New Zealand completed a 2-0 Test series win over Zimbabwe by crushing them in record-breaking form. This Black Caps victory is etched as their biggest-ever win in Test cricket and one of the biggest in Test cricket history. Test cricket has produced some truly dominant performances over the years, but few victories are as emphatic as those achieved by an innings and runs.
5. Australia vs. England, 1946 (An Innings and 332 Runs)
- Winner: Australia
- Date: November 29 – December 04, 1946
- Australia’s Total: 645
- Venue: Brisbane
- Best Performer: Donald Bradman (187 Runs)
The Ashes are traditionally the hardest fought matches in Test cricket; it’s rare to see Ashes victories with such large margins. Australia who batted first, put up a mammoth 645 in the first innings. A record-breaking highest 3rd-wicket, 276-run partnership between Donald Bradman and Hassett helped set up this score.
4. India vs. West Indies, 1958 (An Innings and 336 Runs)
- Winner: West Indies
- Date: December 31, 1958 – January 04, 1959
- West Indies’ Total: 614/5d
- Venue: Eden Gardens
- Best Performer: Rohan Kanhai (256 Runs)
Rohan Kanhai’s compelling 256, along with centuries from Basil Butcher and Garry Sobers, helped the West Indies set up 614 for India to chase. Roy Gilchrist and Wes Hall bowled impressive spells in both innings, with Gilchrist picking up 9 wickets across the two innings.
3. Zimbabwe vs. New Zealand, 2025 (An Innings and 359 Runs)
- Winner: New Zealand
- Date: August 07 – 09, 2025
- New Zealand’s Total: 601/3d
- Venue: Bulawayo
- Best Performer: Devon Conway (153 Runs)
Zimbabwe only put up a measly 125 in their first innings, thanks to the efforts of Matt Henry and Zakary Foulkes. New Zealand had a strong performance with the bat and declared overnight, with a lead of 476. Zakary Foulkes had an outstanding second innings with the ball, picking up 5 wickets in just 9 overs.
2. South Africa vs. Australia, 2002 (An Innings and 360 Runs)
- Winner: Australia
- Date: February 22 – 24, 2002
- Australia’s Total: 652/7d
- Venue: Johannesburg
- Best Performer: Adam Gilchrist (206 Runs)
A career-best 204* from Adam Gilchrist and centuries from Matthew Hayden (122) and Damien Martyn (133) helped Australia establish a dominant 652 in their first innings. Glenn McGrath took a fifer in South Africa’s second innings to record this colossal victory.
1. England vs. Australia, 1939 (An Innings and 579 Runs)
- Winner: England
- Date: August 20 – 24, 1938
- England’s Total: 903/7d
- Venue: The Oval
- Best Performer: Leonard Hutton (364 Runs)
The Oval in 1938 was the final Test of the last Ashes series before World War II. At this time, timeless Test matches were played to a conclusion, however long they took. Opener Leonard Hutton started off the match with a majestic 364 from 847 balls. Along with him, two other batsmen, Maurice Leyland and Joe Hardstaff also recorded scores above 150, to help England reach 903.
Summary
These wins are only recorded in history when a mammoth first innings is recorded by a team and is followed by a dominant bowling performance. These matches are the definition of control in Test cricket.
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
