Crushing losses suffered by strong teams

[subshakerz]

This loss by SA always stuck in my mind. A full strength team with Donald and Pollock was annihilated in an innings loss in the first test at home, not being able to take a wicket for an entire day.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-south-africa-1996-97-61367/south-africa-vs-australia-1st-test-63742/full-scorecard

Are there similar huge losses suffered by strong sides?

 

[the big bambino]

England's 58/59 side had the reputation of the best to visit Australia before it arrived yet copped 4 of them.

 

[CricAddict]

The Indian team which lost 8-0 was actually deemed to be strong prior to the losses, with a atg batting line-up, a very good bowling line-up and coming off a World cup win.

 

[subshakerz]

The Indian team which lost 8-0 was actually deemed to be strong prior to the losses, with a atg batting line-up, a very good bowling line-up and coming off a World cup win.

India was always going to lose in England once Zaheer got injured, the batting display was surprising tho.

 

[Starfighter]

England's 58/59 side had the reputation of the best to visit Australia before it arrived yet copped 4 of them.

That's one of those ones that existed more in media than reality though. They didn't beat South Africa in 56/57 with pretty much the same team. You can always rely on the English media to hyperbolise.

I suppose you can draw parallels with England in '13/'14. A strong team on paper, and in the media, but a bit more context deflates the impression.

 

[OverratedSanity]

This Australia loss in India was a bit of a shocker. Collapsed on the first day against an attack that had Ganguly opening the bowling, and it didn't get any better from there.

Full Scorecard of Australia vs India 2nd Test 1997/98 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of Australia vs India 2nd Test 1997/98, Australia tour of India only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of Australia vs India 2nd Test Online

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This Murali/Mendis demolition of India was demoralizing too

Full Scorecard of Sri Lanka vs India 1st Test 2008 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of Sri Lanka vs India 1st Test 2008, India tour of Sri Lanka only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of Sri Lanka vs India 1st Test Online

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The Indian team which lost 8-0 was actually deemed to be strong prior to the losses, with a atg batting line-up, a very good bowling line-up and coming off a World cup win.

It really shouldn't have been considered strong for the Australia series. The problems were glaring by that point.

 

[CricAddict]

It really shouldn't have been considered strong for the Australia series. The problems were glaring by that point.

No I remember it well. A lot of people said that it was a great chance for India to win a series on Australia soil, which obviously got very wrong later.

 

[Howe_zat]

Conversely, the England side that smashed Australia and India in 2010-11 went and collapsed in the UAE against Pakistan.

A very short reign of dominance.

 

[subshakerz]

Conversely, the England side that smashed Australia and India in 2010-11 went and collapsed in the UAE against Pakistan.

A very short reign of dominance.

Also the England worldbeating Ashes 2005 side that was smacked by Pakistan that winter.

Noticing a theme here…

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

It can happen to even the strongest sides.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-in-england-2022-1276896/england-vs-south-africa-1st-test-1276916/full-scorecard

 

[Calm_profit]

India losing in Pune, prior to that Australia lost all 9 matches in subcontinent from 2013 to 2016,
India at that time were 1st in test rankings.

 

[trundler]

Full Scorecard of England vs Australia 5th Test 1938 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of England vs Australia 5th Test 1938, Australia tour of England only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of England vs Australia 5th Test Online

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[Magrat Garlick]

Full Scorecard of England vs Australia 5th Test 1938 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of England vs Australia 5th Test 1938, Australia tour of England only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of England vs Australia 5th Test Online

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that bowling attack is a bit "who have we got left surviving on tour mates"

 

[morgieb]

This Australia loss in India was a bit of a shocker. Collapsed on the first day against an attack that had Ganguly opening the bowling, and it didn't get any better from there.

**** me that bowling attack looks grim though. Gavin Robertson and Paul Wilson!

No excuses for that collapse though.

 

[OverratedSanity]

**** me that bowling attack looks grim though. Gavin Robertson and Paul Wilson!

No excuses for that collapse though.

Reiffel got injured after the first test IIRC. Left Australia with Wilson and Dale who weren't in the same class and part time dibbly dobblies from Blewett for the rest of the series.

 

[subshakerz]

This was a very strong Aussie side that was beaten comfortably by the WI.

Full Scorecard of Australia vs West Indies 2nd Test 1979/80 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of Australia vs West Indies 2nd Test 1979/80, West Indies tour of Australia only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of Australia vs West Indies 2nd Test Online

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[h_hurricane]

Hirwani test debut when he took 16. Great hundred from Kapil too.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-tour-of-india-1987-88-61942/india-vs-west-indies-4th-test-63469/full-scorecard

Some key names missing from the ATG WI team, most notably Marshall. Still quite a fine team.

 

[the big bambino]

that bowling attack is a bit "who have we got left surviving on tour mates"

That's exactly what happened. The squad was poorly selected too. No Grimmett or back up to McCormick. Williams should have gone or Nash (though they would've had to pick him out of grade cricket).

 

[Slifer]

Full Scorecard of Australia vs West Indies 5th Test 1984/85 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com

Complete Scorecard of Australia vs West Indies 5th Test 1984/85, West Indies tour of Australia only on ESPNcricinfo.com. Find the complete scorecard of Australia vs West Indies 5th Test Online

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[Coronis]

that bowling attack is a bit "who have we got left surviving on tour mates"

Theres also Bradman and Fingleton both being out tbf.

Also lol, always fun to read O’Reilly on Bradman.

O'Reilly was unimpressed. "You'd swear I was an opal miner. I was going down and down and down and he stepped into that and was off. And the crowd that came out to cart him off, you'd swear it was an aeroplane disaster. We didn't see him again on the tour. We waved him goodbye as he left the field, never laid eyes on him again until we got on the ship to go home." - after Bradman fractured his ankle in O’Reilly’s footmark.