Easily one of the biggest days for any player’s career - the debut day! The motivation and hope to perform the best on the debut are cosmic. The desire to make a good initial impression is decisive. Putting one's talent and skills on display for the world to see for the first time is challenging. But once a player overcomes their fear of failing, they can reach their expectations of doing well for their country. Every player wants to seize the opportunity to make their debut the best. Also, they will try and deliver a show that will go down in history as one of the best.
The following are the top ten cricketers who took advantage of the given opportunity and now hold the record for most debut runs, as well as attracted attention due to their outstanding performance:
10. Umar Akmal (Pakistan)
Umar Akmal is a former Pakistani right-handed batsman. He is ranked tenth with a total of 204 runs. On November 24, Akmal made his Test debut against New Zealand in the first Test of Pakistan. It was during Pakistan's tour of New Zealand in 2009 in Dunedin. He scored 129 runs in the first innings and 75 runs in the second. New Zealand won the match by 32 runs despite his remarkable performance.
9. Kepler Wessels (Australia)
Wessels is a former South African-Australian cricketer. He is in ninth place with overall score of 208 runs. Wessels made his Test debut against England, the match took place in Brisbane on November 26, 1982, in the second Test of England's tour of Australia. He played a fine knock of 162 runs in the first innings and made 46 runs in the second innings. Australia won by seven wickets.
8. Mathew Sinclair (New Zealand)
The Australian-born New Zealand cricketer made a double century in the first innings of his debut match! With 214 runs under his belt, Mathew Sinclair lands on the eighth spot. Sinclair made his Test debut against West Indies during their tour of New Zealand in 1999. Sinclair was the "Player of the Match" for this game!
7. K S Ranjitsinhji (England)
With 216 total runs in his debut Test match, Ranjitsinhji is ranked eighth. He was an Indian prince! He played for England and made his debut against Australia in 1896. In the first innings, he scored 62 runs, and in the second, he batted brilliantly for 154 not out. The iconic Indian domestic cricket tournament ‘Ranji Trophy’ is named after him!
6. Jacobus Rudolph (South Africa)
Rudolph is a former left-handed batsman from South Africa. He struck an astonishing double century in his debut match against Bangladesh! Rudolph bashed a stunning 222 not out in South Africa's first innings. This was on the second day of the first Test at Chattogram in 2003. South Africa triumphed by an innings and 62 runs. Additionally, Rudolph was named the ‘Player of the Match' for his performance.
5. Devon Conway (New Zealand)
A double century at Lord’s! On debut! With a grand total of 223 runs, Conway made his place in the list at fifth place. The South African-born New Zealand player made history on July 21, 2021. The match was against England as the first batsman to score a double century at Lord's debut! Conway made a whopping 200 runs in the first innings and 23 in the second innings. His knock is also the newest addition to the list.
4. Kyle Mayers (West Indies)
The West Indian left-handed batsman, Kyle Mayers, bagged 250 runs to be at the fourth spot! Mayers scored 40 runs in the first innings, and during the second innings. Furthermore, he smashed a double century in the first Test match of the West Indies tour of Bangladesh in 2021. By three wickets, the West Indies won the match.
3. Yasir Hameed (Pakistan)
Yasir Hameed, a Pakistani right-handed batsman, scored 275 runs. After Lawrence Rowe, Hameed became the only cricketer to score two hundred in a single Test match. It was in the first Test match against Bangladesh in 2003 in Karachi. Herein, Hameed played an incredible knock of 170 runs in the first innings and 105 in the second innings. Hence, grabbing third place!
2. Reginald Foster (England)
The list's earliest entry is a famous knock of 306 by R E Foster, often known as Tip Foster. Besides, this knock was against Australia in 1903. Foster's eye-catching 287 runs in the first innings of the first Test match at Sydney grabbed the attention of all. Additionally, this is still the highest debut score by any cricketer in a single inning! Foster was also the only player to ever captain England in both cricket and football!
1. Lawrence Rowe (West Indies)
Lawrence Rowe is a former West Indian right-handed batter. He tops the list with a smashing total of 314 runs! Lawrence played a memorable knock in the first Test of New Zealand's West Indies tour at Kingston in 1972. He batted brilliantly in both innings. Additionally, he scored 214 runs in the first innings and a brilliant knock of 100 not out in the second innings. He was the first and only cricketer in history to achieve a century in both innings on his debut!
