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Tied Test

A Tied Test is a Test cricket match in which the scores are exactly level at the conclusion of the second team's second innings, with that team being bowled out or otherwise completing its innings, marking one of the rarest possible outcomes in the format.^[1] In the 148-year history of Test cricket, spanning 2,605 matches as of November 2025, only two such results have occurred, both involving Australia.^[2] The first Tied Test took place from December 9–14, 1960, at the Brisbane Cricket Ground (The Gabba) between Australia and West Indies, ending with Australia scoring 505 and 232, while West Indies replied with 453 and 284; the match concluded dramatically on the final ball of the last over when West Indies' Joe Solomon was run out, leaving the scores tied at 737 each.^[3]^[4] The second occurred from September 18–24, 1986, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Madras (now Chennai) between India and Australia, where Australia declared at 574 for 7 and 170 for 5, and India scored 397 and 347 all out while chasing 348, tying the aggregate at 744 runs apiece after a tense collapse in the final session amid extreme heat.^[5]^[6] These matches are celebrated for their nail-biting finishes and contributions to cricket lore, with the 1960 tie fostering unprecedented camaraderie between the teams—leading to the creation of the Frank Worrell Trophy—and the 1986 encounter highlighting endurance under grueling conditions, including Dean Jones' heroic 210 in sweltering temperatures.^[7]^[8] The rarity of Tied Tests underscores the precision and unpredictability of the game, and they remain benchmarks for dramatic Test cricket, distinct from draws where play ends prematurely without a definitive result.^[9]

Definition and Rules

What Constitutes a Tied Test

A Tied Test in cricket occurs when both teams have completed all four innings—two per team—and their aggregate scores are exactly equal at the conclusion of play.^[10] This requires the team batting fourth to be dismissed (all out for 10 wickets lost) with the scores level, ensuring full completion of the innings without declaration or abandonment.^[10] A critical condition is that all innings must be fully played out; if scores are level but the fourth innings ends with wickets remaining (not all out), or if the follow-on is not enforced where applicable, the result is classified as a draw rather than a tie.^[10] This distinction upholds the requirement for a definitive conclusion through dismissal, preventing incomplete scenarios from being deemed ties. Situations invalidating a tie include rain or other interruptions that prevent the full completion of innings, leading to a draw even if scores appear level at suspension.^[10] For instance, weather-related abandonments after partial play cannot satisfy the all-out requirement for the fourth innings.^[11] Only two Tied Tests have occurred in over 2,600 matches since 1877 as of November 2025, underscoring their extreme rarity.^[4]

Distinction from Draws and Level Scores

In Test cricket, a draw occurs when a match concludes without a definitive result, typically due to time constraints preventing the completion of all necessary innings, even if the scores of both teams are level at the end.^[12] According to Law 16.5.2 of the MCC Laws of Cricket, a draw is declared if the outcome cannot be determined under the provisions for wins or ties, such as when play ends prematurely or an innings remains unfinished.^[12] A tied Test, by contrast, requires that all innings be fully completed with equal scores, as specified in Law 16.5.1, meaning the team batting last must be all out (losing all 10 wickets) or have their innings otherwise concluded under the rules, without the match extending beyond the scheduled time in a way that prevents a result.^[12] This strict condition distinguishes ties from scenarios where scores level but the final innings ends prematurely, such as at nine wickets down due to time running out; these are classified as draws rather than ties.^[12] Such level-score draws have occurred rarely, including the 1996 Bulawayo Test between Zimbabwe and England, where England ended at 204 for 6 chasing 205,^[13] and the 2011 Mumbai Test between India and West Indies, where India finished at 242 for 9 pursuing 243; neither met the all-out requirement for a tie under MCC laws adopted by the ICC. Common misconceptions arise among fans who informally refer to these level-score draws as "ties" due to the dramatic equality of totals, but official records and scoring maintain the distinction to uphold the precision of cricket's result classifications.

