Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey
Australia’s quest to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) couldn’t have got to a worse start. In the first of five Tests in the 2024/25 showdown against India, Australia were pummeled after bowling India out for 150 on day one. They were then bowled out for 104 in response, before India piled on 487/6d to take a massive 533-run lead on a Perth Stadium pitch showing signs of wear.
To make matters worse, Australia lost three wickets in 4.2 overs to end day three at 12/3, still needing 522 to win. This begs the question – what are the biggest losses by Australia in Test cricket by runs? In this article, we’ll look at the top five.
Top 5 biggest losses for Australia in Test cricket (by runs)
1. 675 runs vs England, Brisbane, 1928
Australia’s heaviest defeat in Tests remains their 675-run defeat against England way back in 1928, which was Sir Donald Bradman’s debut. The Australians were totally dominated in this Test, with England scoring 521 and 342/8d in stark contrast to the hosts’ 122 and 66.
Bradman managed just 18 and 1 in his first Test as the likes of Harold Larwood (eight wickets) and Jack White (4/7) too good.
2. 492 runs vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2018
The next Test after Cape Town, 2018. Australia, predictably, were all over the place in Johannesburg under new captain Tim Paine. Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were gone, and the Australians were left trying to pick up the pieces of a horror tour.
South Africa, led by Aiden Markram (152), Temba Bavuma (95*), and AB de Villiers (69), hit 488. Australia fell to 96/6, but fifties to Paine (62) and Pat Cummins (50) gave some respectability.
Second time around, Australia were reduced to a nearly identical 95/6, but there was no half-century for either Paine or Cummins this time around as Australia were rolled for 119 chasing 612 for victory.
3. 408 runs vs West Indies, Adelaide, 1980
Clive Lloyd at his best. The legendary captain smashed 121 at a strike rate of 77.56, along with Viv Richards’ 76 at a strike rate of 105.55, as West Indies hit 328 in the first innings of the 1980 Adelaide Test.
The great West Indies attack, featuring Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, and Colin Croft, dismissed Australia for 203. In reply, West Indies batted Australia out of the Test thanks mainly to Alvin Kallicharran (106), Viv Richards (74) and Gordon Greenidge (76).
Needing 574 to win, Australia managed just 165. All four fast bowlers shared the ten wickets, with Michael Holding the pick (4/40).
4. 373 runs vs Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, 2018
The first Test of the 2018 series between Pakistan and Australia belonged to Usman Khawaja. He, Travis Head and Tim Paine masterminded an Australian escape in Dubai, where they batted 139.5 overs to save the Test. Khawaja himself hit 141 off 302 balls.
But, the second Test was a horror show for Australia. After reducing Pakistan to 57/5 on day one, they didn’t get a sniff thereafter. Tim Paine’s team were rolled for 145 in response to Pakistan’s 282, with seamer Mohammad Abbas (5/33) the chief destroyer.
Pakistan’s second innings effort of 400/9d, led by half-centuries to Fakhar Zaman (66), Azhar Ali (64), Babar Azam (99) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (81) set Australia a mammoth 538 to win. Abbas (5/62) was too good again as Australia were bundled out for 164.
5. 356 runs vs Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, 2014
Abu Dhabi again. This time in 2014. Misbah-ul-Haq hit the equal second-fastest century off just 56 balls in an extraordinary show.
Earlier in the Test, Younis Khan (213), Azhar Ali (109) and Misbah-ul-Haq (101) ground Australia into the ground. In response to Pakistan’s 570/6, Australia could only manage 261 as Pakistan’s seamers had the ball reversing.
Azhar (100*) and Misbah (101*) both hit their second centuries of the match to then leave Australia needing 603. Steve Smith (97) performed well, but Australia fell way short.
