Almanac Teams: Debutants at the MCG

 

 

For the upcoming Test series, I am basing a Test XI on players that made their Test debut at the ground.

One team of Australians and one team of visitors

Then after the Test series at some stage I will look at teams based in overseas countries.

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

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

I looked forward to all correspondence.

This team is based on the MCG.

 

 

Highlights of the teams are.

• There are 90 Australians and 69 visitors to debut at Melbourne.
• Three Australians scored 100+ on debut.
• Ten Australians took five wickets and one visitor did.
• 33 Victorians have debuted at the MCG including six in the inaugural test in 1877. Those Victorians are Jack Blackham, Bransby Cooper, John Hodges, Tom Horan, Tom Kendall, Billy Midwinter, Thomas Kelly, Billy Murdoch, Frank Allan, Harry Boyle, William Cooper, William Bruce, Samuel Morris, Harry Musgrove, Digger Robertson, Billy Trumble, Jack Worrall, Patrick McShane, Bob McLeod, Warwick Armstrong, Roy Park, Albert Hartkopf, Ted a’Beckett, Laurie Nash, Leo O’Brien, Sam Loxton, Doug Ring, Len Maddocks, Ian Redpath, Max Walker, Dav Whatmore, Tony Dodemaide and Scott Boland

 

 

Australia XI

Charles Bannerman

Ian Redpath

George Giffen

Allan Border (VC)

Steve Waugh

Warwick Armstrong (C)

Monty Noble

Jack Blackham

Tony Dodemaide

Brett Lee

Scott Boland

 

Twelfth Man Herbert Ranji Hordern

 

 

 

Others are listed below but the ones that were unlucky to miss out on the starting XI based on their Test debuts and careers are Ian Chappell, William Cooper, Ian Craig, Reggie Duff, David Hookes, Tom Horan, Tom Kendall, Sam Loxton, Greg Matthews, Billy Midwinter, Billy Murdoch, Fred Spofforth, Jeff Thomson, Max Walker and Tim Wall.

 

 

Visiting XI

Jack Hobbs – England

Roy Fredericks – West Indies

Shubman Gill – India

Arthur Shrewsbury – England

John Morrison – New Zealand

Jeff Dujon – West Indies

George Ulyett – England

Billy Bates – England

Alfred Shaw – England

Fanie de Villiers – South Africa

Mohammad Siraj – India

Twelfth Man KL Rahul – India

 

 

 

Australia XI

Charles Bannerman v England 15 March 1877

165* and 4

3 Tests, 239 Runs, Average 59.75, Highest Score 165*

Bannerman is Australia Test Cricket player Number 1 and on debut he opened the batting making 165 retired hurt with a broken finger in a score of 245 where the next best score was 18. Bannerman would go on and umpire 12 Tests.

 

Ian Redpath v South Africa 1964

97 and 25

66 Tests, 4,737 Runs, Average 43.45, Highest Score 171

Redpath was the last Australian cricketer to play as an amateur. He declined his match fee so it would not threaten his amateur playing status in his Aussie Rules career in the VAFA.

 

George Giffen v England 1881

30 and 0/12

31 Tests, 1,238 Runs, Average 23.35, Highest Score 161, 103 Wickets at 27.09, Best Bowling 7/117

Giffen bowled slow medium pace/off spin and was the first cricketer to score 1000 Test runs and take 100 Test wickets. Giffen at times opened the batting and bowling and would generally keep bowling from one end for the whole innings. Legend has it that in one match when bowling and the opposition were dominating the vice-captain went to Giffen who was captain and said we may need a change, which Giffen replied with “Good idea, I will change ends”.

 

Allan Border v England 1978

29 and 0 and 0/14

156 Tests, 11,174 Runs, Average 50.56, Highest Score 205, 39 Wickets at 39.10, Best Bowling 7/46

Border with 93 tests has captained Australia the most times and second overall behind South Africa’s Graeme Smith. Border is the only Test cricketer to make 150 in each innings of a Test, making 150* and 153 in Pakistan in 1980.

