So far in Test match history, a total of 396 teams have ended the first innings of a match by declaring. These teams have gone on to win on 191 occasions, with a further 187 matches ending in a draw and one in a tie. Only on 17 occasions has a team declaring in the first innings ended up losing the game.
Here are all of these results.
Bangladesh clinched a historic victory with their first-ever Test win over Pakistan 👏
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Pakistan v England, Lahore 1961
Pakistan were the first team ever to lose a Test match after declaring the first innings. Against England in Lahore in 1961, they declared at 387-9, before England scored 380. Pakistan could only muster 200 in their second go, and England completed a chase of 208 with five wickets to spare on day five.
West Indies v England, Port of Spain 1968
England were once again beneficiaries of a first-innings declaration when West Indies did so in Trinidad in 1968, at 526-7. England managed 404 in response, still quite a way behind. West Indies declared for a second time in the match on day five at 92-2, setting the visitors 215 to win, which they did in 52.4 overs with seven wickets in hand.
India v West Indies, Kingston 1976
India declared at 306-6 against West Indies with captain Bishan Singh Bedi wanting to shield his tail from the West Indian quicks. The hosts went on to take an 85-run lead before bowling India out for 97, which saw five batters recorded as 'absent hurt'. West Indies went on to complete the formality of a win by chasing 13 runs.
Australia v England, Leeds 1981
Australia declared their first innings at 401-9 before bowling England out for 174 and enforcing the follow-on. Things were bleak at that point, but Ian Botham struck an unbeaten 149 to help his side set Australia 130 to win. Bob Willis then took a scarcely believable 8-43 to bowl the visitors out for 111 and secure an improbable win.
South Africa v England, Centurion 2000
South Africa batted first in this match, and after rain washed out days two, three and four, declared at 248-8 on day five. England forfeited their first innings, and South Africa their second, in an attempt to force a result. England managed to score 251-8 in 75.1 overs, registering a two-wicket win.
Zimbabwe v India, Delhi 2000
Zimbabwe declared their first innings at 422-9 in Delhi, but then watched as India racked up 458-4 to declare with a 36-run lead. The visitors could only manage 225 in their second innings, and India chased the requisite 190 runs in 37.3 overs to win on day five.
South Africa v Australia, Sydney 2006
South Africa scored 451-9 in the first innings in this match, taking a 92-run first-innings lead. They declared in their second innings as well, at 194-6 on day five to set Australia 287 to win. The hosts then scored at nearly five runs an over as Ricky Ponting (143*) and Matthew Hayden (90) helped secure an eight-wicket win.
England v Australia, Adelaide 2006
Paul Collingwood's 206 helped England declare at 551-6, but Australia also managed to go past 500, ensuring a mere 38-run deficit. Shane Warne then took 4-29 to bowl the visitors out for 129, and Australia chased down 168 with six wickets in hand.
West Indies v Australia, Bridgetown 2012
The first two innings of this match were both declared, West Indies at 449-9 and Australia at 406-9, despite the deficit. Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris then skittled the hosts for 148, and were the pair at the crease when they completed a chase of 192 with three wickets in hand.
Australia v India, Hyderabad 2013
Australia declared at 237-9 on day one in a bid to have a go at India in the evening session. Instead, the hosts went on to rack up 503 before R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took eight wickets between them to bowl Australia out for 131 and secure an innings victory.
Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Sharjah 2014
In Sharjah, Sri Lanka declared on day two at 428-9, and managed to take an 87-run first innings lead. But they were bowled out for just 214 the second time around, and Azhar Ali's century helped Pakistan win by five wickets.
South Africa v Australia, Adelaide 2016
South Africa declared at 259-9 on day one, despite having a settled Faf du Plessis batting on 118 still out in the middle. Australia went on to score 383 and take a massive lead before bowling the Proteas out for 250. They then scored the required 127 runs in 40.5 overs, losing just three wickets.
Pakistan v Australia, Melbourne 2016
Pakistan declard their first innings at 443-9 in Melbourne, but Australia went one better to declare at 624-8 after hundreds from David Warner and Steve Smith. Mitchell Starc then took 4-36 to bowl Pakistan out for 163 and secure an innings victory.
Bangladesh v New Zealand, Wellington 2017
Bangladesh did well to score 595-8 in the first innings away from home, and even took the lead by dismissing New Zealand for 539. But they only managed 160 in their second attempt, and New Zealand were able to register a seven-wicket win in pursuit of 217.
England v New Zealand, Wellington 2023
In Wellington once again, England declared at 435-8 on day two, and followed it up by skittling New Zealand for 209 and enforcing the follow-on. But Kane Williamson's 132 led the Kiwis to 483, and they bowled England out for 256 to register a thrilling one-run win.
England v Australia, Birmingham 2023
In the 2023 Ashes, England declared quite boldly at 393-8 and managed a slender seven-run first innings lead. Australia were then elft with 281 to chase in the fourth innings, and did so courtesy a 55-run eighth wicket stand between Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi 2024
In Rawalpindi, Pakistan chose to bat first in a match that had lost a session to rain, and declared at 448-6 on day two. But Bangladesh rode on Mushfiqur Rahim's 191 to score 565, before their bowlers took centre-stage and dismissed Pakistan for 146. Knocking off the required 30 runs was then a mere formality.
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