Did you know that only 71 players have taken wickets on their first debut ball in the history of cricket? Are there any best bowling debuts in international cricket that you know of?
In international cricket, a bowler’s debut typically serves as a turning point in their career, with outstanding performances in their first appearance on the international stage writing their names into the history of cricket.
These outstanding debuts show talent and promise and give cricket fans special moments to witness.
In this post, we look at some of the best bowling debuts in international cricket.
Best Bowling Debuts by Far
The following is the list of the best bowling debuts ever made
| Bowler | Debut Date | Format | Opposition | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Massie | June 27, 1972 | Test | England | 16 |
| Richard Hadlee | Feb 9, 1973 | Test | Pakistan | 5 |
| Dominic Cork | Aug 19, 1995 | Test | West Indies | 7 |
| Merv Hughes | Dec 26, 1985 | Test | India | 8 |
| Pat Cummins | Nov 17, 2011 | Test | South Africa | 6 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | Nov 6, 2011 | Test | West Indies | 9 |
| Shaheen Afridi | Apr 3, 2018 | T20I | Afghanistan | 6 |
| Kagiso Rabada | Nov 5, 2014 | ODI | Bangladesh | 6 |
Many best bowling debuts happened in Test cricket, so you may think that nobody could even survive a whole inning of an ODI.
But to your surprise, few batsmen achieved the impossible and Batted All 50 Overs.
Bowling Techniques used?
Fast bowling is the style of everyone on the list except for Ravichandran Ashwin, who is an off-spinner.
We look at the bowling styles of everyone on the list, along with what made their debuts the best bowling debuts ever.
1. Bob Massie (Australia)
Debut: 27th of June, 1972.
Against England (2nd Test), Massive swinger Massie made an impressive debut by claiming 8 wickets in each inning (16 wickets) for just 137 runs making his debut the best bowling debut in bowling. His 16-wicket haul is an unbroken record for most wickets taken in a test debut.
2. Richard Hadlee (New Zealand)
First Test: 9th of February, 1973.
Against Pakistan (2nd Test). In his debut game, Hadlee claimed 5 wickets for 123 runs. He went on to become one of the greatest players in the history of the game making his debut one of the best bowling debuts in history.
3. Dominic Cork (England)
Debut: 19th August, 1995.
Against West Indies (4th Test). Cork made his international cricket debut with a bang, capturing 7 wickets for 43 runs in the second innings of the Test match against a formidable West Indies squad.
4. Merv Hughes (Australia)
Debut: 26th December, 1985.
Against India (1st Test). There is no doubt for him to be on this list of Best Bowling Debuts because on his debut against India, Hughes, a bowler noted for his lively and aggressive approach, got 8 wickets, which was important to Australia’s victory.
5. Pat Cummins (Australia)
Debut: 17th November, 2011
Against South Africa (1st Test). Fast bowler Cummins, who helped Australia win the Test match, had one of the best bowling debuts, collecting 6 wickets for 79 runs in the second innings.
6. Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
Debut: 6th November, 2011.
Against West Indies (1st Test). The Indian off-spinner superstar Ashwin made his presence known by collecting 9 wickets in the game—six in the first innings and three in the second. He was essential to India’s success.
7. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
Debut: 3rd April, 2018
Against Afghanistan (T20I). Afridi, a left-arm fast bowler, made his debut in a T20I and took 6 wickets for just 35 runs, setting a new record for the best figures by a Pakistani on T20I debut.
8. Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
Debut: 5th November 2014
Against Bangladesh (ODI). One of the best fast bowlers in the world of cricket, Rabada, defeated Bangladesh in his first ODI with six wickets for 16 runs. A fantastic career began with this performance.
Bowling tips and tricks
One thing common in all people with the best bowling debuts is their vast knowledge of their field and their discipline in practice.
1. Maintain Fitness:
Bowling requires a lot of physical fitness. Working on your strength, agility, and endurance through regular fitness training will improve it.
Running, swimming. yoga, stretching, or other lifting exercises like push-ups are a great way to maintain fitness.
2. Perfect Your Run-Up:
Run-up is crucial for generating speed. A smoother and more consistent run-up is hard to achieve.
Keeping one’s balance of weight while running is crucial to achieving one of the best bowling debuts in history.
3. Focus on Your Grip:
Hold the ball with a comfortable grip. The better the grip on the ball, the better the strength and power executed.
4. Bowling Action:
Practicing your bowling action could minimize the stress on your body while maximizing power and control.
5. Bowling Variations:
Learn various deliveries such as the off-spin, leg-spin, yorker, bouncer, slower ball, and inswing/outswing variations to keep the batsmen guessing.
6. Keeping Calm:
One should understand that there will be many tough situations during the match, but the key is to keep your mind under control.
7. Use the Conditions:
Adapting to the pitch and weather conditions to better execute seam, swing, or spin bowling.
8. Study Batsmen:
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the batsmen will help you perform more successfully.
9. Fitness Recovery:
Recovery is essential to prevent injuries. Knowing when to rest can help prevent severe injuries or muscle strain.
10. Seek Coaching:
Consider getting coaching from experienced fast bowlers or coaches who can provide personalized feedback. Many players with the best bowling debuts are available as coaches. Seeking their help is bound to prove useful.
11. Match Practice:
The more you bowl in match situations, the better you’ll become at handling pressure and making strategic decisions.
12. Video Analysis:
Record your bowling sessions and review them to identify areas for improvement in your technique.
13. Patience:
Becoming a successful fast bowler takes time and patience. Keep working on your skills and never stop learning. Remember that fast bowling can put a lot of strain on your body, so it’s crucial to rest up properly before bowling and cool down afterward.
Conclusion
Best bowling debuts don’t just happen magically, they are made with pure skill of practice and patience; luck plays only a small role in this.
These bowlers practiced and pushed themselves way beyond their level to make history. Many have the passion to do something big in their career but only the ones that preserve and practice are the ones that make it.
However, if you could also give your all to make it there, who knows you just might make the next history.
Pingback: Cricket - Best Basic Guide - Forsport.com