 

Steve Waugh v India 1985

13 and 5 and 2/36

168 Tests, 10,927 Runs, Average 51.06, Highest Score 200, 92 Wickets at 37.44, Best Bowling 5/28

Waugh along with Border are two of my all-time favourite cricketers. Waugh had one of the most unusual 99* where he was left stranded after his twin brother Mark was run out acting out as the runner for an injured Craig McDermott.

 

 

 

Warwick Armstrong v England Janaury 1902

4* and 45* and 0/3

50 Tests, 2,683 Runs, Average 38.68, Highest Score 159*, 87 Wickets at 33.59, Best Bowling 6/35

Armstrong played 16 games for South Melbourne. Armstrong was a successful captain from 1920-1921 with the 1920 Ashes side known as one of Australia’s best ever teams. Armstrong had the great nickname “The Big Ship”.

 

Monty Noble v England 1898

17 and 1/31 and 6/49

42 Tests, 1,997 Runs, Average 30.25, Highest Score 133, 121 Wickets at 25, Best Bowling 7/17

Noble captained Australia 15 times in three stints 1903/04, 1907/08 and 1909. Noble is in the ICC Hall of Fame.

 

Jack Blackham v England 15 March 1877

17 and 6 and 3 catches 1 stumping

35 Tests, 800 Runs, Average 15.68, Highest Score 74, 37 Catches and 24 Stumpings

Blackham was selected in the first Test ahead of Mudoch as wicketkeeper. Blackham would captain Australia 8 times 1884-1885 and 1891-1895.

 

Tony Dodemaide v New Zealand 1987

50 and 3 and 1/48 and 6/58

10 Tests, 202 Runs, Average 22.44, Highest Score 50, 34 Wickets at 28.02, Best Bowling 6/58

Dodemaide was a late call up for his Test debut for Merv Hughes on the morning of the match, having been placed on standby. Dodemaide also got 5 wickets in his ODI debut.

 

Brett Lee v India 1999

27 and 5/47 and 2/31

76 Tests, 1,451 Runs, Average 20.15, Highest Score 64, 310 Wickets at 30.81, Best Bowling 5/30

Lee was the first player to get a hat-trick in a T20 match. Lee is also the first Australian cricketer to have a Number 1 hit song in India.

 

Scott Boland v England 2021

6 and 1/48 and 6/7

11 Tests, 47 Runs, Average 5.87, Highest Score 20, 40 Wickets at 20.42, Best Bowling 6/7

Boland is only the second Indigenous Test player for Australia and on debut he won the Johnny Mullagh medal for man of the match.

 

 

Twelfth Man Herbert Ranji Hordern v South Africa 1911

7 and 24 and 3/39 and 5/66

7 Tests, 254 Runs, Average 23.09, Highest Score 50, 46 Wickets at 23.36, Best Bowling 7/90

Hordern was a doctor who did miss several games for Australia and NSW to prioritise his medical career.

 

 

Others

Bransby Cooper v England 15 March 1877

15 and 3

1 Test, 18 Runs, Average 9, Highest Score 15

Was a Member of Australia’s first ever Test XI

 

Tom Garrett v England 15 March 1877

18no and 0 and 2/22

19 Tests, 339 Runs, Average 12.55, Highest Score 51*, 36 Wickets at 26.94, Best Bowling 6/78

Was a Member of Australia first ever Test XI. His great grandson is Peter Garrett.

 

Dave Gregory v England 15 March 1877

1 and 3

3 Tests, 60 Runs, Average 20, Highest Score 43

Gregory was Australia’s first ever Test captain, for three Tests. His brother is Ned.

 

Ned Gregory v England 15 March 1877

0 and 11

1 Test, 11 Runs, Average 5.50, Highest Score 11

Was a member of Australia first ever Test XI, and is brother of Dave and father of Syd Gregory who played 58 Tests from 1890 to 1912.

 

John Hodges v England 15 March 1877

0 and 8 and 1/27

2 Tests, 10 Runs, Average 3.33, Highest Score 8, 6 wickets at 14, Best Bowling 2/7

Was a member of Australia first ever Test XI

 

Tom Horan v England 15 March 1877

12 and 20

15 Tests, 471 Runs, Average 18.84, Highest Score 124, 11 Wickets at 13, Best Bowling 6/40

Was a member of Australia first ever Test XI, Horan is one of two Australian cricketers born in Ireland. Horan captained Australia in 1884 when the rest of the Australian Test team went on strike on after not getting a pay raise. Horan was captain with nine debutants in the side.

