5 bowlers who took a wicket off their first ball on Test debut ft. Corbin Bosch

South African Corbin Bosch created history on his Test debut in the ongoing first game between South Africa and Pakistan at the Centurion. The 30-year-old is playing his first international game in the longest format and impressed by picking up two key wickets of the opposition.

While scalping wickets in their debut game is something that every bowler dreams of, getting one off the very first ball they bowl is a rare and special feat. This feat has been achieved by very few cricketers over the years.

Corbin Bosch has now added his name to this elite list of players who have taken a wicket off their first ball on Test debut. The feat was first achieved in 1882-83 and Bosch is the latest player to have done so in 2024.

While 25 bowlers have picked up a wicket with the first ball of their career in this format, we shall take a look at five significant names among them all.

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5 bowlers who took a wicket off their first ball on Test debut

#5 Corbin Bosch

As mentioned earlier, Corbin Bosch is the latest entrant to the list. The 30-year-old right-arm pacer made his Test debut in the ongoing game between South Africa and Pakistan.

He was handed the ball for the first time to bowl the 15th over of Pakistan's innings. Running in to bowl, Bosch tasted success off his very first delivery in the format, picking up the key wicket of Pakistan skipper Shan Masood, who was caught by Marco Jansen at gully for 17 off 58 deliveries.

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#4 Shamar Joseph

West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph made his Test debut earlier this year (2024) against Australia Down Under. It was the first match of the series that was played at the Adelaide Oval.

The 25-year-old pacer was introduced into the attack during the ninth over. On his very first delivery, he accounted for a massive wicket by dismissing Steve Smith for just 12 runs.

Smith edged the ball back to the third slip, who made no mistake as Joseph claimed the wicket. He also went on to grab a five-wicket haul in the innings.

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#3 Tshepo Moreki

Tshepo Moreki is another South African on the list. The 31-year-old pacer made his Test debut earlier this year (2024) against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui. Moreki was asked to bowl the second over of the first innings.

Off his very first delivery, he dismissed New Zealand opener Devon Conway for just a solitary run. He trapped Conway in front, who was out lbw. At the time, Moreki joined Joseph to have achieved the feat in 2024.

With Bosch also joining the list, three bowlers have now achieved this feat in 2024. However, it was Moreki's only wicket in the innings and the entire game.

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#2 Nilesh Kulkarni

Former left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni is the only Indian on the list. He played only three Tests in his career and made his debut in the format against Sri Lanka in 1997 at Colombo.

In the second innings of the match, Kulkarni dismissed Sri Lankan batter Marvin Atapattu for 26 runs, who was caught behind by wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia. Kulkarni bowled 70 overs in the innings and ended with figures of 1/195 as Atapattu's scalp was his only wicket.

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#1 Nathan Lyon

Among the greatest spinners in the present era, Nathan Lyon played his first Test for Australia against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2011. The off-spinner came into the attack for the first time during the 16th over of Sri Lanka's first innings.

With his very first delivery, he dismissed not just Sri Lanka's but one of the world's finest cricketers Kumar Sangakkara for just 10 runs off 40 balls. Sangakkara edged the ball to then-Australian skipper Michael Clarke at slips, who made no mistake.

Nathan Lyon also went on to pick up a five-wicket haul in that innings, marking the beginning of a successful career in red-ball cricket.