List of Biggest margin of wins in men's Test cricket history

One of the biggest margin of wins in men's Test cricket history is an extraordinary list that actually goes back in time as far back as even to the 30s before taking a glimpse of some extraordinary talents who played in the maverick era of the fifties and then further into the 2000s. This is an elite list of extraordinary Test cricketers who plied their trade in cricket's greatest format to help their teams achieve one of the nicest, most remarkable, and as it would turn out, one of the biggest margin of wins in men's Test cricket history, thanks to redoubtable talent on display in both departments of the game.

The list will revive old memories, recapture the greats of the game, some as timeless as the great Sobers and then highlight the abundant talent with which the mighty Aussies in the 2000s contested in cricket's greatest format. Let us revive some old memories and tip our hats to talents who are contesting very much in the present with an object to further lift their teams to an even greater position in the sport. That said, what are some of the highest margin of victory in men's Test cricket history?

Biggest margin of wins in men's Test cricket history:

West Indies came to India in the summer of 1958 for a five-match Test series, which they'd eventually win by a dominant margin of 3-nil with 2 Tests ending in a draw. Having said that, the West Indies side powered by notable talents and game-turners in their own right such as Sir Conrad Hunte, Gerry Alexander (captain at that time), Wes Hall, and not to forget, Sir Garry Sobers (the all time legend) played a different brand of cricket on that tour in the Kolkata Test. This would be a game in which they'd thud 600-plus runs, thanks to a mega double century by the incredible Rohan Kanhai and the twin centuries from the blades of Gary Sobers and Basil Butcher. This would be a memorable game for them with their bowlers making lightwork of the Indians who'd only manage 124 and 154. This would be a side comprising the great Vijay Manjrekar, Nari Contractor and Polly Umrigar but across the two innings, the Indian with the highest score would be Manjrekar with a 58. And that was it. India would concede a heavy defeat.

In the early part of 2002, Australia toured South Africa for a 3-match Test series and in the very first game, emerged with a triumphant victory, it culminating in a margin of an innings and 360 runs, powered by splendid centuries by Adam Gilchrist, Matt Hayden and Damien Martyn. The fiery wicketkeeping-batter took just 213 deliveries to belt 204 unbeaten runs with 8 sixes and 19 boundaries. Could any of that been any easy with South Africa contesting with the likes of Donald, Pollock, Kallis and Nel? But in bowling, McGrath, Lee, Gillespie and Warne, the powerful bowling quartet of Australia reduced the Protea to 159 all out with McGrath coming strong yet again to take a fifer in bungling out the hosts for 133 in their second innings. And that was that. The mighty Australians emerged with one of the biggest margins of wins in Men's Test cricket history.

Most recently, New Zealand humbled, rather pummeled the hosts Zimbabwe, crushing the team by a margin of an innings and 359 runs. Despite the returning Brendan Taylor making 44 valuable runs in Zimbabwe's first inning, no other batter from their side was quite able to defy a daunting looking Matt Henry who attacked the hosts alongside Zakary Foulkes, 4 wickets on his debut. In reply to Zimbabwe's meager and helpless looking 125 all out, the Kiwis smashed 601 before declaring their innings after occupying the crease for 130 overs. Rachin Ravindra, Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway fired powerful centuries, the left handed Ravindra scoring a fantastic 165 off just 139. In reply, Zimbabwe, tasked to chase down a mountain of runs first and then, to put up a lead, if at all that was humanly possible having been left so far behind in their first innings, were scuttled out for 117. Only Nick Welch made 47 while Foulkes, playing just his first ever Test match for NZ, captured 5 crucial wickets. The Christchurch-born was applauded by his entire team and rightly so as his country emerged victorious in taking one among the biggest margins of wins in men's Test cricket history.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Which team has the biggest margin of Test victory in the men's game?

In 1938, England beat Australia by an innings and 579 runs at The Oval.

What was the Kiwis' margin of Test victory against Zimbabwe?

NZ won by an innings and 359 runs in Bulawayo.