England's five worst Test cricket innings …and the shambles in New Zealand does not even make the list

England captain Joe Root reacts after being bowled by Trent Boult for 0
Stu Forster/Getty Images
Standard Sport22 March 2018

As Craig Overton dispatched a Trent Boult delivery over square-leg for six in the 19th over on Thursday, England passed their lowest ever Test total and avoided beating a record which has stood since January 1887.

He added six more as England collapsed to 58 all out, their sixth-worst Test innings score, after finding themselves 23 for eight at Auckland.

England head coach Trevor Bayliss said his side's performance "just wasn't good enough", telling Sky Sports: "We batted extremely poorly."

Here are the worst ever England Test performances to date...

45 vs Australia, Sydney 1887

Australia won the toss and opted to field in the first Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Charlie Turner (15 for six) and JJ Ferris (27 for four) working their way through the tourists in 35.3 four-ball overs. England went on to win the Test by 13 runs.

46 vs West Indies, Port of Spain 1994

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

England needed 193 in their second innings to beat the Windies in the third Test, but Curtly Ambrose had other ideas. A 10-over spell yielded six England wickets for 24 runs, with Alec Stewart the only tourist to record double figures.

51 vs West Indies, Kingston 2009

Photo: Julian Herbert/Getty Images
Julian Herbert/Getty Images

The Windies had a 74-run lead after the first innings in the First Test but skittled England to avoid having to bat again. Jerome Taylor took a five-for, costing only 11 runs. England found themselves on 26 for seven after 20 overs as Andrew Flintoff top scored with 24.

52 vs Australia, The Oval 1948

Photo: Central Press/Getty Images
Central Press/Getty Images

The worst England innings score on home turf came in 1948 against Australia in a Test where Donald Bradman went for a duck which reduced his Test average to 99.94. Australia were 3-0 up in the Ashes going into the Oval Test but Leonard Hutton stood strong while his team-mates fell one by one.

53 vs Australia, Lord's 1888

Photo: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

The first Ashes Test in 1888 has three entries in the lowest 50 Test innings scores of all time, led by a first innings flop by the home side. Chasing a 116 set by Australia, England fell to 22 for six and 26 for seven before recovering as Johnny Briggs was the last man to fall on 17.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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