Top ten debut innings in ODIs

3. Andy Flower (Zimbabwe – 115* vs Sri Lanka, New Plymouth, February 1992)

Andy Flower of Zimbabwe

When one scores a hundred in his first game at the international level, he is excited. The excitement, however, reaches a fever pitch when the occasion is a World Cup game.

Left-handed wicket-keeper batsman Andy Flower did exactly that against Sri Lanka in the 1992 World Cup. He made a sublime, unbeaten 115 while opening the innings, scoring eight boundaries and a six against the likes of Ramanayake and Pramodya Wickramasinghe. Quick-fire half centuries from Kevin Arnott and Andy Waller enabled the Zimbabweans to reach 312, but Sri Lanka overhauled the target with four balls to spare.

It was an indication of great things to come for Flower – who would later captain the side before retiring in 2003. He is now the current coach of the England cricket team.