5 legendary Australian cricketers who endured poor Test debuts

For any aspiring cricketer in Australia, the pinnacle of all dreams remains the fabled Baggy Green. All those years of hard work and yearnings of hope would be answered upon receiving the first Test cap.

Amidst nerves and an inherent desire to prove a sense of belonging, the maiden introduction to the game’s traditional and toughest format can never be easy. The even more difficult part lies in enduring a poor debut and still going on to reach great heights.

Here are five of Australia’s greatest ever cricketers who overcame tumultuous Test debuts and forged remarkable careers. The players are arranged in chronological order of their appearances.

#5 Sir Donald Bradman

Sir Don Bradman — Bradman‘s maiden Test appearance saw him falter in both innings

Unarguably, the greatest batsman to ever walk on earth, even Sir Donald Bradman did not exactly have a debut to remember. Up against a seasoned and skillful England bowling attack, the then 20-year old right-hander tallied a combined 19 runs from both innings with the versatile Maurice Tate dismissing him for the first time.

After being dropped for the next Test, Bradman gave an indication of things to come by scoring 79 and 112 in the third Test in Melbourne. 20 years later, he left the game with an imposing record which to date remains the most unbelievable of them all.

Performance on Debut – 18 (40) & 1 (5) against England at Exhibition Ground in Brisbane (1928)

Overall Test Career – 6996 runs from 52 matches at an average of 99.94 with 29 centuries and 13 fifties

#4 Arthur Morris

Nearing his 25^th birthday, Arthur Morris entered Test cricket in the 1946/47 Ashes on home soil. With Bradman returning to the field after eight years, there was additional pressure on this stylish opener to negate the new-ball and protect the all-important number three batsman.

However, he succumbed to the swing of Sir Alec Bedser for just two runs and took the long walk back even as his skipper entered the arena to vociferous applause.

Morris came into his own during the famous Invincibles tour two years later. With 696 runs from 5 Tests including 3 centuries, the left-hander outshone Bradman himself and paved the way for an away 4-0 Ashes triumph. Despite losing the prime of his youth to the Second World War, he did enough to secure a place in ICC’s Hall of Fame.

Performance on Debut – 2 (9) & DNB against England at Brisbane Cricket Ground in Woolloongabba (1946)

Overall Test Career – 3533 runs from 46 matches at an average of 46.48 with 12 centuries and 12 fifties

#3 Jeff Thomson

With an action resembling a javelin thrower in full tilt, Thomson terrorised numerous batting lineups across the globe with his scorching pace and intimidating bouncers. But, his introduction to Test cricket was something he would want to forget. On a batting-friendly Melbourne pitch, the 23-year old tear away was manhandled by the Pakistani batsmen.

As many as six of the visitors’ top seven crossed the 50-mark with Sadiq Mohammad and Majid Khan scoring scintillating centuries.

From 17 eight-ball overs, Thomson gave away exactly 100 runs without a wicket in the first-innings. Unbeknownst to anyone but himself, he had played the game with a broken bone in his left foot. After spending a couple of seasons in the wilderness, he came back in spectacular fashion with Mike Denness’ visiting England side bearing the brunt of his fury in the 1974/75 Ashes.

Performance on Debut – 17-1-100-0 & 2-0-10-0 against Pakistan at Melbourne Cricket Ground (1972/73)

Overall Test Career – 200 wickets from 51 matches at an average of 28.00 with 8 five-wicket hauls

#2 Shane Warne

Australia were 2-0 up in the series and decided they had enough leeway to bring in an uncapped blonde leg-spinner into the equation. Despite debuting at the usually spin-friendly SCG, Shane Warne ran into batsmen who grew up honing the art of playing the turning ball.

Following a useful 20 with the bat, the then 22-year old almost had his maiden Test wicket but shelled a difficult return catch of Ravi Shastri. By the time he did get his first scalp, the opener had compiled a 477-ball 206. At the other end was Sachin Tendulkar who smashed a 213-ball 148.

Despite the ignominious start to his career, the ‘King of Spin’ finished his career as the leading wicket-taker in the game before long-time rival Muttiah Muralitharan overtook his tally.

Performance on Debut – 45-7-150-1 & DNB against India at Sydney Cricket Ground (1992)

Overall Test Career – 708 wickets from 145 matches at an average of 25.41 with 37 five-wicket hauls and 10 ten-wicket hauls

#1 Matthew Hayden

The indomitable Border Era was reaching its final phase. Eager to set the team up for the future, Australia brought in a 22-year old to open the innings. South Africa’s pace attack smelled blood at the sight of a newcomer on a seam-friendly surface in Johannesburg.

Upon watching the more attacking Michael Slater perish for a cameo, Matthew Hayden soon followed suit after suffering a testing time at the hands of Allan Donald.

In the second innings, it was Fanie de Villiers’ canny swing which breached Hayden’s defence. He had to wait for more than two years before his next chance at the Test level. When it did come, a bout of inconsistency cost him his spot.

Upon returning to Shield cricket, the burly southpaw scored heavily and bided his time. In 2000, the selectors threw him another lifeline. This time, he latched on and never looked back.

Performance on Debut – 15 (36) and 5 (19) against South Africa at New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg (1994)

Overall Test Career – 8625 runs from 103 matches at an average of 50.73 with 30 centuries and 29 fifties