Historical Context and Rarity

Evolution in Test Cricket

Test cricket originated in 1877 with matches played in a timeless format, lacking a fixed duration and continuing until a result was achieved or both teams agreed to conclude. In this era through the 1950s, ties were theoretically possible if the scores leveled exactly after both teams were all out in their second innings, but such outcomes remained unlikely due to captains' frequent declarations to force a win, often resulting in draws instead. No ties occurred during this period, as the emphasis on avoiding stalemates through tactical play and the absence of time pressure favored conclusive results or shared points.^[14]^[15] Following World War II, structural changes shifted Test matches toward timed formats with stricter overs and day allocations, culminating in the standard five-day limit for most fixtures by 1950 in major series like the Ashes. This evolution introduced greater tension, as teams could no longer extend play indefinitely, compelling more aggressive strategies to secure victories within the allotted time.^[16] However, draws persisted as the predominant inconclusive outcome, influenced by weather interruptions, defensive batting on wearing pitches, and the reluctance to risk defeat in pursuit of a win. The landmark tied Test at Brisbane in 1960 served as a pivotal moment, demonstrating the dramatic potential of exact score equality.^[17] In the modern era since 2000, innovations such as day-night Tests, introduced in 2015 with pink balls to enhance visibility and spectator appeal, have aimed to heighten result pressures by altering ball behavior under lights—increasing seam movement and wear rates.^[18] These changes have injected new dynamics into matches, potentially narrowing margins through faster scoring and more wickets, yet no additional ties have materialized amid the format's approximately 30 outings to date (23 men's).^[19]

Statistical Overview

Since the inaugural Test match in 1877, a total of 2,605 men's Test matches have been played as of November 16, 2025.^[20] Of these, only two have ended in ties, representing a mere 0.077% occurrence rate that underscores the extraordinary rarity of such outcomes in the format.^[1] Both tied Tests featured Australia as one of the competing teams: the first against West Indies in Brisbane in 1960, and the second against India in Madras (now Chennai) in 1986.^[1] No other nation has been involved in a tied Test, and none have occurred outside these two instances spanning distinct eras of the game—mid-20th century and late-20th century—with no involvement from teams like England, South Africa, or Pakistan despite their extensive participation.^[1] In comparison, ties represent a negligible fraction of overall results, where draws account for approximately 40% of matches and decisive wins (for either team) exceed 59%, based on historical aggregates up to 2025.^[21] This disparity arises from the inherent difficulty of a tie, which demands exact equality in final scores after typically aggregating over 2,000 runs across four or five days, a precision rarely achieved amid variables like weather, pitch conditions, and strategic play.^[22] No tied Tests have occurred since 1986, spanning nearly four decades and over 1,000 subsequent matches, reflecting evolving game dynamics such as faster pitches, aggressive batting, and result-oriented captaincy that favor wins over stalemates.^[21] In modern eras, the closest equivalents are draws with level scores—where totals match but the match does not conclude in a tie due to unfinished play—yet these remain distinct and far more common than true ties.^[1]

