The third logical follow-up in my series on Australia’s greatest sporting debuts and farewells, the worst debuts in sports history!
Yes some are Australians and yes the pain of writing this will terminate any prospect of a part four, I promise!
Nilesh Kulkarni – cricket
Graham Gooch only faced ten balls in his first Test in 1975. He made a pair against Australia.
Andy Lloyd fared even worse for England against the West Indies in 1984. Ten runs and 30 minutes into his first innings, Malcolm Marshall hit him on the head and he spent the rest of the match in hospital with blurred vision.
That was his only Test performance, earning him the distinction of being the only Test player to open the innings and never be out.
As unfortunate as those debuts were, at least they were short. Nilesh Kulkarni’s performance for India against Sri Lanka in 1997 was an exercise in Chinese torture.
The off-spinner had bowling figures of 70 overs, 12 maidens, 1-195, as Sri Lanka amassed a world record score of 952-6 declared.
At least his figures were not the worst in the innings. Rajesh Chauhan bowled 78 overs and ended with figures of 1-278!
Lionel Messi – football
Lionel Messi is arguably the best footballer on the planet right now. His talent was recognised quickly – he was selected to represent Argentina against Hungary at the age of 18 in 2005.
The joy of representing his country was short-lived: his very first chance on the ball saw him clash with defender Vilmos Vanczak, a tussle that Messi decided to try and end by karate chopping his opponent in the chest.
Less than two minutes after he came on, he was sent off in disgrace.
Darren Lockyer – rugby league
Darren Lockyer played a record 59 Tests for the Kangaroos, lucky his debut didn’t count against him – it was a shocker!
Against New Zealand in Auckland in 1998, Lockyer was all at sea at fullback as New Zealand upset Australia 22-16.
Two Lockyer fumbles led directly to tries and even teammate Wendell Saylor was aghast, describing Lockyer’s performance as “the worst debut of any player at any level.”
St Kilda – AFL
St Kilda was one of the foundation clubs in the VFL in 1897. They lost their first game by 25 points to Collingwood, not so bad, but their first six seasons in the league were an absolute horror show!
The Saints lost 48 games in a row until their maiden win, a one-point triumph against Melbourne in Round 1, 1900.
After that win the Saints only won one of their next 53 games!
From 1897-1902 the Saints kicked 12 of the 13 lowest scores in club history and conceded 986 goals!
In Round 17, 1899 the Saints lost 1-162 to Geelong, the Cats conceding a rushed behind!
Eric Moussambani – swimming
The swimmer from Equatorial Guinea, better known as ‘Eric the Eel’, endeared himself to sports fans at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 when he won his heat of the 100 metres freestyle due the disqualification of his competitors.
His sluggish time of 1:52.72 was more than twice that of his faster competitors, and outside even the 200 metres world record. However, he set a new personal best and Equatoguinean national record.
Not surprisingly, the cheerful and game Moussambani was not at the next Olympics.
Ando
Guest
Have to Include Warnie's horror show in India first up.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Justin Hodges, State of Origin Game II 2002. He threw two in-goal passes which both resulted in NSW tries, but nevertheless Queensland still won the match. However, he has since become a stronger player from that mistake and has since become one of the premier centres of the NRL. From small mistakes, big things grow!
Sam J
Guest
Bryce McGain's first (and last) Test: 0/149 off 18 overs with the ball, 2 and 0 with the bat. Eesh.
robdowney
Roar Rookie
nathan merrit,state of origin 2013 game 2
Da`
Roar Rookie
I'm a queenslander and I'm very surprised that abysmal display didn't make the cut
Johnno
Guest
Chris Matthews Simoc! Wayne Phillips did nothing on his debut replacing Geoff Marsh.
Simoc
Guest
The WA fast bowler Matthews debuted for Australia in Brisbane after excellent Shield form. For awhile it looked like his first over was going to take up the entire session. Not to many landing on the wicket for I think 13 long balls. It was hard to watch. Also the gymnast Alana Slater (daughter of the champion rally driver) first up in the games doing a face plant, backside in the air, vault classic.
Johnno
Guest
Phil Duke had a shocking origin debut, as did Laurie Daley. Daley missed a conversion right in front, was only 19.
balanced
Guest
If I can be permitted to introduce another species for a moment, the great racehorse Kingston Town warrants a mention for forgettable debuts. At his first start, Kingston Town not only ran last, but finished 100 metres behind the second last horse. He was then gelded - a fate which presumably escaped the human nominees on this page. That concentrated his mind on racing, and when he had his second start a few months later he won at 33/1, and then went on to forge a memorable career that saw him be one of the first five horses inducted into the racing Hall of Fame.
TGGOA
Guest
I remember Lockyer's first Test, couldnt believe how bad he went, considering he had played a few Super League Tests and Tri Series games for QLD plus won a Super League premiership with the Broncos. Champion.
DubbleBubble
Guest
Wow! I'd forgotten just how bad that was.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Jonathan Woodgate's first game for Real Madrid was one to forget. He signed for Real in August 2004, but after being injured for his entire first season in Spain, eventually made his debut the following September in a match against Athletic Bilbao. Woodgate marked the occasion by scoring an own goal then getting sent off for a second bookable offence.
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
WOW! Six doubles. I remember he had a shocking start, but didn't know it was that bad. Solid player, classical batsman,
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
Great stuff. Picked up a coin and showed his captain, love that!
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu takes the cake from a cricketing point of view. He made a pair in his opening Test v IND, 0 & 1 in his next against AUS, and another pair in his third v IND - six innings, for 1 run at an average of 0.17! He went on to amass six double centuries!
Armchair expert
Guest
Xavier Doherty and Simon Davis both had good ODI debuts but their test debuts were very ordinary.
Adsa
Guest
Bryce Mcgains 0 for 149 of 18 overs was a pretty ordinary debut in 2009 against the Saffers.
Johnno
Guest
Shane Warne, was hammered by Ravi Shastri got hit for 1/150 Izzy Folau's rugby debut was riddled with mstakes vs the reds
Rob McLean
Guest
Glenn Trimble was predominantly a batsman and wouldn't have expected to bowl too much in his two games for Australia. The fact you remember his bowling might reflect how little he did with the bat - two innings for four runs. Incidentally, he is the son of Sam Trimble, widely regarded by many as the best Australian batsman never to have played a Test. Roy Park should always get a run in any talk about less-than-memorable debuts. His sole Test innings saw him score a golden duck - his wife missed his innings, having dropped her knitting as the bowler came in to deliver. While, an English debut worth discussing is that of Fred Tate, a bowler who dropped a critical catch and then was dismissed in deplorable fashion to give Australia a Test win. He wasn't too fussed and reportedly said, and I paraphrase, "don't worry, I've a lad at home who'll do better than me". He was right - Maurice Tate went on to do quite well for the Poms.
jameswm
Guest
Yeah I was thinking of him and trying to remember his name. Couldn't bowl the wicket on the square. Poor fella.