10 debutants of 2021 who have bright future in Test cricket

As far as Test cricket is concerned, 2021 was indeed a very good year. Be it India’s famous win at the Gabba, or the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final, there were a lot of memorable moments this format saw in the last 12 months.

However, there were several debutants who managed to impress one and all in the longest format of the game. Despite starting their red-ball career for their respective countries in 2021, a few players looked like they were made to play this format. Thus, such players have a bright road ahead of them.

Among such talented individuals, many of them were not only impressive, but they also went on to fix themselves a spot in their respective teams as well. So which are those cricketers who made their Test debut this year and can go on to succeed in the toughest format of the game?

Here’s a look at 10 Test debutants of 2021 who have a bright future in the format:

1) Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has been lauded as the next big thing in Indian cricket by several cricket pundits. As a matter of fact, he has already gone on to become a regular feature in India’s white-ball sides. However, it was only in 2021 when he finally won his maiden Test cap.

Despite a few questions regarding his batting technique, the 27-year-old instantly made a mark during his Test debut against New Zealand at home. He scored a brilliant century, and backed it up with another half-century during his maiden Test at Kapur. Although India didn’t win the game, he was appreciated by all the experts.

Thus, in just his first red-ball game, the talented batter went on to win the Player of the Match award too. His performance in his maiden Test series ensured that he retained his place in the squad. With the kind of ability he has, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Mumbai batter goes on to fix his spot in India’s playing XI in the longest format of the game

2) Ollie Robinson

Ollie Robinson is arguably one of the most impressive Test debutants of 2021. In a matter of a few Tests, he has fixed his spot in England’s XI. So much so that he went on to pick the second-most number of wickets for the Brits in the longest format of the game in 2021.

The fact that he played most of his games against top-class teams further solidify the claims of him being a future star. In the eight Tests he has played so far, the pacer has picked 37 wickets. His bowling average and strike rate are 21.16 and 47.95, respectively. This includes two fifers as well.

The 28-year-old picked the most number of wickets during the home series against India, and looked impressive. Last but not the least, he has also picked the most number of wickets for England in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 as of now.

3) Axar Patel

Axar Patel went on picking Test wickets for fun in 2021. Despite making his debut only this year, the off-spinner went on to win several Tests on his own.

He wreaked havoc during the home series against England, where he picked 27 wickets in just three Tests. The bowling all-rounder then had a decent time during the series against the Kiwis, where he picked nine wickets in the two Tests.

Add to that his performances with the bat, which included a half-century in the second Test against the Tom Latham-led side and it is safe to call the 27-year-old a complete package. With age on his side, PAxar could go on to become a world-class cricketer in red-ball cricket.

4) Devon Conway

Unlike other debutants, Devon Conway instantly became a key player for the Blackcaps in Tests. His red-ball debut saw him score an unreal double hundred at Lord’s and he was named the Player of the Match.

The elegant batter then backed it up with an 80 on the second Test of his debut series against England. However, it was his performances in the WTC final which truly showed a glimpse of his vast potential. In tricky conditions, during the first innings, he scored a gritty 54.

While it wasn’t a hundred or a double hundred, it came in conditions where even the best of the best batter struggled to get going. In fact, it was the highest score of the Test. Hence, in the near future, the 30-year-old is expected to do wonders for the Kane Williamson-led side.

5) Scott Boland

Scott Boland has to be one of the most unexpected names on this list. While not many cricket pundits expected him to ever play Tests for Australia, he went on to make the entire cricketing fraternity proud.

The pacer made his debut in the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG in Ashes 2021-22, and was able to pick just one wicket in the first innings. One of the major reasons for that being the fact that the other Aussie bowlers had already done the damage. However, his performance in the second innings felt like a “dream come true moment” for every debutant.

In just seven overs, the 32-year-old went on to pick six wickets, and ensured that his side don’t have to bat again. This enabled him to win the Player of the Match award on his debut, and that too in front of his home crowd.

6) Kyle Mayers

During his Test debut, Kyle Mayers inscribed his name in the record books. When the West Indies were chasing a mammoth 359 in the second Test against Bangladesh, the 29-year-old, who was making his debut, went on to play one of the greatest knocks in the history of Test cricket.

He scored an unbeaten 210 off 310 deliveries, which included 20 boundaries and seven sixes respectively. The fact that he walked in to bat when his team were struggling at 59-3 makes this knock even more special.

In the process, the Windies scored the highest fourth-innings total in Asia. With arguably the most impactful knock of 2021, the left-handed batter ensured that everyone remembers him forever. Besides, he is handy with the ball too, and has picked 13 wickets in 16 innings at an average of 25.15.

7) Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar is undoubtedly one of the most impactful youngsters going around. A dependent batter, as well as a top-class bowler, very seldom would you find such a talent. Moreover, his consistency is what managed to impress one and all.

While he made his debut during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, he was one of the main reasons why India were able to create history at the Gabba. After scoring a brilliant 62 under pressure, he scored another quick-fire 22 in the fourth innings, and that was the knock which got India closer to the line. That wasn’t it as he went on to score two half-centuries against England during the home series.

As of now, the all-rounder has scored three fifties in six innings in the longer format of the game. While he’s primarily a bowler, he has also picked six wickets in the four Tests in which he has played so far. Thus, the 22-year-old is expected to do wonders in red-ball cricket.

8) Sajid Khan

Despite playing all his games against relatively weaker sides, Sajid Khan has already showcased his abilities. The offie made his Test debut during Pakistan’s tour to Zimbabwe. Although he couldn’t do much during that series, he was his team’s hero during their tour to Bangladesh.

In the two-match Test series, the 28-year-old picked the most number of wickets However, it was the second Test where he completely blew the opposition away. He went on to pick eight wickets in the first innings, and then backed it up with four wickets in the second innings.

While the men in green are blessed with an abundant stock of bowlers, he is definitely someone they need to look out for. If nurtured properly, he can go on to win several matches for Pakistan.

9) Rachin Ravindra

Performing well in India is a difficult task, let alone making your debut in that part of the world. However, Rachin Ravindra showed immense grit and determination during his first Test at Kapur. While trying to save the Test, the batting all-rounder kept defending balls, and ensured that his team didn’t lose the game.

His technique was visibly impressive. Moreover, he had to face spin wizards like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and yet, he survived till the very end. While he couldn’t do much with the bat in the second Test, it was his performance with the ball which impressed the cricket pundits this time around.

During the second innings of the second Test, he picked three wickets, including the prized scalp of the opposition captain Virat Kohli. Thus, with the kind of temperament and maturity the youngster has shown, it is only a matter of time before he establishes himself in the toughest format.

10) Abdullah Shafique

As opening is arguably the hardest job in the longest format of the game, it gets harder for openers making their debut to instantly make a mark. Nevertheless, Abdullah Shafique has had a dream start to his Test career.

During his debut against Bangladesh at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium, he went on to score fifties in both innings of the Test. As a matter of fact, his composed knock of 73 while his side were chasing 202 ensured that his team got over the line.

He then went on to score another half-century in the second Test. Thus, the 22-year-old has had a promising start to his Test career, and could go on to cement his spot in the XI sooner or later. Besides, several Pakistan batters are on the wrong side of their 30s and thus, he could get his deserved opportunities as well.