The Two Tied Tests

1960 Brisbane Test: Australia vs West Indies

The first Test of the 1960-61 series between Australia and the West Indies, played at the Brisbane Cricket Ground from December 9 to 14, 1960, produced the first tie in Test cricket history after 84 years of the format. West Indies captain Frank Worrell won the toss and elected to bat, posting 453 in their first innings on a batsman-friendly pitch, driven by Garry Sobers' masterful 132 and solid knocks from Worrell (65) and Gerry Alexander (60), with Wes Hall adding a quickfire 50 down the order. Australia's bowlers, led by Alan Davidson's 5/135 from 30 overs, struggled initially but mounted a late fightback to dismiss the tail.^[3] Australia responded emphatically with 505 all out, securing a 52-run lead through Norm O'Neill's dominant 181—his highest Test score—and Bob Simpson's composed 92 at the top. Les Favell contributed 45, while the middle order capitalized on the conditions before Hall's 4/140 triggered a collapse of the last four wickets for just 21 runs. West Indies' spinners Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine kept things tight, but the batting depth allowed Australia to build a substantial total. In their second innings, West Indies reached 284, again anchored by Worrell's 65 and Rohan Kanhai's 54, but Davidson's exceptional 6/87 dismantled the lineup, leaving Australia needing 233 to win on the final day.^[3] Needing victory to seize series momentum, Australia slumped to 6/92 early in their chase, with Hall claiming three quick wickets. A resilient 134-run seventh-wicket partnership between Davidson (80) and Richie Benaud (52)—the highest for that wicket in Australia at home—brought them within striking distance, with Davidson becoming the first player to score 100 runs and take 10 wickets in a single Test (44 and 11 wickets overall). Tension peaked in the final over from Hall, with seven runs required off the last seven balls and Lindsay Kline on strike. On the penultimate delivery, Kline edged the ball to Joe Solomon at deep square leg; non-striker Ian Meckiff set off for a quick single, then turned for a desperate second run to tie the scores. Solomon's accurate throw from the boundary beat Meckiff's dive, running him out as Australia finished at 232 all out, leveling the aggregate scores at 737 each.^[3]^[23]^[17] The match, attended by over 80,000 spectators across five days, captivated crowds with its unrelenting drama and sportsmanship, drawing widespread acclaim as a landmark in cricket. Sir Donald Bradman, chairman of the Australian Board of Control, hailed it as "the greatest and most exciting of all time," praising the positive intent from both captains that avoided a draw.^[24]^[25]

1986 Madras Test: Australia vs India

The 1986 Madras Tied Test, the first match of Australia's tour of India, took place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium from September 18 to 22, 1986.^[5] Australia, captained by Allan Border and coached by Bob Simpson, won the toss and elected to bat first on a batting-friendly pitch, posting a formidable 574 for 7 declared in 170.5 overs.^[5] Key contributions came from David Boon with 122, Dean Jones scoring a grueling 210, and Border adding 106, forming a crucial 178-run partnership for the fourth wicket that exhausted the batsmen in the oppressive heat.^[26] India responded with 397 all out in 94.2 overs, led by Kapil Dev's counterattacking 119, while Ravi Shastri made 62; the innings featured a collapse of the top order, with the first three wickets falling for just 65 runs.^[5] Australia then batted their second innings, declaring at 170 for 5 in 49 overs to set India a target of 348 to win—an ambitious chase on a wearing pitch.^[5] David Boon top-scored with 49, but the declaration aimed to pressure India in the fading light and deteriorating conditions.^[26] India started steadily in their second innings, reaching 347 all out in 86.5 overs, just one run short of victory. Sunil Gavaskar anchored with 90, Mohinder Amarnath added 51, and Shastri contributed 48 not out, but the lower order faltered under pressure from Australia's spinners.^[5] The match's climax unfolded in the final over bowled by Greg Matthews, with India needing 4 runs and Shastri on strike alongside No. 11 Maninder Singh. Shastri took two runs off the second ball via a misfield by Steve Waugh at mid-on, followed by a single off the third, leaving 1 run required off 3 balls.^[26] On the penultimate delivery, Maninder defended but was controversially given out lbw by umpire V. Vikramraju—a decision disputed by Indian players who believed the ball pitched outside leg—ending the innings at 347 and tying the scores, only the second such result in Test history.^[5]^[27] Initial scoreboard confusion briefly suggested a draw or Australian win, but officials confirmed the tie amid stunned celebrations from both teams.^[26] The game was defined by extreme environmental challenges, with temperatures around 40°C (104°F) and 80% humidity turning the concrete stadium into a furnace that radiated heat and carried a foul stench from a nearby canal.^[26] Jones suffered severe dehydration during his double-century, vomiting on the field and requiring hospitalization afterward, while Border and others collapsed from exhaustion.^[28] A crowd that swelled from 10,000 to around 50,000 on the final day created an electric atmosphere, roaring as India closed in on victory.^[26] Dubbed the "Thriller in Madras," the tie highlighted the growing rivalry between the sides and remains celebrated for its drama and resilience.^[29]

