Having cunningly hedged my bets last week regarding Australian Test player nunber 404, it is now time to roll out a tribute column: the 5 Kraziest Test debuts.
1. Jason Krejza (c) – his first innings figures read like the progress score: 8-215. Conceding more runs than any debutant before him, he nevertheless picked up 12 scalps and ensured Australia lost the Test by fewer than 200 runs. And informed sources tell me his bowling is only his second most-impressive attribute…
2. Rodney Redmond – this blond Julien Wiener lookalike (if that helps you) played just one Test for New Zealand, hit a ton and a fifty and never played again. Go figure. Son Aaron has played 5 Tests and averaged 20, which is 61 less than Dad.
3. Andy Ganteaume – went one better (or worse) than Redmond, playing a single Test innings, scoring a ton, and never playing again. I guess the Windies’ selectors in 1948 didn’t like the sound of “the 3 Ws and a G”. In real life (probably also his debut one) Andy G is 87 not out – what price 100?
4. Stuart Law – may be the love child of Rodney and Andy. No doubt imagines converting that 54* into a ton on a daily basis, and perhaps adding to his one Test boundary.
5. Jack MacBryan – if you think the others were dudded, what about this bloke? Picked for England for the fourth Test in 1924, he didn’t get a bat, didn’t get a bowl and didn’t take a catch. The Test lasted a grand total of 66 overs and England’s would-be first innings was washed out. An opening batsman by trade, Jack found himself in a short but slow-moving queue behind Hobbs and Sutcliffe thereafter. He did, however, win an Olympic gold medal, in hockey at Antwerp in 1920.
With thanks to Grant Marjoribanks for the Rodney Redmond suggestion, and Cricinfo for Jack MacBryan and the stats
Andrew Jones
Guest
Bruce - that is a scorcher. So too, Da Silva, is Alan Jones. Sheek - did you ever see Rowe play? seems to be one of the great might-have-beens Benjamin - I nearly picked HIrwani for this - he's the Bob Massie of India! Thanks all for the comments AJ
Bruce Walkley
Guest
Australian George Coulthard was pretty hard done by, too, even though he never lost his wicket in Test cricket. He didn't get a bowl in either innings on debut against England in 1882, even though he was the No.11 batsman. He made 6 not out in the first innings and wasn't required to bat in the second as Australia won by five wickets. He was never picked again, so he ended his Test career with no wickets and no batting average.
JohnB
Guest
Andrew, that's why you have to carefully phrase it as "for Australia"! His overall average (that is, the average across all tests - for Aust or Eng) slipped down to more normal levels, and it is the unremarkable overall average that generally appears.
sheek
Guest
Greg Chappell scored a century in both his first & last test innings. He also scored twin centuries in his first test as captain.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Interesting article Andrew. There are also a few players who made amazing debuts but never achieved great success afterwards. RE (Tip) Foster scored 287 against Australia on debut in the early 20th century. It still remains the highest score by an Englisman in Australia, but he only scored one fifty in his next 13 innings. Matthew Sinclair from New Zealand scored a double hundred against the West Indies..then scored another soon after, but he only averages in the low 30s. Narendra Hirwani picked up 16 wickets on debut, followed by 20 wickets in his next series. But for the rest of his career he only managed 30 wickets in 13 tests.
Andrew Jones
Guest
Nice one John B - had to go and look that one up! As well as averaging 102.5 for Australia, Albert Trott deserves a spot in this list: took 8 for 43 on debut and made 38 and 72, both not out!! Later played for England, and later still shot himself. I don't believe the two things were related. See full bio at: http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/21593.html cheers AJ
Spiro Zavos
Expert
What about Don Bradman, dropped after his first Test and Maurice Tate getting angry with 'Farmer' White for dismissing his bunny.
sheek
Guest
Lawrence Rowe on debut hit 214 & 100 not out for West Indies against New Zealand in 1st test of 1971-72. Of course, Rowe went on to play many more tests for the Windies with a test highest of 302 against England in 1974. He also suffered from eye problems, twice requiring surgery during his career, which he never fully overcame. Technically, he was a superior talent to Viv Richards I reckon, but without the latter's ruthless aggression.
JohnB
Guest
Rather like who has the highest batting average in tests for Australia.
dasilva
Guest
alan jones by the way I also think the Andy Ganteaume will make a good trivia trick question. WHo has the highest batting average in test cricket? It will trick everyone.
dasilva
Guest
The greatest batting average in test cricket was not Don Bradman but Andy Ganteaume with an average of 112. He was dropped from a very strong West Indies sides from the squad due to selfish batting. THey believe he batted too slowly to get his century when he should have bat faster. Rodney Raymond 100 and 50 on debut. I believe he was dropped because he unlucky developed an eye condition that impaired his sight stopping him from continue on his career. Injury cut his career. I believe an honourable mention has to be given to A;an Jones. He was picked to play for England against the REst of the World. ICC initially recognise it as a test match but then retrospectively decided it wasn't a test match anymore. He never played another test match again making him the only man in cricketing history to win a Test cap and then lose it