27 all-out! Mitchell Starc & Scott Boland create history as West Indies record their lowest Test score

Starc’s 15-ball five-for and Boland’s hat-trick dismantle Windies in record-shattering third Test

The numbers might take a while to sink in, but the visuals told the story. Mitchell Starc was on a mission, Scott Boland was relentless, and the West Indies were left with one of the most humiliating scorecards in Test cricket history. Bowled out for just 27, their lowest ever Test total, the hosts narrowly avoided matching New Zealand’s infamous 26. It was a freakish day of Test cricket for sure, with India and England battling it out in a Lord’s classic a few hours earlier.

Starc sets the tone with historic five-for in 15 balls

What better performance do you want in your 100th Test match? Mitchell Starc opened the floodgates with one of the most brutal new-ball spells seen in Test cricket. He dismissed John Campbell with the first ball of the innings and never looked back. In just 15 deliveries, he picked up five wickets, which is now the fastest five-wicket haul by balls bowled in Test history, surpassing a 79-year-old record set by Ernie Toshack.

By the end of his third over, Starc’s figures read 5/2, and the West Indies were staring down the barrel at 7 for 5. He wasn’t done yet. Starc returned later to clean up Jayden Seales, finishing with career-best figures of 6 for 9 in 6.3 overs. In the middle of Starc’s storm came Boland’s thunder.

Boland’s hat-trick seals the rout

With Starc having shaken the top order, Scott Boland came in to shred the tail. He dismissed Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph, and Jomel Warrican in consecutive deliveries to claim a hat-trick, becoming just the 10th Australian to achieve the feat in Tests and the first since Peter Siddle in 2010.

His final ball of the hat-trick was a late seamer that breached Warrican’s forward defence and cannoned into the off-stump. It was nearly unplayable and capped off a dream day for the Aussie quicks.

Lowest Test scores in history

In just 14.3 overs, West Indies folded for 27—the second-lowest total in Test history, and now their worst ever. Seven of their batters registered ducks. Only four players troubled the scorers, and their top six collectively made six runs. The defeat by 176 runs sealed a 3-0 series whitewash for Australia, and a moment of despair for West Indies cricket.