bowling, leaving fans and analysts in awe of the unpredictable nature of the game.