The World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 cycle has been a rollercoaster of cricketing emotions, where momentum can swing like a pendulum and no total is ever truly safe. With teams fighting for every percentage point on the WTC table, the intensity has skyrocketed, and so have the comebacks. Whether it’s snatching victory from the jaws of defeat or mounting rearguard efforts after a first-innings collapse, these matches remind us why Test cricket is the purest, most thrilling form of the game.
Here are the Top 5 Test Comebacks that defined resilience and turned probable losses into unforgettable triumphs in the ongoing WTC cycle.
5. West Indies vs Australia – 2nd Test, Brisbane (2024)
Comeback Highlight: Shamar Joseph’s 7-wicket wonder with a broken toe
Match Situation:
- West Indies 1st Innings: 311
- Australia 1st Innings: 289
- West Indies 2nd Innings: 193
- Australia 2nd Innings: 207 (target 216)
Against all odds, debutant Shamar Joseph returned after being hit on the toe by Starc. With Australia needing just 216 and 8 wickets in hand at one point, Joseph stunned the cricket world, taking 7/68 on one leg. The Windies sealed a rare Test win in Australia, their first since 1997.
Impact: A fairy-tale comeback and the birth of a cult hero.
4. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – 1st Test, Christchurch (2023)
Comeback Highlight: Kane Williamson’s last-ball heroics
Match Situation:
- Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 355
- New Zealand 1st Innings: 373
- Sri Lanka 2nd Innings: 302
- NZ 2nd Innings: 285/8 (target 285)
On a rain-hit final day, with fading light and the WTC mace implications looming, New Zealand needed 285. Williamson, cool as ever, marshalled the chase with a gritty century. It all came down to the last ball, with 1 run needed and 1 wicket left. Williamson dived in for a direct-hit run out and won it in storybook fashion.
Impact: Knocked Sri Lanka out of the WTC final race and gave fans a Test to remember.
3. Australia vs Pakistan – 1st Test, Perth (2023)
Comeback Highlight: Mitchell Marsh and Lyon’s rescue mission
Match Situation:
- Australia 1st Innings: 487
- Pakistan 1st Innings: 271
- Australia 2nd Innings: 233
- Pakistan 2nd Innings: 89 (target 450)
Although it looked like Australia were dominating, Pakistan had reduced them to 170/6 in the 2nd innings, threatening to restrict the lead below 400. A lower-order resistance led by Marsh helped push the total, and then Lyon and Hazlewood ran through Pakistan. What looked like a closer contest turned into a crushing win.
Impact: Set the tone for Australia’s dominant home stretch in WTC.
2. South Africa vs India – 2nd Test, Cape Town (2024)
Comeback Highlight: South Africa’s epic collapse and India’s bowling redemption
Match Situation:
- India 1st Innings: 153
- South Africa 1st Innings: 55
- India 2nd Innings: 153
- South Africa 2nd Innings: 176 (target 79)
After being dismissed for just 153, India struck back with a vengeance, skittling South Africa for 55, their lowest total at home. Despite chasing just 79, South Africa lost wickets in a heap and fell short by 7 runs in what became the shortest completed Test match in history (just under 2 days).
Impact: India became the first Asian side to win a Test series in SA in back-to-back tours.
1. India vs England – 2nd Test, Visakhapatnam (2024)
Comeback Highlight: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s double ton & Bumrah’s reverse swing masterclass
Match Situation:
- India 1st Innings: 396 (Jaiswal 209)
- England 1st Innings: 253
- India 2nd Innings: 255
- England 2nd Innings: 292 (target 399)
After losing the 1st Test in Hyderabad, India found themselves under pressure. A top-order stutter was bailed out by Jaiswal’s majestic 209. England were cruising at 114/1 in their chase of 399 before Bumrah unleashed a spell for the ages. He reversed the old ball and dismantled England’s middle order to seal a remarkable turnaround win.
Impact: India squared the series and revived their WTC campaign.
Stats Table
| Match | Team | Comeback Highlight | Final Result | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND vs ENG, Vizag | India | Marsh & Lyon’s rescued innings | India won by 106 runs | Jaiswal (209) |
| SA vs IND, Cape Town | India | Bowled SA out for 55 | India won by 7 runs | Siraj (6/15) |
| AUS vs PAK, Perth | Australia | Marsh & Lyon rescued innings | Australia won by 360 runs | Lyon (match 8-fer) |
| NZ vs SL, Christchurch | New Zealand | Last-ball win chase | New Zealand won by 2 wickets | Williamson (121*) |
| WI vs AUS, Brisbane | West Indies | Joseph’s 7-fer on Day 4 | West Indies won by 8 runs | From 1–0 down to levelling series |
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