Almanac Teams: Debut Tests in Pakistan/United Arab Emirates/Lord’s

 

 

After the teams I did for each test ground I will do Australian Teams touring

This team is Australians that debuted in Pakistan the UAE and England (Lord’s) and team of Pakistanis that debuted against Australia in Pakistan and the UAE.

I have included Steve Smith  and Tim Paine. I was unsure to do so as they debuted in England and was going to put them in the England debut side but went here as I have also included debuts in the UAE and there are only the two debuts in England for each team.

The team is a blend of best players in the XI with some that also had a great debuts.

I will give a little description on why I chose that player.

I looked forward to all correspondence.

 

 

Highlights of the teams are.

 

  • There are 16 Australians to debut against Pakistan which include six in UAE and two in England. There are 23 Pakistanis to debut with five in UAE and two in England.
  • One Pakistani cricketer scored a debut hundred.
  • Two Pakistani cricketers took five wickets in an innings on debut.

 

 

Australian XI

 

Greg Ritchie

Steve Smith – (C)

Marnus Labuschagne

Travis Head

Michael Bevan

Mitchell Marsh

Ian Healy – (VC)

Damien Fleming

Steve O’Keefe

Colin Miller

Mitchell Swepson

Twelfth man  Tim Paine

 

 

Pakistan XI

 

Khalid Ibadulla

Fakhar Zaman

Azhar Ali

Majid Khan

Abdul Kabir

Asif Iqbal

Shahid Afridi

Intokab Alam

Yasir Shah

Tauseef Ahmed

Bilal Asif

Twelfth man Pervez Sajjad

 

 

 

Australia

 

Greg Ritchie [Source: Author]

 

Greg Ritchie – Karachi 1982

4 and 17

30 Tests, 1,690 Runs, Average 35.20, Highest Score 146

Ritchie rarely opened the batting but did so in his last Test against England 1987 when Australia did not select a second opener after David Boon was dropped. He scored a 106* in his second Test at Faisalabad.

 

Steve Smith – Lord’s 2010

1 and 12 and 3/51

114 Tests, 9,999 Runs, Average 55.86, Highest Score 239, 19 Wickets at 53.05, Best Bowling 3/18

Smith started his career batting at number eight and in the second innings he batted nine as Mitchell Johnson batted ahead of him. Smith was picked as leg spinner all-rounder. He holds the equal record for most catches in an innings with five.

 

Marnus Labuschagne – Dubai 2018

0 and 13 and 1/29 and 1/9

55 Tests, 4,346 runs, Average 47.23, Highest Score 215, 13 Wickets at 61.15, Best Bowling 3/45

Labuschagne was born in South Africa and moved to Australia in 2004. In his sixth Test he was the concussion substitute when Steve Smith was concussed by Jofra Archer, and he made 59 in the second innings.

 

Travis Head – Dubai 2018

0 and 72 and 0/6

54 Tests, 3,621 Runs, Average 43.10, Highest Score 175, 14 Wickets at 31.64, Best Bowling 4/10

Head was Man of the Match in the ICC World Test Final against India at The Oval after a 163* and then again against in the ODI World Cup Final after a 137*.

 

Michael Bevan – Karachi 1994

82 and 0

18 Tests, 785 Runs, Average 29.07, Highest Score 91, 29 Wickets at 24.24, Best Bowling 6/82

Bevan on his Test recall against the West Indies in 1997 in Adelaide made 85* and took 4/31 and then 6/82.

 

Mitchell Marsh – Dubai 2014

27 and 3 and 0/44 and 0/19

46 Tests, 2,083 Runs, Average 28.53, Highest Score 181, 51 Wickets at 40.41, Best Bowling 5/46

Mitchell is the son of Geoff and brother of Shaun. Marsh was the Allan Border Medallist in 2023-2024.

 

Ian Healy – Karachi 1988

26 and 21 and 1 catch.

119 Tests, 4,356 Runs, Average 27.39, Highest Score 161*, 366 Catches and 29 Stumpings

Healy was Queensland’s second wicketkeeper to Peter Anderson and had only played six games including the last four matches before he was picked for Australia’s tour to Pakistan in 1988. Healy’s niece is current Australia captain Alyssa.

 

Damien Fleming – Rawalpindi 1994

4/75 and 3/86

20 Tests, 305 Runs, Average 19.06, Highest Score 71*, 75 Wickets at 25.89, Best Bowling 5/30

Fleming is one of three men to take a hat trick in his debut Test. Fleming’s hat trick victims were Aamer Malik, Inzamam-Ul-Haq and Saleem Malik. Fleming missed a second hat trick in Adelaide in 1999 when Shane Warne dropped an easy catch at first slip on the hat trick ball.

