Records that were broken in 2nd Test Match: India’s Tour of South Africa 2023 -24
A Historic Day of Wickets
In cricketing history, the second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands, Cape Town, added its name with an extraordinary 23-wicket haul on the opening day, marking the second-highest in the game’s 147-year history. Only surpassed by the legendary Ashes Test of 1901/02, where 25 wickets fell on the inaugural day in Melbourne, this spectacle unfolded as the joint-highest wicket tally on a single day of a Test match in South Africa, equalling the feat of the 2011 match featuring the hosts and Australia at the same venue.
Wickets Galore: A Day to Remember
The tally of 23 wickets on Day 1 of the Test places it among the top five instances of most wickets in a single day of a Test match. Notably, it stands alongside historic encounters like Lord’s in 1888 and Melbourne in 1902.
South Africa’s 55 All-Out: A Historic Low
South Africa’s meager total of 55 in their first innings marked a historic low against India in Tests. This score, the lowest all-out total against India, surpassed the previous record set by New Zealand in Mumbai in 2021 by seven runs.
India’s Lightning Dismissal of South Africa
India’s bowlers orchestrated South Africa’s collapse in just 23.2 overs, setting a new record for the least number of overs bowled to dismiss an opponent in Tests. The previous record, 25.1 overs, was established in 2006 when India skittled out South Africa for 84 in Johannesburg, paving the way for their maiden Test victory in the country.
Historical Lows for South Africa in Tests
South Africa’s 55 all-out is their eighth-lowest total in Test history, marking their lowest since World War II.
Mohammed Siraj’s Magical Spell
Mohammed Siraj‘s exceptional bowling figures of 6-15 added another feather to his cap, securing the third-best bowling returns for an Indian bowler in Tests in South Africa. Only Shardul Thakur’s 7-61 in Johannesburg in 2022 and Harbhajan Singh’s 7-120 in the 2011 New Year’s Test in Cape Town surpass Siraj’s recent performance.
India’s Batting Collapse
India’s batting innings witnessed a stunning collapse, losing six wickets at the score of 153—the most remarkable of batting collapses in Test history. This unprecedented event unfolded as India’s last five pairs failed to add a single partnership run, a first in the history of Test cricket.
Unprecedented Partnerless Runs
The partnership-less runs of India’s last five pairs in their innings marked a historic low, a stark departure from the previous record of 3 by England against Australia in Melbourne in 1990.
Ducks Galore: India’s Unwanted Record
India’s first innings was marred by six ducks, equaling the record for the most ducks recorded by a team in a Test innings. This unfortunate feat had occurred previously against England in Manchester in 2014.
Dean Elgar’s Milestone in Farewell Test
Dean Elgar, despite a modest performance with scores of 4 and 12 in his farewell Test, reached a significant milestone by crossing 1,000 runs against India in Test cricket. He joined the elite club of South African batters with 1,000-plus Test runs against India, comprising legends like Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, and AB de Villiers.
Opener’s Elite 1,000-Plus Runs Club
Dean Elgar became the eighth opener to register 1,000-plus runs against India, finishing with 1,012 runs. This exclusive club also includes Alastair Cook, Matthew Hayden, Gordon Greenidge, Graham Gooch, Mudassar Nazar, David Warner, and Geoffrey Boycott. Elgar’s aggregate of 5,121 runs as an opener for South Africa in Tests ranks fourth, following the illustrious names of Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, and Herschelle Gibbs.
Final Word: The second Test between South Africa and India at Newlands, Cape Town, left an indelible mark, rewriting records and creating new milestones.