Draws with Level Scores

In Test cricket, a draw with level scores occurs when the aggregate totals of both teams are identical at the conclusion of the match, but the batting side in the final innings has not been dismissed—all out—preventing a definitive result. This outcome typically arises due to time constraints in the five-day format or interruptions from weather, leading to the match ending prematurely without a completed innings. According to International Cricket Council (ICC) playing conditions, such scenarios are classified as draws rather than ties, as the absence of an all-out dismissal means the match cannot be resolved as a tie, even though the scores are even.^[13]^[30] These draws share dramatic tension with true ties, building suspense through closely contested run chases or declarations, yet they lack the conclusive finality of a full innings completion, often leaving fans and players with a sense of unresolved intensity. The five-day structure inherently limits the ability to force a result in such balanced encounters, emphasizing the format's emphasis on endurance over rapid resolution. This rarity underscores the unpredictability of Test cricket, where external factors like rain or cautious batting can preserve parity without a winner. Only two such instances have occurred in Test history, both during the 1990s and 2010s: the first in the 1996 Bulawayo Test between Zimbabwe and England, and the second in the 2011 Mumbai Test between India and West Indies. Representing approximately 0.08% of all Test matches played—out of over 2,600 fixtures as of late 2025—these events mirror the scarcity of true ties (also two in history) but remain distinctly categorized due to their unfinished nature.^[2]

Near-Tied Tests

Near-tied Tests refer to matches in Test cricket that conclude with outcomes decided by the narrowest possible margins, such as victories by one run, one wicket, or scenarios where the final scores differ by just one run after all innings without resulting in a tie, often involving dramatic last-ball deliveries that heighten suspense. These instances contrast with true ties by resolving into definitive wins or draws, yet they capture similar levels of intensity through razor-thin differences in runs or wickets remaining.^[31]^[32] Such near-ties are more frequent than outright ties but remain exceptionally rare, occurring in fewer than 2% of all Test matches played since 1877, with approximately 15 documented cases of one-wicket victories and only two one-run wins as of November 2025 across over 2,600 Tests. No additional one-wicket or one-run victories have occurred since 2021. This rarity underscores the format's unpredictability, where even minor scoring variances can determine the result, and they have appeared sporadically across eras, influenced by evolving playing conditions, strategies, and rule interpretations.^[33]^[34]^[35] In the pre-tie era before 1960, near-ties often highlighted gritty defenses and chases under pressure, such as England's one-wicket victory over Australia at The Oval in 1902, where the hosts reached 263 for 9 to chase 324, clinching the match on the final ball amid tense run-outs and appeals. Another early example is England's one-wicket win against Australia at Melbourne in 1908, pursuing 397 and surviving a collapse to secure the result with the last pair at the crease. These instances demonstrated the era's emphasis on endurance over aggressive scoring, building narratives of resilience in uncovered pitches and five-day formats. Post the 1986 tied Test, near-ties have showcased modern tactical depth and faster-paced finishes, including West Indies' historic one-run triumph over Australia in Adelaide in 1993, where Australia's Craig McDermott hit a boundary off Kenny Benjamin's last ball, but fell short at 184 chasing 185. More recently, New Zealand's one-run victory against England at Wellington in 2023 exemplified contemporary drama, with Neil Wagner dismissing James Anderson on the final delivery to defend 138, leaving England stranded at 137. These later examples reflect improved fitness, DRS technology, and bolder declarations that amplify last-over thrillers.^[32]^[33]^[36]^[37] The significance of near-tied Tests lies in their ability to generate tension akin to true ties, fostering legendary status for participants and matches without the inconclusive nature of an exact draw in scores; they often symbolize pivotal moments in series, boosting cricket's dramatic appeal and inspiring analyses of marginal gains in strategy and execution.^[38]^[39]

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