Tests in 2022-Debutants

We now look at the best performances of those who made their debut in 2022.

Batting-40 or more runs in an innings:

Headed by Zakir Hasan whose 100 was the only century on debut, and J Overton with 97. Of special mention is T Chanderpaul with 51 and 45.

Batting-80 or more runs in a match:

Zakir Hasan and Saud Shakeel both scored above 100 runs on debut.

Bowling-4 or more wickets in an innings:

Led by Abrar Ahmed with 7-114, and P Jayasuriya with two 6-fors. Abrar also took a 4-for. MJ Potts’s 4-13 was very economical.

Bowling-8 or more wickets in a match:

P Jayasuriya and Abrar both took 10+ wickets on their debuts.

Fielding-4 dismissals in an innings:

SW Billings is the only one here.

Fielding-5 dismissals in a match:

Again, SW Billings is the only one here.

All-round: 50 runs and 5 wickets:

WG Jacks is the only one here.

All-round: 40 runs and 4 dismissals:

No one.

Debut bowling records by and in Pakistan

Best bowling figures in an innings by Pakistani players on Test debut:

We see that Abrar Ahmed is in 3rd position here, after Mohammad Zahid (1996) and Mohammad Nazir (1969). Most of these bowlers had short Test careers. Perhaps Abrar will fare better. Bilal Asif’s 6-36 is the best for a Pakistani debutant in an away (rather, neutral) Test. Arif Butt’s 6-89 is the best for a Pakistani debutant in an away Test.

We also see the best innings figures by any bowler on Test debut in Pakistan:

Abrar Ahmed is third on this list as well. Also note England’s WG Jacks in the first Test of this series.

After England’s second innings, we look at the revised records for match bowling.

Best match bowling on debut for Pakistan:

Abrar Ahmed’s 11-234 is the second-best for Pakistan, after Mohammad Zahid’s 11-130. We also see that Aizaz Cheema’s 8-103 is the best for a Pakistani debutant in an away Test.

Best match bowling on debut in Pakistan:

Here, too, Abrar comes second after M Zahid. The best performance by a visiting bowler on debut was 6-85 by RMH Cottam in 1969.