IND vs SA: When A Test Match Involving India Ended Inside Two Days? - Shortest Tests in History

Add as a preferred source on Google

India and South Africa are on the verge of entering the record books for one of the shortest Test matches when the two sides take the field on day 2 of the Cape Town Test at Newlands on Thursday (January 4).

South Africa were bundled out for a paltry 55 in their first innings after a six-wicket haul by Mohammed Siraj before India had a collapse to be bowled out for 153 with a 98-run lead just after tea on a dramatic opening day in Cape Town.

Deal Elgar, who is playing his final Test match, walked out to bat twice on day one as South Africa lost three wickets in their second innings at stumps on day 1. As South Africa still trail India by 36 runs, there is a good possibility of the match ending very early on day 2.

If that does happen, will it be the shortest Test match in history? Will it be the shortest in terms of days played? Will it be one of the earliest Test match finish in recent years?

There have been several instances when a Test has finished inside two days of the match. In fact, both India and South Africa have also been involved in some of those shortest Tests in history.

However, a Test between Australia and South Africa in 1932 holds the record for the quickest finish in a Test match in terms of time although the match practically ended in three days due to a rest day in between. The match lasted for 5 hours and 53 minutes.

In terms of balls bowled also, the 1932 clash in which Australia beat South Africa tops the list, having finished the match in 656 balls. With 451 balls bowled in the Cape Town Test, India vs South Africa clash may create history as the shortest completed Test in terms of balls bowled.

As mentioned earlier, this will not be the first time the two teams will be part of a Test match that ended inside day 2. In fact, South Africa was the last team to be involved in one of these early finishes, while India also were involved in two of the last four shortest Test matches.

When India were involved in a Test match that ended in two days?

Team India first registered a victory within two days of a Test when they defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2018.

While that was a regular red ball Test, Team India once again were involved in a two-day finish. This time it was against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in 2021, when spinners claimed 28 of the 30 wickets. India won the match by 10 wickets.

South Africa, on the other hand, were involved in a two day finish in 2022, when they suffered a 6-wicket loss to Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. The Proteas have in fact been invovled in 10 of the 24 shortest Test match finishes. Here is the full list:

Shortest Tests (In Days) - All Matches finished inside day 2