Stats: West Indies players to take a wicket with the first ball

Keemo Paul came into the limelight while playing for the West Indies in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup with his all-round display and smart play. The youngster’s turned out to be a part of the debate over sportsmanship as he ‘Mankad’ Zimbabwe’s last man standing to push his team into the knockouts of the tournament. Keemo Paul was also impressive with his game as his all-round efforts helped the Caribbean side to claim their maiden U19 CWC title.

The 20-year-old made the ball talk in domestic circuit as he bagged 54 wickets in 14 first-class games at an average 17.35. He bagged 31 wickets in 20 List A games with a best of 5/49 against England Lions earlier in this month. Keemo Paul also took 13 wickets in the Super 50 competition in only seven games before the games against the touring England Lions. He was called up for joining the West Indies’ campaign at the CWC Qualifier in Zimbabwe as a replacement for injured Sheldon Cottrell.

Keemo Paul made his maiden International appearance at the senior level in the first game of the Super Sixes round against Afghanistan. He scored an unbeaten 16 off 18 balls with a six to add 28 runs for the 9th wicket to push his side’s total to 197/8. Keemo shared the new ball with his skipper Jason Holder and started off with a wide. However, on his first legal delivery, the young pacer trapped Javed Ahmadi in front to give an early breakthrough for his team. Thus, he became one of the rare bowlers to claim wicket on the first ball of their ODI career.

Keemo Paul became the 25th player and only the 4th player from West Indies to take a wicket with the first ball of the ODI career. He is also only the 3rd player from West Indies to claim a wicket with the first legal delivery in International cricket. Left-arm pacer Tyrell Johnson took a wicket on the first ball he bowled in Test cricket in 1939 while Wavell Hinds bagged a wicket with his first ball in ODI format (also International cricket) in 1999.

West Indies players to take a wicket with the first ball:

(Stats as on March 15, 2018)