As India dominated the IND vs AUS first Test in Perth, the Aussies lost their first ever Test against any team in the Optus Stadium. While India gave a mammoth target of 534, Australia’s batting order collapsed, which eventually became the reason for their loss. Such heavy losses, while rare for a cricketing giant like Australia, have happened before, becoming a part of their cricketing history. Let’s take a look at Australia’s biggest defeats while chasing a target in Test cricket.
Australia’s biggest loss by runs
Australia’s biggest loss by runs came against England in Brisbane on 30th November 1928. England defeated Australia by a staggering 675 runs, a record that still stands as Australia’s heaviest defeat. Another major setback was against South Africa in Johannesburg on 30th March 2018.
The Australian team was humbled by a massive 492-run defeat, a match remembered for its drama both on and off the field. Earlier, on 26th January 1980, despite winning the second innings, Australia conceded a 408-run deficit to the West Indies in Adelaide. This match stood out as a testament to the West Indies’ dominance during that era.
| Opponent | Runs Lost | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 675 | Brisbane | 30 Nov 1928 |
| South Africa | 492 | Johannesburg | 30 Mar 2018 |
| West Indies | 408 | Adelaide | 26 Jan 1980 |
| Pakistan | 373 | Abu Dhabi | 16 Oct 2018 |
| Pakistan | 356 | Abu Dhabi | 30 Oct 2014 |
| England | 347 | Lord’s | 18 Jul 2013 |
Australia’s biggest defeats at home (By runs)
Talking about Australia’s biggest losses, the most notable of these was against England in Brisbane, where Australia lost by an enormous 675 runs on 30th November 1928. Another big loss came on 26th January 1980 in Adelaide against the West Indies when Australia, despite winning the second innings, was beaten by 408 runs, showing the dominance of the West Indies during that era.
Back on 13th January 1933, England handed Australia a 338-run defeat in Adelaide, reflecting the competitive rivalry between the two cricketing nations. This was followed by another major defeat against England in Brisbane on 4th December 1936, where Australia fell short by 322 runs. In more recent times, South Africa achieved a superb win over Australia by 309 runs at the W.A.C.A on 30th November 2012, highlighting Australia’s struggles against South African pacers on home turf.
| Opponent | Runs Lost | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 675 | Brisbane | 30 Nov 1928 |
| West Indies | 408 | Adelaide | 26 Jan 1980 |
| England | 338 | Adelaide | 13 Jan 1933 |
| England | 322 | Brisbane | 4 Dec 1936 |
| South Africa | 309 | W.A.C.A | 30 Nov 2012 |
| England | 299 | Sydney | 9 Jan 1971 |
| India | 295 | Perth | 25 Nov 2024 |
Australia’s biggest defeats against India (by runs)
Certainly! Here is the information organized in a table format:
| Margin | Venue | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| 320 runs | Mohali | 17 Oct 2008 |
| 295 runs | Perth | 22 Nov 2024 |
| 222 runs | Melbourne | 30 Dec 1977 |
| 179 runs | Chennai | 6 Mar 1998 |
| 172 runs | Nagpur | 6 Nov 2008 |
| 171 runs | Eden Gardens | 11 Mar 2001 |
