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Getting bowled out on the first day before lunch is the worst possible way to start a test match for the batting team. But if you are in the bowling team then you would happily go back to the dressing room and keep your feet up. South Africa being bowled out on the first day at the Newlands Cricket Stadium was the eighth occasion of such an instance. Here is a look at the times teams were bowled out before lunch on 1st day.
Teams that were bowled out before lunch on 1st day
| Batting Team | Bowling Team | Runs | Overs | Venue | Date |
| Australia | England | 53 | 22.3 | Lord’s, London | 22nd June – 24th June, 1896 |
| India | South Africa | 76 | 20 | Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad | 3rd April – 5th April, 2008 |
| New Zealand | South Africa | 45 | 19.2 | Newlands, Cape Town | 2nd January – 4th January, 2013 |
| Australia | England | 60 | 18.3 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 6th August – 8th August, 2015 |
| England | New Zealand | 58 | 20.4 | Eden Park, Auckland | 22nd March – 26th March, 2018 |
| Bangladesh | West Indies | 43 | 18.4 | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua | 4th July – 6th July, 2018 |
| England | Ireland | 85 | 23.4 | Lord’s, London | 24th July – 26th July, 2019 |
| South Africa | India | 55 | 23.2 | Newlands, Cape Town | 3rd January – 4th January, 2024 |
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Australia vs England, 1896
The match between Australia and England in 1896 was the first time that a team was bowled out before lunch on the first day of a test match. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. The visitors were bowled out for just 53 runs in 22.3 overs with fast bowlers Tom Richardson and George Lohmann picking a six-fer and a three-fer respectively. Thanks to the incredible bowling performance in the first innings, England won the match by six wickets.
India vs South Africa, 2008
After 112 years, India became just the second team to be bowled out before lunch on 1st day in the history of the sport. India was bowled out for 76 runs in 20 overs with Dale Steyn (5), Makhaya Ntini (3) and Morne Morkel (2) picking up the 10 wickets. India was able to score 76 thanks to the 19 extras.
South Africa won the match by an innings and 90 thanks to an incredible unbeaten knock of 217 runs in the second innings.
New Zealand vs South Africa, 2013
South Africa for the second time was on the right side as the Proteas bowled out New Zealand for just 45 runs. Vernon Philander starred with the ball for the hosts at Newlands, Cape Town picking up a fifer while Steyn and Morkel picked up the rest of the wickets. In the second innings, Alviro Petersen scored a century while Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers scored half-centuries. New Zealand was bowled out for 275 runs in the third innings as South Africa won the match by an innings and 27 runs.
Australia vs England, 2015
After two great performances from South Africa, the next on the list is a memorable Ashes performance from Stuart Broad. England won the toss and elected to bowl in the 4th Ashes test in 2015 at Trent Bridge. Australia was bowled out for 60 runs in 18.3 overs with Broad picking up an eight-wicket haul. England won the match by an innings and 78 runs.
England vs New Zealand, 2018
England was on the wrong side of being bowled before lunch on day 1 of a test match during a day/night test at Auckland against New Zealand. Trent Boult picking six wickets and Tim Southee picking the rest of the wickets summed up the first session as New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first. The highest scorer for England was Craig Overton who remained unbeaten after scoring 33 runs in 25 balls as the visitors were bowled out for 58 runs. Henry Nicholls and Kane Williamson scored centuries in the second innings to set up a victory for the Kiwis by an innings and 49 runs.
Bangladesh vs West Indies, 2018
It comes as a surprise that the West Indies despite having one of the best bowling attacks in the history of the game only features once and that too in 2018. Bangladesh toured the West Indies and during the first test at North Sound, they were bowled out in the first session of the match after the hosts won the toss and opted to bowl first. Kemar Roach claimed a fifer while skipper, Jason Holder and Miguel Cummins picked up two and three wickets respectively. In the second innings, Kraigg Brathwaite scored a century while Devon Smith and Shai Hope hit half-centuries. West Indies eventually won the match by an innings and 219 runs.
England vs Ireland, 2019
Ireland toured England for a solitary test at Lord’s and had put the hosts in some deep trouble in the first innings. England won the toss and decided to bat first but was completely blown away in the first session as Ireland bowled them out for 85 runs. Tim Murtaugh picked up a fifer while Mark Adair and Boyd Rankin picked up three and two wickets respectively. Irish batters took a healthy lead of 122 runs thanks to a half-century from Andy Balbirnie. England in the third innings decided to send in night watchman, Jack Leach to open the batting a pivotal decision in terms of the result of the match. Leach scored 92 runs while Jason Roy scored 72 runs to set up an interesting chase of 182 runs for Ireland in the final innings.
Chris Woakes (6 wickets) and Stuart Broad (4 wickets) wreaked havoc on the Irish batters as they were bowled out in 15.4 overs for 38 runs. England won the match by 143 runs and became the first and still the only team to win the match after being bowled out in the first session of the match.
South Africa vs India, 2024
After tormenting many batting lineups at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa got a taste of their own medicine as they became the eighth team to be bowled out before lunch on the 1st day of a test match. Mohammed Siraj recorded his career-best figures (6/15) as South Africa was bowled out for 55 runs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. India took a 98-run lead in the second innings but looked on par to get a much bigger lead if not for a record-breaking collapse which saw the visitors lose their last six wickets without scoring any runs. Aiden Markram scored a century on the tough pitch (No one else from the two teams even scored a fifty) in the third innings. India won the match quite comfortably in the end by seven wickets while chasing 79 runs in the fourth innings.