 

Steve O’Keefe – Dubai 2014

6 and 0* and 2/107 and 2/112

9 Tests, 86 Runs, Average 9.55, Highest Score 25, 35 Wickets at 29.40, Best Bowling 6/35

O’Keefe’s match figures against India at Pune in 2017 were 12/70; he claimed 6/35 in each innings and were the second best figures by a touring bowler in India.

 

Colin Miller – Rawalpindi 1998

3 and 1/65 and 2/30

18 Tests, 174 Runs, Average 8.28, Highest Score 43, 69 Wickets at 26.15, Best Bowling 5/32

Miller was on to his third state side in Tasmania when he made his Test debut at the age of 34. Miller was named Australia Test Cricketer of the year for 2000-2001 series.

 

Mitchell Swepson – Karachi 2022

15* and 2/32 and 0/156

4 Tests, 28 Runs, Average 7, Highest Score 15*, 10 Wickets at 45.80, Best Bowling 3/55

Swepson’s first Test wicket was Babar Azam.

 

Twelfth man Tim Paine – Lords 2010

7 and 47 and 5 catches and 1 stumping

35 Tests, 1,534 Runs, Average 32.63, Highest Score 92, 150 Catches and 7 Stumpings

Paine was the wicketkeeper in 2010 while Haddin was unavailable, but broke a finger in an exhibition match in November 2010. He struggled to play for several years and did not play a Test match for seven years. Paine captained Australia in 23 Tests from 2018 to 2021.

 

 

Pakistan

 

Khalid ‘Billy’ Ibadulla – Karachi 1964

166 and 3 and 0/9 and 0/14

4 Tests, 253 Runs, Average 31.62, Highest Score 166, 1 Wicket at 99, Best Bowling 1/42

Ibadulla opened the batting with fellow debutant Abdul Kabir; they shared an opening stand of 249.

 

Fakhar Zaman – Abu Dhabi 2018

94 and 66

3 Tests, 192 Runs, Average 32, Highest Score 94

Zaman in 2018 became the first Pakistan cricketer to score a double century in one day cricket.

 

Azhar Ali – Lords 2010

16 and 42

97 Tests, 7,142 Runs, Average 42.26, Highest Score 302*, 8 Wickets at 77.62, Best Bowling 2/35

Azhar was Test captain for 12 months for 2019-2020.

 

 

Majid Khan [Source: Author]

 

Majid Khan – Karachi 1964

0 and 2/55 and 1/42

63 Tests, 3,931 Runs, Average 38.92, Highest Score 167, 27 Wickets at 53.92, Best Bowling 4/45

In his Test debut Majid opened the bowling with fellow debutant Asif Iqbal. The remarkable thing is both are better known as batters. Majid is one of only six players to score a century before lunch on the opening day of a Test. Majid captained Pakistan in three Tests in 1972-1973

 

Abdul Kabir – Karachi 1964

95 and 26 and 1 stumping

4 Tests, 272 Runs, Average 34, Highest Score 95, 1 Stumping

Kabir opened the batting with fellow debutant Billy Ibadulla and shared an opening stand of 245 before being run out.

 

Asif Iqbal – Karachi 1964

41 and 36 and 2/68 and 0/28

58 Tests, 3575 Runs, Average 38.85, Highest Score 175, 53 Wickets at 28.33, Best Bowling 5/48

Iqbal shared the new ball with fellow debutant Majid Khan on Test debut. Iqbal captained Pakistan in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups and in six Tests in 1979.

 

Shahid Afridi – Karachi 1998

10 and 6 and 5/52 and 0/49

27 Tests, 1,716 Runs, Average 36.57, Highest Score 156, 48 Wickets at 35.60, Best Bowling 5/52

Afridi was picked as an opening bat for his Test debut and captained Pakistan in one Test in 2010. In his second ever ODI match Afridi hit a then fastest ever century in 39 balls against Sri Lanka.

 

Intikhab Alam – Karachi 1959

0 and 6 and 2/49 and 1/13

47 Tests, 1,493 Runs, Average 22.28, Highest Score 138, 125 Wickets at 35.95, Best Bowling 7/52

Alam was Pakistan’s first ever ODI captain and also captained the Test side in 17 Tests from 1969-1975.

 

Yasir Shah – Dubai 2018

2 and 3/66 and 4/50

48 Tests, 918 Runs, Average 14.12, Highest Score 113, 244 Wickets at 31.38, Best Bowling 8/41

Shah was the second fastest bowler to 100 wickets and fastest to 200 Test wickets.

 

Tauseef Ahmed – Karachi 1980

0 and 4/64 and 3/62

34 Tests, 318 Runs, Average 17.66, Highest Score 35*, 93 Wickets at 31.72, Best Bowling 6/45

Tauseef had only played one Test prior to a net session bowling at the Pakistan tailenders at Karachi 1980. Tauseef impressed and ended up bowling to Javed Miandad and was promptly selected for his Test debut.

