Australia has handed out 458 baggy green caps to its Test cricketers.
These range from Shane Warne to the great Don Bradman, but there are many who have only one Test match to their name.
Let’s see who the best one cap Test cricketer is for Australia. There are many to choose from who have only play the one Test and have performed quite well but couldn’t get back in the team.
The one that arguably is the best is Stuart Law. In his only Test match against Sri Lanka in 1995, Law made 54 not out as Australia cruised to a victory.
Law had an excellent record at first class level, captaining Queensland to five Sheffield Shield titles and is Queensland’s all-time leading run scorer, while averaging over 50 in first class cricket.
Why did he only play one? Before the match, a young Steve Waugh was injured, and Law came into the team as his replacement. Arguably, Law was stiff not to be picked again as he went on dominate County cricket with Essex with an average over 55 and a top score of 263. He then went on to play at Lancashire where in 2003 Law had an average of 91.
The reasons behind Stuart Law not getting picked would due to the fact how good were Australia was in this era with the likes of Steve Waugh, Ricky Pointing and Justin Langer among the names on the batting sheet.
He was just plain unlucky. If he had come on the scene ten years later or earlier, Law would have played a lot more Test cricket.
Moreover, Law did show his talents in the ODI format, helping Australia in the ’96 World Cup and was a key middle order batsman. Stuart Law is a ‘could have been’ and will be great mystery why he only played one Test, but to be the guy without an average in Test cricket is a rare feat in the game.
Now to the old enemy England, who have 695 Test players. These range from likes of W.G Grace to current stars Stuart Broad and James Anderson. There have many one-Test cricketers for England, but which had the best debut and could he make a return?
Well the best one Test capped for England is a man of the name Scott Borthwick. A leg break bowler who debuted in the last Test match of the fateful 2013-14 Ashes series.
He took four wickets, with three in the second innings. Borthwick has played over 164 First-Class games for Durham and number one spinner at the time Graeme Swann said “Personally, I hope little Scotty Borthwick gets the chance before long. He’s a leg-spinner, he’s got a bit of X-factor and he can bat as well’.
Overall Borthwick was a great spinner but never really found his true potential as his form dipped after his Test debut.
At this stage he is playing for Surrey in his prime age of 29. Hopefully, Scott might be needed once cricket returns as perfect inclusion for sub-continent tours or maybe England selectors will continue to select Moeen Ali to bowl instead.
So, they are the best one Test capped players for Australia and England, both incredibly unlucky.
Paul
Roar Guru
so a bloke in China eating a bat caused the world to shut down and now your comment about haircuts has caused a State to secede! :laughing:
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Oops I might have upset them. They’ve tried to secede for lesser things in the past
Paul
Roar Guru
good call Mooty. It really was a shocker, but not being from WA, they might love it and it might still be all the rage over there.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Sorry Paul but Malone disqualifies himself by having such a bad mullet haircut
badmanners
Roar Rookie
But I will add that if he can average 43.5+ in tests in India, Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa I'd think he has spin and pace covered.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Well written JohnB, almost word for word what I was going to write re Waugh vs Law. :thumbup:
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Also did 1/89 against India!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
True, very poetic But that doesn't preclude me from thinking he was dilettante. When Steve was battling on a minefield Mark was watching from the sheds ---- Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis are why l like Porsches.
josh
Roar Rookie
Really? M.Waugh off his pads is the creme de la creme of batting.
Nick
Roar Guru
Think it's been clear we are talking red ball cricket, but you can manipulate the conversation if you want to.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Stuart Law better than Mark Waugh....now I've heard everything. Stuart Law in ODIs was terrible. He was the classic nudge it around for singles for ages. As soon as he went for an attacking shot....in the air....and out.
JohnB
Guest
Normally always referred to as Peter Allan
JohnB
Guest
20 hundreds, Test average just under 42 - and took 180 odd catches, some of which very few others could have taken. They're pretty handy figures to be saying there was clearly a better alternative around. Could he have done better and did he sometimes seem to give it away - no doubt. Not as good as Law? As a Qld-er I'd like to agree, but reality gets in the way. You look at their respective first class averages and it's very close - 51 for Law, 52 for Waugh, from almost exactly the same number of games, and from a very similar aggregate of runs. BUT just over one third of Waugh's first class games were Tests, and Law's Shield average is 44, against Waugh's 51.6. Playing home games at the Gabba makes some difference but that still suggests Waugh had him covered. And, as with David Hussey's overall record when compared to his Shield record, Law's strong overall first class record benefits from two-thirds of his runs and 60% of his games having been in England, not always in the first division. Mick Malone has to come into the discussion. For that matter, James Faulkner had a pretty good one-off test.
JGK
Roar Guru
Ah yes. Vic.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
Jeff played 32 tests for WI. It's his brother Vic who n his only test innings scored 96. The test ended in the last week of august 1939.
All day Roseville all day
Guest
Someone else ? Jeff Stollmeyer got 96 on debut, but went on to play 32 Tests, and score four centuries. Around 30 batsmen have scored a 90 on debut, including seven Australians (most recently Ashton Agar).
Daniel Rea
Roar Rookie
Adams is now a well liked/respected bowling coach at NSW https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12200578
JGK
Roar Guru
Shares his only Test with the unfortunate Simon Kerrigan!
JGK
Roar Guru
And then there is poor Jeff Stollmeyer who got 96 in his only Test innings.
justin
Roar Rookie
you made me laugh out loud.... yes i know as i was writing it that he is not alone in being anxious against genuine quicks, he was an enigma for sure