The last of a series of reviews of Test cricket in 2018. Here we identify the good performances on Test debut.
Batting:
40 runs or more in an innings:
3 centuries headed by PP Shaw, and numerous other 50s.
There are several instances of 40+ in both innings, with Fakhar Zaman with 50+ in both innings. This will be seen more clearly here:
80 runs or more in match:
Fakhar Zaman’s 160 shares the second place among those who made two scores between 50 and 99 on debut.
The most is by the lesser-known BM Laird with 167 (Aus v WI, 1979-80) followed by CH Lloyd with 160 (WI v Ind, 1966-67).
Bowling:
3 or more wickets in an innings:
5 instances of fivers, led by Bilal Asif and L Ngidi. Vihari and Bumrah took 3-fors for India. Ireland has TJ Murtagh and SR Thompson in their debut Test, while Yamin Ahmadzai represents Afghanistan on their debut.
6 or more wickets in match:
Dananjaya’s 8-44 is the best for Sri Lanka on debut. The previous record was 8-132 by BAW Mendis (SL v Ind, 2008). Ireland has TJ Murtagh in their debut Test. Bilal Asif took 6 in the first innings and none in the second.
Fielding:
2 or more dismissals in an innings:
RR Pant leads here. His 5 dismissals equaled the record for India, though Yajurvindra Singh was a non-keeper. 3 Indian keepers made 4 dismissals in an innings on debut, all in the 1950s.
3 or more dismissals in a match:
RR Pant leads again with 7 dismissals. No one else has more than 3. MA Agarwal is one of those who took 3 as a non-keeper
Pant’s 7 dismissals equaled the Indian record with non-keeper Yajurvindra Singh. Several Indian keepers took 5 on debut, along with non-keepers RR Singh (only Test) and SS Das.
All-round performances:
30 runs and 3 wickets in match:
3 instances, with probably SR Thompson’s being the best.
30 runs and 3 dismissals:
3 instances, with Foakes being the only keeper and MA Agarwal having the best by a non-keeper. Also note MS Harris’s 26 and 26.
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