Black Caps collapse: Yes sir, Yasir, 8 bags full
Just in case some of these innings have since been exorcised from your minds, here’s a friendly reminder of New Zealand’s worst test innings following Monday night’s Dubai debacle.
Being dismissed for 90 in their first dig of the second test against Pakistan was the sixth-worst tally of the modern era – if we make an arbitrary date of the debut of Sir Richard Hadlee as signifying the start of that era.
Less than six years ago, the Black Caps crumbled for 45 in 19.2 overs against South Africa batting first in Cape Town, with Kane Williamson the only player to reach double figures. That was New Zealand’s third-lowest test innings – behind only the world record 26 versus England in 1955 and a miserable 42 against Australia nine years earlier.
It wasn’t a good year for runs in 2013 – New Zealand were skittled for 68 in their second innings against England at Lord’s just four months after the Cape Town capitulation.
That was one better than their score at the same venue in 1978, while the Black Caps made just 76 against Australia at the Gabba in their second innings in November 2004.
New Zealand’s worst recent knock against their current foes was a paltry 73 in Lahore in 2002, when paceman Shoaib Akhtar blasted through them with 6-11, but as that was an overnight match (NZ time) it wouldn’t have burned in the memory as much as Hamilton 1993, when Wasim Akram (5-45) and Waqar Younis (5-22) ripped the heart out of the Black Caps’ batting for 93 when chasing a mere 127 for victory in the second innings.
The Black Caps achieved a few unwanted records on Monday as leggie Yasir Shah took 8-41 – the thirdbest innings return by a Pakistani bowler in tests and the best against New Zealand, surpassing South Africa’s Goofy Lawrence, who took 8-53 in 1961-62.
Shah’s 10 wickets in a day was a new record for a Pakistani bowler as New Zealand lost their last 10 wickets for 40 after being 50-0.
Cricinfo stats noted that New Zealand set a new mark in futility for the least runs added by a side from their Nos. 4 to 11 batsmen as six of the eight fell for ducks for the first time in test history, while the six ducks was a joint-best/worst in tests, tied with four other teams.