Throughout the history of cricket, there have been various batsmen, who have had terrific starts to their test careers. This has resulted in some big individual scores in test debuts. We will now have a look at the highest individual scores in an innings in test debut.
10.George Headley (1930)
George Headley, the batsman from West Indies, had a solid start to his career. His debut test had the West Indies hosting England. West Indies conceded a first-innings lead of 98. Headley made a century in the next innings, which led West Indies to score 384. The game got drawn. George Headley scored 176 runs in this innings.
9. Rohit Sharma (2013)
Rohit Sharma’s test debut was in the first game of the West Indies tour of India. West Indies batted first, and scored 234. In response, India was at 83-5, and soon 156-6. From there, Rohit and Ravichandran Ashwin, had a massive partnership of 280 runs, to shift the game entirely in the Indian team’s favor. Both of them scored their respective centuries. India eventually attained an innings victory. Rohit Sharma scored 177 runs in this innings.
8. Shikhar Dhawan (2013)
Shikhar Dhawan made his debut in the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian team was on a roll against Australia, and Dhawan extended India’s dominance. He was batting in a quickfire manner, scoring at more than run-a-ball, for a colossal century knock. India won this match, and hence, the series. Shikhar Dhawan scored 187 runs in this innings.
7. Devon Conway (2021)
Devon Conway had a dream debut, in his test career. A double hundred at the Lord’s. Conway scored more than half of New Zealand’s runs, in the first innings, and his score was the key reason, why New Zealand was able to set a significant target at the end. The game was a draw. Devon Conway scored 200 runs in this innings.
6. Brendon Kuruppu (1987)
Brendon Kuruppu was a Sri Lankan batsman. In his debut test, Sri Lanka hosted New Zealand, and Kuruppu opened the batting. He stayed till the end, and scored a double hundred. Sri Lanka finished with 397. New Zealand, in response, scored 406-5. The game got drawn. Kuruppu scored 201 not out in this innings.
5. Kyle Mayers (2021)
West Indies got a massive target of 395 to chase, in the first test of the West Indies tour of Bangladesh. The batsman Kyle Mayers was a debutant, who scored a brilliant double hundred in the chase. He, and his fellow debutant Nkrumah Bonner, had a 216-run partnership. West Indies won the game by three wickets. Kyle Mayers scored 210 not out in this innings.
4. Mathew Sinclair (1999)
Mathew Sinclair was a batsman from New Zealand. He made his debut in the second test of the West Indies tour of New Zealand, in 1999. New Zealand batted first in this game. Mathew Sinclair scored a double hundred, due to which New Zealand scored 518. New Zealand bowled out West Indies for small totals, in both the upcoming innings, and hence New Zealand won by an innings and 105 runs. Mathew Sinclair scored 214 runs in this innings.
3. Lawrence Rowe (1972)
This game was a part of the New Zealand tour of the West Indies. West Indies batted first, and lost their first wicket at 78. From there, the batsmen, Roy Fredericks and Lawrence Rowe had a partnership of 269 runs. The partnership made West Indies score 508, due to which, the West Indies dominated the proceedings throughout the match. Lawrence Rowe scored 214 runs in this innings.
2. Jacques Rudolph (2003)
This game was a part of the South Africa tour of Bangladesh. South Africa bowled first, and conceded 173. In response, South Africa was 41-2. However, after that, South Africa exerted complete dominance. The batsmen, Boeta Dippenaar, and the debutant Jacques Rudolph, had an unbeaten partnership of 429 runs, which eventually led to an innings victory for South Africa. Jacques Rudolph scored 222 not out in this innings.
1. Tip Foster (1903)
This game was the first one of the 1903-04 Ashes. This was an away series for England. England bowled first, and conceded 285 to Australia. In response, the debutant batsman, Tip Foster, scored a massive double hundred for England, due to which, England amassed 577. Eventually, England won by five wickets. Tip Foster scored 287 runs in this innings.