Dawn Pakistan's most widely circulated English language newspaper.

Galaxy of century scorers on Test debut

By Khalid H. Khan

13 October 1997

Young Pakistani debutantes, Ali Naqvi and Azhar Mahmood, are the toast of Test cricket this week after their truly magnificent achievements in the first Test of South Africa's maiden series in Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The pair provided the only instance of debut hundreds in the same innings of the 121-year Test match history. Hitherto, there have been three previous occasions when two batsmen in the same innings almost came to scoring a hundred on Test debut. In the Trinidad Test against England in 1947-48, Andy Ganteaume managed to reach three figures in his only Test innings but the other debutante, Frank Worrell, was dismissed for 97. Subsequently, Pakistan wicket-keeper Abdul Kadir narrowly failed to emulate the deed of his fellow debutante opener, Khalid Ibadulla, when he was out for 95 against Australia in the one-off Test at Karachi in 1964-65.

Last year, young Indian batsman Rahul Dravid was the third unlucky victim when he made 95 against England in the Lord's Test while his teammate Saurav Ganguly scored a memorable 131.

Of course, there are two other feats of two players making centuries on Test debut but they were for opposing sides (see the table below). The unparalleled feats of Ali Naqvi and Azhar Mahmood put them in an elite of club of 62 other century-makers on Test debut. They respectively become the fifth and sixth instances from Pakistan and only the fifth and sixth, overall, against South Africa.

Azhar Mahmood is also the 27th player to score a maiden first-class hundred in a Test match and the sixth one to do so on Test debut. He is also the second Pakistani to score a hundred as well as taking at least one wicket in his first Test. Previously, the great Javed Miandad had achieved the feat. But Azhar is only the seventh debutante to score a hundred and a fifty in the same Test.

West Indian Lawrence Rowe has the unique distinction of starting his Test career with century in each innings. He made an unbeaten 100 in the second innings against New Zealand at Kingston in 1971-72.

But the six others to score a century and a fifty on Test debut are: Shri Ranjitsinhji (62 and 154 not out), George Gunn (119 and 74), Herbie Collins (70 and 104), Paul Gibb (93 and 106), Rodney Redmond (107 and 56 in only Test appearance) and Gordon Greenidge (93 and 107).

New Zealand all-rounder Bruce Taylor is the only one to score a hundred and take five wickets in an innings on Test debut. He captured five for 86 in India's first innings.

Brendon Kuruppu and Romesh Kaluwitharana are the only wicket-keepers to make a hundred on Test debut. Among the other debutantes, Muhammad Azharuddin is the only one to make a hundred in each of his first three Tests while Bill Ponsford, Doug Walters, Alvin Kallicharran, Greg Blewett and Saurav Ganguly made hundreds in their first two Tests. Ponsford, R.A.Duff and Greg Chappell also scored a hundred in their final Test. The Amarnaths of India provide the only instance of a father and a son scoring a century on debut.

Saleem Malik at 18 years and 328 days is the youngest debutante to make a Test hundred.

Source: Dawn
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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 19:10