Cricket Special Report: Is scoring a Century on test debut good enough anymore
They say that the ‘First impression is the last impression’. But is it true in cricket, is yet to be determined because out of the many players to have made the first impression in the best possible manner, many have not been able to last that long. A look at the those cricketers who have managed to reach the three figures on test debut in the last 2 decades will tell us exactly how difficult life can be to even the best amongst the rest.
Gone are the days when a batsman was virtually guaranteed a place in the side after scoring a century on test debut. Great names like George Headley, Lala Amarnath, Peter May, Gundappa http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Miandad-c66580 all managed to enter the elite club of debut centurions and reached triple figures consistently throughout their illustrious careers. Yet some newcomers have been a disappointment, faltering after becoming a part of this exclusive club. While some have managed to do well in the long run, the career of some took the wrong turn with the passage of time.
Pakistan’s Saleem Malik is one such cricketer who had scored more than 15 test centuries and was an excellent captain whenever given the chance. Yet the match fixing allegations he faced throughout the latter part of his career tainted his career, and he continuous to stay away from the limelight despite being one of the best batsmen produced by Pakistan. Similarly, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 managed to score a century of his first 3 test matches and also in his last. Great record, but match fixing allegations in the 90s saw him unable to play what would have been his 100th test and he was banned from representing the national side, like Malik. Both players scored century on their test debut and remain the most luckless for similar reasons.
Australia’s South African born Kepler Wessels scored 162 runs against England in 1982, yet couldn’t hold his place for long due to the competitive nature of Australian cricket. He retired from the game and lived low before luck gave him another chance, and he came back strongly in 1992, as South African skipper. His captaincy and batting helped his side reach the semi finals of the World Cup in 1992, and it is due to that effort that they have become one of the best cricket nations in the world.
Another Australian Mark Waugh made his Test debut at the expense of his twin brother Steve, who was dropped to accommodate the debutant. Mark Waugh scored 138 runs in the Ashes match in 1991 and continued to do well for Australia in the next 11 years. However, 4 years after making allegations against Saleem Malik, Mark Waugh was at the receiving end when he was asked to clarify why he was fined by ACB in 1993. It was later revealed and accepted by the cricketer that he gave information to and accepted money from an Indian bookmaker in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, since he was naïve at that time. The controversy marred his otherwise belligerent career and he retired from the game in 2002.
India’s Praveen Amre scored 103 runs against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747, yet they had short lived careers because of consistently inconsistent performances.
Former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan has been unlucky besides scoring a century on debut and crossing the 3 figure mark more than a dozen of times as well. The players and the management don’t want him in the side since he is not welcome for unknown reasons. Another Pakistani http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 continues its losing way.
Marcus North of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, all scored debut centuries last year, yet have struggled in the coming matches. While North is likely to get axed for the Ashes series, Umar Akmal might get another go in England, despite not showing the temperament required for a test batsman. Fawad Alam continues to play in the one dayers but it is the tests he is needed in most, and one hopes Pakistan selectors recall him and dump the worthless Umar Amin, for good.
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