Everything You Need to Know About the Lowest West Indies Test Totals

It was a tough series for the Windies, especially their batters. Scores of 190, 141, 253, and 143 before the final Test were an indicator of not just their inability to craft partnerships but also the nature of pitches.

That said, a total of 143 was in no way preparing the home fans for what’s in store. Chasing 204, the Windies kept losing wickets as if they were in a hurry. There were seven ducks and just one player who scored in double digits. This is a scoreboard that’s likely to haunt the team and fans for long, including that sensational hat trick for a certain Scott Boland.

When the Windies restricted England to 339 after scoring 311, it was expected that the match would become a one-innings shootout. It did, but unfortunately for the Windies, it was one they wouldn’t forget. 47 all out in 25.3 overs with Steve Harmison taking seven wickets and only two players getting into double digits was a blur! Naturally, the West Indies went on to lose the match by ten wickets.

This was back in the days when the West Indies were getting to terms with their decline. Brian Lara was the captain of the side that had just Jimmy Adams and Sherwin Campbell as notable batters. The series is still remembered for being one of the hard-fought ones that ended 2-2, largely for Brian Lara’s brilliance, but the lowest point came at Port of Spain when they collapsed for 167 in the first innings and 51 in the second. Lara scored just 3 in the 364-run chase, with only one batter reaching double digits and collapsing in just 19.1 overs.

This was a West Indies side that was at the top of its prime—almost invincible. When Pakistan were sent back for 159 in the first innings, it looked like a walk in the park for the mighty Windies. Wasim Akram (6 for 91) was sensational to restrict their lead to 89 and then with the bat (66) helped set up a 240-run chase. What transpired on the fourth day was pure theatre as the Windies collapsed to 43 for 9, and then on the fifth day, they were bowled out for 53. The reverse swing of Imran Khan (4 for 30) and the leg-spin mastery of Abdul Qadir (6 for 16) brought the downfall for the West Indies.

It was a series that started with an innings win for the Windies, and then at Lord’s, they took a smashing 133-run lead in the first innings with England rolled out for 134. Not many would have signed up for what’s coming up next. The Windies collapsed like a pack of cards for just 54 in 26.4 overs, with Andy Caddick (5 for 16) and Dominic Cork (3 for 13) making sure the slope was slippery for the visitors. From there it was all downhill for the Windies as they lost the series 3-1, including a 61 all-out in the fourth Test at Leeds, which is their sixth lowest total of all time!