Tied Test


A tied Test is a Test cricket match in which the side batting second is bowled out in the fourth innings, with scores level. This is a very rare result; only two ties have occurred in the 2,000 Tests played since 1877. The first was in 1960 and the second in 1986. On both occasions, the aggregate scores of both sides were equal at the conclusion of play and the side batting last had completed its final innings: 10 batsmen had been dismissed or, from the perspective of the side bowling, 10 wickets had been taken. In other words after four completed innings, with each innings ending either by a declaration or 10 wickets having fallen, the runs for both teams were exactly the same.
In cricket, a tie is distinct from a draw, a much more common result in Tests, which occurs when play concludes without victory by either team.
Both tied Tests involved the Australian cricket team. Both ended in the last possible over of play on the last day with a ball to spare, meaning that within the space of several minutes all four normal Test match results were possible: a win for the batting side, a win for the fielding side, a draw or a tie. Bob Simpson is the only person to be involved in both tied tests — as a player for Australia in the first, and as the Australian team coach in the second.

First tied Test, 1960

The first tied Test was played between the West Indies and Australia. The match was played at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known as "the Gabba", in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, between 9 and 14 December 1960.

West Indies 1st innings

After a disastrous start of 65–3, Garfield Sobers made a rapid 132 in 174 minutes. Alan Davidson took 5–135. West Indies were all out for 453 runs.

Australia 1st innings

made 181 in 401 minutes. Australia were all out for 505, a lead of 52.

West Indies 2nd innings

took 6–87 and West Indies made 284, setting Australia a target of 233 runs to win.

Australia 2nd innings

Davidson and Australian captain Richie Benaud set an Australian 7th-wicket partnership record of 134 in matches against the West Indies.

Last over

was bowling, with the clock showing 5:56. Australia stood at 227–7, needing six runs to win from the 8-ball over with three wickets in hand.
Australia were all out for 232 and the match ended in the first tie in 84 years of Test cricket.

Second tied Test, 1986

The second tied test was the first Test of a three Test series, played between Australia and India, at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Madras, in India between 18 and 22 September 1986. The conditions were said to be extremely hot and humid.

Australia 1st innings

Australia declared at 574 for 7 early on the third day. Dean Jones made 210, which was then the highest score by an Australian side in a Test in India, having faced 330 balls and hit 27 fours and 2 sixes. He had to be treated in hospital after the completion of the innings for heat exhaustion. Australian coach Bob Simpson described it as "the greatest innings ever played for Australia". David Boon scored 122, and Australian captain, Allan Border, 106.

India 1st innings

India lost 7 wickets for 270 runs by the end of the third day, and were all out for 397, avoiding the follow on by only 23 runs and trailing by 177. Indian captain Kapil Dev made 119 and Greg Matthews took 5–103 wearing a sweater to prove his toughness. Sunil Gavaskar became the first Test cricketer to make 100 consecutive Test appearances.

Australia 2nd innings

Australia declared at 170 for 5, their overnight score at the end of the fourth day, setting India a target of 348 to win.

India 2nd innings

Starting positively, India reached 204 for 2, when Gavaskar was third out for 90. India reached 291 for 5 when Chandrakant Pandit was out. A flurry of tail-end wickets fell to leave India on 344 for 9 by the last over.

Last over

Greg Matthews was bowling to Ravi Shastri, with India's last man Maninder Singh at the bowler's end. India needed four runs to win from the 6-ball over with only one wicket remaining.
India were all out for 347, Matthews having taken 5–146 and Ray Bright 5–94, and the match was the second tie in Test cricket. Dean Jones and Kapil Dev were joint Men of the Match.

Draws with scores level

In addition to the two tied Tests, there have been two Tests which ended when time expired with the scores level in the fourth innings, but with the batting side still having wickets in hand. These matches are considered to be draws, rather than ties.