 

Bilal Asif – Dubai 2018

12 and 0 and 6/36 and 0/87

5 Tests, 73 Runs, Average 9.12, Highest Score, 16 Wickets at 26.50, Best Bowling 6/36

Asif’s debut bowling figures were 6/36 where Australia was 0/152 after 51 overs and all out for 202 in 83 overs.

 

Twelfth manh Pervez Sajjad – Karachi 1964

3* and 1/52 and 0/17

19 Tests, 123 Runs, Average 13.66, Highest Score 24, 59 Wickets at 23.89, Best Bowling 7/74

One of Pervez brothers is former captain Waqar Hasan.

 

 

 

Other Australians

 

Gavin Stevens – Lahore 1959

9 and 8

4 Tests, 112 Runs, Average 16, Highest Score 28

Stevens was on the 1959-1960 tour of India and Pakistan when he became very ill with hepatitis. Stevens was hospitalised and never played first class cricket again.

 

Graeme Beard – Karachi 1980

9 and 4 and 0/39 and 0/14

3 Tests, 114 Runs, Average 22.80, Highest Score 49, 1 Wicket at 109, Best Bowling 1/26

Beard also toured for the 1981 Ashes as the prototype ‘Funky’ Miller as he was an all-rounder who could bowl medium pace and off spin. He didn’t play a Test though.

 

Phil Emery – Lahore 1994

8* and 5 Catches and 1 Stumping
1 Test, 8 Runs, 5 Catches and 1 Stumping

Emery received a call up for his Test debut due to an injury that forced  Ian Healy to miss the only Test of his career. Emery broke his thumb while batting as nightwatchman but still took five catches. When playing for Australia A against Australia at the MCG Emery was bowled by David Boon.

 

Aaron Finch – Dubai 2018

62 and 49

5 Tests, 278 Runs, Average 27.80, Highest Score 62

Finch captained Australia in 76 one day matches from 2017-2022 including the 2019 World Cup.

 

 

Other Pakistan

 

Duncan Sharpe – Dhaka 1959

56 and 35

3 Tests, 134 Runs, Average 22.33, Highest Score 56

After missing Pakistan’s tour to India in 1960-1961, Sharpe moved to Adelaide where he played Shield cricket for South Australia until 1965.

 

Mohammad Munaf – Lahore 1959

5 and 19 and 2/100 and 2/38

4 Tests, 63 Runs, Average 12.60, Highest Score 189, 11 Wickets at 31, Best Bowling 4/42

 

Munir Malik – Karachi 1959

0 and 2/76 and 1/24

3 Tests, 7 Runs, Average 2.33, Highest Score 4, 9 Wickets at 39.77, Best Bowling 5/128

 

Shafqat Rana – Karachi 1964

0 and 24 and 0/1

5 Tests, 221 Runs, Average 31.57, Highest Score 95, 1 Wicket at 9, Best Bowling 1/2

 

Azhar Khan – Lahore 1980

14 and 0/1 and 1/1

1 Test, 14 Runs, Average 14, 1 Wicket at 2.00

Azhar’s only wicket was Allan Border stumped by Javed Miandad.

 

Azmat Rana – Lahore 1980

49

1 Test, 49 Runs, Average 49

Azmat is the younger brother of Shafqat Rana and Test umpire Shakoor Rana.

 

 

Jalal-ud-Din – Lahore 1982

3/77 and 2/15

6 Tests, 3 Runs, Average 3, Highest Score 2, 11 Wickets at 48.81, Best Bowling 3/77

Jalal-ud-din was the first cricketer to take a hat trick in a ODI match which was against Australia in 1982 where his wickets were Rodney Marsh, Bruce Yardley, and Geoff Lawson.

 

Shakil Ahmed – Karachi 1998

1 and 0/48 and 4/91

1 Test, 1 Run, 4 Wickets at 34.75

 

Umar Amin – Lord’s 2010

1 and 33

4 Tests, 99 Runs, Average 12.37, Highest Score 33, 3 Wickets at 21, Best Bowling 1/7

 

Imran Khan – Dubai 2014

0* and 1/41 and 1/22

10 Tests, 16 Runs, Average 2.28, Highest Score 6, 29 Wickets at  31.62, Best Bowling 5/58

No relation to the former captain and PM Imran Khan.

 

Mir Hamza – Abu Dhabi 2018

4* and 0* and 0/27 and 1/40

7 Tests, 51 Runs, Average 6.37, Highest Score 6.37, 14 Wickets at 45.14, Best Bowling 4/32

 

Gul Mohammad – Karachi 1956

12 and 27

8 Tests (India) and 1 Test (Pakistan)

9 Tests, 205 Runs, Average 12.81, Highest Score 34, 2 Wickets at 12, Best Bowling 2/21

Mohammad played eight Tests for India from 1946-1952 including two Tests against Pakistan.

