The 1960 Tied Test: Cricket's Rarest Result Explained
The 1960 Brisbane Test between Australia and West Indies ended in a tie — the first tied Test in history. Learn about cricket's rarest match result, how it happened, and the only other tied Test.
A tied Test match is cricket's rarest result — rarer than a win or even a draw. In the entire history of Test cricket (2,600+ matches), only two Tests have ended in a tie. The first was in Brisbane in 1960 between Australia and West Indies, and the second in Chennai in 1986.
The 1960 Brisbane Tied Test
On 14 December 1960, the final day of the first Test between Australia and West Indies at The Gabba produced one of sport's most extraordinary finishes. Australia needed 233 to win the match in the final innings. They were all out for 232.
The Final Over
With Australia needing 6 from the last over, Wes Hall bowled. Lindsay Kline came in with Australia needing 3 off the last 2 balls. Kline pushed into the outfield and ran, but Rohan Kanhai's throw ran out Meckiff attempting the second run. Both teams had scored exactly 737 runs — a tie.
The 1986 Chennai Tied Test
The only other tied Test occurred in Madras (now Chennai) in September 1986 between India and Australia. India needed just 4 runs to win with 2 wickets in hand in the final over, but fell short. The match ended with both sides on exactly the same total.
How a Tie Differs from a Draw
A tie occurs when both teams complete all their innings and finish on the same total score. A draw occurs when time runs out with the match unfinished. Ties and draws both prevent a winner — but a tie requires the match to be completed, making it both rare and dramatic.
Frequently asked questions
How many Tests in cricket history have ended in a tie?
Only two Tests have tied in the entire history of Test cricket: Australia vs West Indies at Brisbane in 1960, and India vs Australia at Madras (Chennai) in 1986.
What is the difference between a tie and a draw in cricket?
A tie occurs when both teams complete all innings and finish on exactly the same score. A draw occurs when time runs out before a result is achieved. A tie requires a completed match with equal totals — far rarer than a draw.