- Cricket’s rarest result explained through the tied Tests of Brisbane 1960 and Chennai 1986
- How two historic matches produced the only tied Tests in cricket history
- Why Cricket’s rarest result remains elusive despite close modern matches
Understanding Cricket’s rarest result
Test cricket has rarely followed a neat symmetry. Sides force results through sustained pressure, though matches sometimes end in deadlock draws, especially if exposed to interference form the weather… Exact balance almost never occurs and across more than a century of competition, it has happened only twice.
England’s narrow 22-run win over India in the summer of 2025 showed how fine the margins can be. For much of the match, the outcome remained uncertain. It did not quite reach that rare territory but it showed how close the format can come to Cricket’s rarest result.
A tied Test remains one of the game’s most elusive outcomes.
Brisbane 1960 – the first tied Test
The first took place in Brisbane in December 1960, in a match many still regard as one of the finest. West Indies posted 453 in their first innings, with a century from Sir Garfield Sobers and support from Frank Worrell. Australia responded strongly through Norm O’Neill’s 181 and Bob Simpson’s 92 to take a first-innings lead.
A contest without control
What set the match apart was not dominance but the inability of either side to establish lasting control. Each passage of play was met with a response. Alan Davidson played a central role for Australia across both innings, ensuring the contest remained within reach.
The tension of a chase
West Indies added 284 in their second innings, with contributions from Rohan Kanhai and Worrell, leaving Australia a target of 233. The chase was defined by pressure rather than fluency. Wes Hall’s pace unsettled the top order and wickets fell regularly. Davidson’s 80 and a half century from Richie Benaud kept Australia in contention, but the closing stages became increasingly tense, with run outs and mistakes creeping in.
Australia were eventually bowled out for 232, leaving the scores level. It marked the first time Test cricket produced its rarest result.
Chennai 1986 and Cricket’s rarest result
For more than two decades it remained the only example.
When it happened again in Chennai in 1986, the path to that outcome was notably different. The early part of the match was shaped by individual endurance rather than sustained tension. Dean Jones’ double century stood at the centre of it, an innings played in extreme heat that tested his physical limits. At one stage he was close to retiring before being urged on by Allan Border, a moment that has since become part of the match’s legacy.
A match that shifted direction
Australia built a substantial first innings total and India’s reply was led by Kapil Dev’s attacking century, supported by useful contributions through the order. The match appeared to be heading toward a familiar conclusion before Border’s declaration shifted its direction. Setting India 348 to win introduced a degree of risk and ensured the final day would produce a result.
A final over for Cricket’s rarest result
The chase developed gradually. Sunil Gavaskar set the platform with 90, while Mohinder Amarnath and others added important runs to keep India in the contest. As the target drew closer the pressure increased and wickets began to fall, bringing Australia back into the game through Greg Matthews’ persistence.
By the final over India required four runs, with all results still possible. Ravi Shastri managed the situation carefully, bringing the scores level and leaving the last wicket to negotiate the closing deliveries. Matthews struck with an lbw decision and the match finished level once again, sealing Cricket’s rarest result for only the second time.
Why the game still waits
The two tied Tests remain distinct not only for their rarity but for how differently they unfolded. Sustained tension defined Brisbane across all five days, while Chennai built more gradually before a dramatic conclusion.
More than a century on and we are still waiting for the next tied Test to arrive. There is no clear sign of when it might happen again. Teams have come close and matches like England against India in 2025 have reminded us how narrow the margins can be, but Cricket’s rarest result continues to elude the game. Until then the hope remains for contests that push the format to its limits and finishes that keep the outcome alive until the very end.
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