 

 

 

 

 

To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?

And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Luke Reynolds says

    Has Australia ever had a more successful duo debut together in the same Test than Labuschagne & Head?

    Remember watching Shahid Afridi’s debut on TV, what a talent, sadly underachieved at Test level.

  2. Luke, I don’t know if there’s been a more successful duo of debutants than the pair you just mentioned:. However, there was an usual pairing of debutants in the opening test of the 1928-29 Ashes series.

    Don Bradman debuted, along with Bert Ironmonger, the later being our oldest test debutant aged 46.

    Glen!

  3. Cheers Luke & Glen
    Ones I thought
    Smith & Paine v Pakistan
    Starc, Warner and James Pattison
    Gilchrist & Scott Muller ?

    Love yours Glen great get

  4. The previous comments got me thinking about the most successful Test debutants who debuted in the same Test match.

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t include Australia.

    After conducting further research, according to ESPN cricinfo, these are the most successful Test players who debuted on the same day, where each went on to play at least 75 Tests:

    1) Viv Richards (West Indies) and Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), India v WI, Bengalaru 1974.
    Greenidge scored 93 and 107 in that match, and Richards made an unbeaten 192 in his second Test.

    2) Dilip Vengsarkar (India) and Syed Kirmani (India), NZ v Ind, Auckland 1976.

    3) Sachin Tendulkar (India) and Waqar Younis (Pakistan), Pak v Ind, Karachi 1989
    These were the only opposing players to have made their debut in the same match and played over 75 Tests.Younis dismissed Tendulkar in their debut Test

    4) Alex Stewart (England) and Nasser Hussein (England), WI v Eng, Kingston 1990

    5) Rahul Dravid (India) and Sourav Ganguly (India), Eng v India, Lords 1996
    Ganguly scored centuries in both Tests of the series and Dravid made fifties in both.

    6) AB de Villiers (South Africa) and Dale Steyn (South Africa), Sth Afr v Eng, Port Elizabeth 2004
    De Villiers and Steyn are the only batsman-bowler pair to make their debuts together and then go on to play 75-plus Tests each.

    Here is The Best World Test Team Of Players Debuting Together In The Same Test With Another Player:

    1. Gordon Greenidge (108 Tests West Indies/Test Debut 22 November 1974 v India)
    2. David Warner (112 Tests Australia/Test Debut 27 October 2011 v New Zealand)
    3. Don Bradman (c) (52 Tests Australia/Test Debut 30 November 1928 v England)
    4. Sachin Tendulkar (200 Tests India/Test Debut 15 November 1989 v Pakistan)
    5. Viv Richards (121 Tests West Indies 22 November 1974 v England)
    6. Steve Smith (114 Tests Australia/Test Debut 13 July 2010 v Pakistan)
    7. Tim Paine (wk) (35 Tests Australia/Test Debut 13 July 2010 v Pakistan)
    8. James Pattinson (21 Tests Australia/Test Debut 1 December 2011 v New Zealand)
    9. Mitchell Starc (94 Tests Australia/Test Debut 1 December 2011 v New Zealand)
    10. Waqar Younis (87 Tests Pakistan/Test Debut 15 November 1989 v India)
    11. Bert Ironmonger (14 Tests Australia/Test Debut 30 November 1928 v England)

    Please note that David Warner (27 October 2011) actually made his Test Debut on a different date to Mitchell Starc (1 December 2011) and James Pattinson (1 December 2011).

    However, as it’s near enough and another player was required to make the starting eleven and the fact that Warner’s. a recognised Test opener, he was included.

    Although Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis debuted on the same day for different teams, Waqar Younis was needed to strengthen the bowling for this team.

    This side was also selected for team balance in the batting, wicket keeping and bowling.

    This team can play a pretend exhibition match against the Best Team of Australian Test players who made their Debuts at all the grounds in Australia.

    The match will be played at Lords.

    The umpires will be Jack Gillott and Sam McDonald, who both debuted in the same Test match, when they both umpired in the first Test match played at the WACA Ground in 1958. This was a Women’s Test match between Australia and England.

    Entertainment will be provided by the song “C’Mon Aussie C’Mon”.

    Let’s hope for a good game of cricket, where this type of match will debut!

  5. Hello Anon
    Cricinfo has Warner Starc and Pattison debut in same list.
    Do like your list of same trst debuts.

    The Pakistanis I have in this team made great debuts together
    Kabir & Ibadalla as opening batsman sharing 240 opening partnership.
    Majid Khan & Asif Iqbal as opening bowlers in same test.

Leave a Comment

*