The Tied Tests: Two of Cricket's Most Famous Matches
Only two Tests in history have ended in a tie — Brisbane 1960 and Madras 1986 — both producing some of the most dramatic finishes in cricket history.
In nearly 150 years of Test cricket, only two matches have ended in a tie — both teams dismissed for equal scores. The first tied Test was Brisbane 1960 (Australia vs West Indies) and the second was Madras 1986 (India vs Australia). Both produced extraordinary final hours of cricket and remain among the most celebrated matches in the sport's history. A tie requires the scores to be exactly level when the last wicket falls — a scenario requiring an almost improbable sequence of events.
Brisbane 1960
The Brisbane Test between Australia and West Indies in December 1960 is considered one of the greatest Test matches ever played. Australia needed 233 to win in the fourth innings. At the end of the last over, bowled by Wes Hall, Australia needed 6 to win with 3 wickets remaining. A run-out on the penultimate ball, a scrambled single to level the scores, and a run-out off the last delivery ended the match tied. Frank Worrell's West Indian side — the first black-captained touring team — played with a spirit that earned a ticker-tape parade in Melbourne.
Madras 1986
The second tied Test — India against Australia at Madras (now Chennai) in September 1986 — was similarly dramatic. Australia needed 348 to win and were 347 for 9 when their final wicket fell. Greg Matthews took a wicket off the penultimate ball of a pivotal over to bring India level. Dean Jones' innings of 210 — played through extreme heat and illness, losing 8 kg in the process — was central to Australia setting the target. Ravi Shastri and Kapil Dev's innings for India in reply brought the match to its unforgettable conclusion.
Why So Rare
Tied Tests are so rare because the scores must be identical when the last wicket falls — not simply equal at stumps, but the batting side must be dismissed. Draw outcomes, where the batting side is not dismissed, are far more common when scores are close. The combination of an evenly matched contest, a successful last-day chase that comes within one or two runs, and then a dismissal at exactly the moment of parity, creates a statistical near-impossibility across thousands of Tests.
Frequently asked questions
How many Tests have ended in a tie?
Only two Tests have ended tied: the Brisbane Test between Australia and West Indies in December 1960, and the Madras Test between India and Australia in September 1986.
What is the difference between a tie and a draw in cricket?
A tie occurs when both sides' scores are equal AND the batting side has been dismissed. A draw occurs when time runs out before a result is reached, regardless of the scores.