Top 10 Players with Highest Scores on Test Debut

Top 10 Players with Highest Scores on Test Debut: It’s a dream for any batsman to play Test match for his country. After all it is considered the ultimate test of a player’s skill and temperament. The test cap holds a great degree of pride and honour with it. Plenty of them fail but out of few who do reach international test standards, even fewer ones make a dream debut for their country. Even the greatest of the game find it tough to face the music in their inaugural test. Despite this, there have been some who have overcome all odds and got the better of the occasion in their debut tests. A total of 98 batsmen have scored century in their debut test match, the latest being Rohit Sharma of India, who played his first test after 108 ODIs, also a record. Here, we list the Top 10 Players with Highest Scores on Test Debut. 10. 170, Yasir Hameed (Pakistan) v Bangladesh, Karachi, 2003: Yasir Hameed. (© Getty Images) In 2003, Yasir Hameed became only the second man in history to hit a century in both innings of his first Test, as his 170 and 108 guided Pakistan to a seven-wicket victory. Renowned as an aggressive, attacking batsman in the one-day game, Hameed showed from the start that he was keen to press on with matters. His 170 came off only 253 balls at a strike rate of 67.2, featuring an impressive 25 boundaries, and remains his highest Test score to date. Hameed played a further 22 Tests for his country before being dropped in 2007 after an unsuccessful tour of India. 9. 171, Hamish Rutherford (New Zealand) v England, Dunedin, 2013: Hamish Rutherford. (© Getty Images) Hamish Rutherford’s 171 left an out-of-sorts England side stunned in Dunedin. With England having been skittled for 167 and day one lost to the weather, New Zealand were keen to score quickly and press their advantage. Opening on debut, Rutherford looked composed and assured from the off as he made 171 with a strike-rate of more than 51, including 22 fours and three sixes, against an England side who until recently had been ranked No1 in the world. Rutherford’s 171 was then the seventh-highest score on Test debut, and also the second highest by an opener. 8. 176, George Headley (West Indies) v England, Bridgetown, 1930: Dubbed “the Black Bradman”, George Headley was one of the finest batsmen in history. In 1930, the MCC organised a tour of the West Indies, the first Tests ever to be played there, and Headley was called up to make his debut in the first match at Bridgetown. The Panama-born Headley was subjected to jeers from the crowd throughout his side’s first innings, who felt his place should have gone to one of his teammates, and it clearly affected his game as he was dismissed for a modest 21. He proved his class and resilience, though, in the second innings as he came out to strike a majestic 176. With the crowd now on his side, Headley went on to have a fantastic series scoring 703 runs at an average of 87.87 and finished his career with a majestic Test average of 60.83. 7. 177, Rohit Sharma (India) v West Indies, Kolkata, 2013: Rohit Sharma. (© Getty Images) Having to wait for an exhausting 108 one dayers before getting the test cap Rohit was in no mood to let that opportunity go. With Shane Shillingford, the visiting Windies spinner spinning a web around the Indian batting order Rohit looked unfazed and stood like a rock on a challenging Eden Gardens pitch. He combined marvellously with R Ashwin to build a huge partnership and put India in the driving seat. The innings was a mixture of sumptuous strokeplay and calculated risks. 6. 187, Shikhar Dhawan (India) v Australia, Mohali, 2013: Shikhar Dhawan. (© Getty Images) The Aussies put up a massive score on the board and were hoping to build some pressure with some early wickets. But a certain Shikhar Dhawan had different ideas. He displayed absolutely no mercy and made the visitors run all round the PCA stadium. With the selectors watching from the outset he proved their decision to play him in the middle of a series right. The innings also ensured him as the long term opener for India in all formats. 5. 201*, Brendon Kuruppu (Sri Lanka) v New Zealand, Colombo, 1987: Coming into the side for the first Test of the series against New Zealand, Kuruppu proved to be the linchpin of his side’s first innings, scoring more than half of Sri Lanka’s 397 runs as he battled his way to 201 not out. Kuruppu’s knock was one of dogged Boycottesque determination – at 777 minutes it was the slowest double century in first class history. The innings made Kuruppu only the third man to score a double-century on debut and was at the time the highest individual score posted by a Sri Lankan batsman. Unfortunately, his form dipped and he went on to make only three more Test appearances, making him the least capped player to have scored a Test double hundred. The match was drawn as the weather took its toll. 4. 214, Matthew Sinclair (New Zealand) v West Indies, Wellington, 1999: Mathew Sinclair. (© Getty Images) The Australian-born Mathew Sinclair announced himself on the international stage with this knock of 214. His 447-ball innings was measured and composed featuring only seven boundaries with a strike rate of 47.87. Sinclair saw off the threat of Courtney Walsh, then in the twilight of his career, and in the end it was Shivnarine Chanderpaul who eventually made the breakthrough, dismissing the Kiwi with his team well on their way to a comprehensive victory by an innings and 105 runs. Sadly Sinclair never really managed to recapture this form, showing ability in glimpses but not at the consistency required for Test cricket and it remains his highest international score. 3. 214 – Lawrence Rowe (West Indies) v New Zealand, Kingston, 1972: Seen as the next big thing in Caribbean cricket, Lawrence Rowe was called up to face New Zealand on the back of his performances for Jamaica. Nobody could have expected what followed. Playing on his home ground Rowe was faultless in his first innings total of 214, hitting 19 boundaries and one six as West Indies raced to 508 for four. Rowe was a man possessed and as if 214 was not enough he went on to score 100 in the second innings, becoming the first man to score a double hundred and a century on Test debut. When asked how he managed the feat Rowe, understated as ever, coolly replied: “This is my home ground, and I have no right to get out here.” 2. 222*, Jacques Rudolph (South Africa) v Bangladesh, Chittagong, 2003: Jacques Rudolph. (© Getty Images) Jacques Rudolph had been itching to make his Test debut ever since the fiasco in 2002 which saw him called up only for the decision to be overruled by cricket administrators, citing South Africa’s policy of adhering to a quota of non-white players. Having being selected again for the tour of Bangladesh, Rudolph was keen to make up for lost time and certainly did not disappoint. Debuting at No. 3, Rudolph eased his way to 222, putting on a then-record third wicket stand of 429 with Boeta Dippenaar as his side declared on 470 for three. Although some may point out the weakness of the opposition, Rudolph’s 383-ball innings was undoubtedly a class act, featuring 29 fours, two sixes. If it wasn’t for Graeme Smith’s declaration he might even be topping this list. 1. 287, Tip Foster (England) v Australia, Sydney, First Ashes Test, 1903: Reginald Erskine Foster, known as “Tip”, was called up for England’s winter Ashes tour in 1903 having excelled for his county, Worcestershire. Named one of the five Wisden cricketers of the year in 1901, Foster would have appeared for his country sooner if it was not for “business commitments”, but he certainly made his debut worth the wait. Foster was peerless in his stroke-play scoring an incredible 287, more than the entire Australian first innings total of 285, as England were eventually bowled out for 577. The innings, which came off 419 balls and featured 37 boundaries, remains the record for a Test debutant and helped England on their way to a five-wicket victory. Interestingly, Foster is also the only man to have captained England at both cricket and football, having scored three goals in his five appearances before passing away at the age of 36 due to severe diabetes. (All Stats Updated Till 31st May 2015)