Last Updated on 8 months by Charbel Coorey
New Zealand have punched well above their weight over the years, becoming a solid Test team and winning the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021. However, since the triumph, the going has been tough for the Black Caps in Test cricket, with their 88-all out against Sri Lanka at Galle a low point.
New Zealand are at risk of suffering one of their biggest defeats in Tests after conceding a mammoth 602/5d in the first innings. At the end of day three, the Black Caps trail by 315 in their second innings with just five wickets in hand.
In this article, we will look at New Zealand’s biggest losses in their history.
List of biggest defeats for New Zealand in Test cricket
5. Innings and 198 runs vs. India, Nagpur, 2010
A Test tour of India is always difficult. New Zealand found that out in their 2010 tour, falling to an innings and 198-run defeat in the third match after two draws.
Batting first, New Zealand fell to 82/6 and were eventually bowled out for 193. Sreesanth (2/28), Ishant Sharma (4/43) and Pragyan Ojha (3/57) shared the wickets, along with Harbhajan Singh (1/59).
In response, India flexed their batting might. Gautam Gambhir (78) and Virender Sehwag (74) made for a strong start. But, the best was to come. Rahul Dravid did what Rahul Dravid did best, batting 396 balls for his 191 to drive New Zealand into the ground. Sachin Tendulkar (61) and MS Dhoni (98) were also too good.
Trailing by 373 after India racked up 566/8d, New Zealand managed just 175. The spinners combined for seven of the top eight of the Black Caps batting lineup to seal a big win.
4. Innings and 215 runs vs. England, Auckland, 1963
A strong England side made merry in Auckland way back in 1963. Ken Barrington (126), Peter Parfitt (131*) and Barry Knight (125) hit centuries as the tourists notched up a huge 562/7d.
The writing was on the wall when New Zealand fell to 7/3 in response. Resistance from John Reid (59), Bryan Yuile (64) and Richard Motz (60) meant they recovered to 258, but they were still well behind.
Unfortunately, it only got worse from there. John Larter (4/26) and Ray Illingworth (4/34) were the chief destroyers as the hosts were bundled out for just 89 after following on.
3. Innings and 222 runs vs. Australia, Hobart, 1993
The great Australian team of the 1990s flexed their muscle during New Zealand’s 1993 tour. Michael Slater (168), David Boon (106) and Mark Waugh (111) hit centuries, while the great Allan Border also chipped in with 60. Steve Waugh only got to bat 48 balls for 25* as Australia hammered 544/6.
Spinners Tim May (5/65) and Shane Warne (3/36) ripped through the New Zealand lineup to bowl them out for 161. Asked to follow on, New Zealand made exactly the same score, with the late, great Shane Warne dominating with 6/31.
2. Innings and 322 runs vs. West Indies, Wellington, 1995
Not many teams could match it with the West Indies over a few decades. The great Brian Lara smashed 147 at a strike rate of 81.22, with Jimmy Adams (151 at a strike rate of 66.81) and Junior Murray (101 at a strike rate of 114.77) also making merry. Sherwin Campbell (88), Keith Arthurton (70) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (61) also hit half-centuries, with only Stuart Williams (26) failing to cross 50 in a score of 660/5d.
With the ball, Courtney Walsh was far too good. First, he took 7/37 to dismiss New Zealand for 126. Following on, the Black Caps were then bowled out for 122 as Walsh blew them away once again with 6/18.
1. Innings and 324 runs vs. Pakistan, Lahore, 2002
The great Inzamam-ul-Haq hit his highest score of 329 as Pakistan ammassed 643 at Lahore. The skipper batted 436 balls and hit 38 fours and nine sixes. Imran Nazir also hit 127 as New Zealand were made to toil for 157.5 overs in the heat.
In response, Shoaib Akhtar was at his dominant best, taking the pitch out of the equation with his magnificent yorkers. The fast bowler took his best figures of 6/11 in 8.2 overs to help blow New Zealand away for 73 in 182 balls. Stephen Fleming’s team resisted a little more in the second innings (246 in 76.3 overs) after being made to follow on, but they were still beaten by a record margin.
