IND vs NZ: Lowest Batting Positions to Outscore Opposition’s All-Out Total in Tests; Tim Southee Joins Elite Club

The opening Test between India and New Zealand in 2024 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru will be remembered not only for the BlackCaps' devastating bowling performance but also for a historic batting collapse by the hosts.

India's batting lineup crumbled spectacularly, getting bowled out for 46 runs, marking their lowest-ever total at home in Test cricket. New Zealand's dominance was such that three Kiwi players - Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, and Tim Southee - each outscored India's entire team total.

Among them, Southee's 65 off 42 balls stood out as he came in at number 9 and launched an assault, making the Indian bowlers toil under pressure. His knock placed him in elite company among lower-order batsmen who have outscored the opposition's entire innings in Test cricket - a rare feat achieved only a handful of times in the 147-year-long history of the game.

The Lowest Batting Positions to Outscore Opposition's All-Out Total in Tests

Such occurrences are extremely rare and highlight the extraordinary circumstances in which a lower-order player not only excels but overshadows the opposition's entire innings. Here is a list of some remarkable instances:

At Number 11: Wilfred Rhodes (38*), England vs Australia - Edgbaston, 1902. Australia all out for 36

• England's Wilfred Rhodes, batting at number 11, managed to score an unbeaten 38, outscoring the entire Australian side in a low-scoring thriller.

At Number 10: Bill Lockwood (52*), England vs Australia - Edgbaston, 1902. Australia all out for 36

• In the same match, Bill Lockwood, coming in at number 10, also made a valuable 52*, ensuring his name was etched in history alongside Rhodes.

At Number 9: Wasim Akram (66), Pakistan vs West Indies - Faisalabad, 1988. West Indies all out for 53

• Pakistan's legendary all-rounder, Wasim Akram, scored 66 runs from number 9, eclipsing West Indies' meager total.

At Number 9: Stuart Broad (169), England vs Pakistan - Lord's, 2010. Pakistan all out for 74

• Legendary England pacer Stuart Broad's stunning 169 off 297 deliveries at number 9 at The Lord's remains one of the most famous innings by a tail-ender, overshadowing Pakistan's first innings total.

At Number 9: Tim Southee (65), New Zealand vs India - Bengaluru, 2024. India all out for 46.

• Southee's 65 off 42 balls at number 9 came in quick time, humiliating India further and showcasing the power of New Zealand's lower order.

India's Batting Collapse in Context

India's dismal 46-run total in Bengaluru is their lowest-ever innings total on home soil. The collapse was initiated by New Zealand's fast bowlers, who exploited the early moisture and erratic bounce to perfection. It was a collective bowling effort, but Southee's all-around performance - with both the bat and ball - will be remembered as a pivotal moment in the Test.