 

Tom Kendall v England 15 March 1877

3 and 17* and 1/54 and 7/55

2 Tests, 39 Runs, Average 13, Highest Score 17*, 14 Wickets at 15.35, Best Bowling 7/55

Was a member of Australia first ever Test XI

 

Billy Midwinter v England 15 March 1877

5 and 17 and 5/78

8 Tests Australia, 4 for England

12 Tests, 269 Runs, Average 13.45, Highest Score 37, 24 Wickets at 25.20, Best Bowling 5/78

Midwinter played two Tests for Australia against England in 1877 then four Tests for England against Australia in Australia 1881-1882 and then six Tests for Australia against England from 1883-1887. Midwinter played in England with DR WG Grace Gloucestershire club, he was included in the Australia team to tour England in 1878 when he was walking onto the Lords Oval with the Australian team he was virtually kidnapped by Dr Grace and taken to the Oval to play for Gloucestershire and then selected by England team to tour Australia in 1881 before staying in Australia and playing against England in 1883 and tour England in 1884.

 

Nat Thomson v England 15 March 1877

1 and 7 and 1/14

2 Tests, 67 Runs, Average 16.75, Highest Score 41, 1 Wicket at 31, Best Bowler 1/14

Was a member of Australia first ever Test XI and was Australia oldest cricketer in the first test at aged 37.

 

Thomas Kelly v England 31 March 1877

19 and 35

2 Tests, 64 Runs, Average 21.33, Highest Score 35

 

Billy Murdoch v England 31 March 1877

3 and 8

18 Tests for Australia, 1 Test for England

19 Tests, 908 Runs, Average 31.31, Highest Score 211, 14 Catches, 1 Stumping

Australia second ever Test captain from 1880-1890, Murdoch was a wicketkeeper for NSW who was not picked in the first Test and with that Fred Spofforth pulled out as he wanted Murdoch as keeper. Murdoch was selected for the second Test as a specialist batsman only. After Australia tour of England in 1890 he stayed in England to captain Sussex and represented England in 1892 tour of South Africa.

 

Fred Spofforth v England 31 March 1877

0 and 17 and 3/67 and 1/44

18 Tests, 217 Runs, Average 9.43, Highest Score 50, 94 Wickets at 18.41, Best Bowling 7/44

Australia’s first ever fast bowler Spofforth had the nickname “The Demon.” Spofforth missed the first ever Test due to his unhappiness at the choice of wicketkeeper. Spofforth was an inaugural inductee into Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 1996.

 

Frank Allan v England 1879

5 and 2/30 and 2/50

1 Test, 5 Runs, 4 Wickets at 20

Allan was picked for Australia first ever Text XI but pulled out so he could attend an agricultural show Warrnambool.

 

Alick Bannerman v England 1879

73

28 Tests, 1108 Runs, Average 23.08, Highest Score 94, 4 Wickets at 40.75, Best Bowling 3/111

Younger brother of Charles

 

Harry Boyle v England 1879

28 and 1/11and 1/16

12 Tests, 153 Runs, Average 12.75, Highest Score 36no, 32 Wickets at 20.03, Best Bowling 6/42

Boyle was elected captain for 1880 tour of England but was disposed of as captain onboard the ship for Billy Murdoch.

 

William Cooper v England 1881

7 and 3/80 and 6/120

2 Tests, 13 Runs, Average 6.50, Highest Score 7, 9 Wickets at 25.11, Best Bowling 6/120

Cooper’s great grandson is former Australian cricketer Paul Sheahan

 

Edwin Evans v England 1881

3 and 3/81 and 0/63

6 Tests, 82 Runs, Average 10.25, Highest Score 33, 7 Wickets at 47.42, Best Bowling 3/64

Evans was married twice and had 16 children.

 

Hugh Massie v England 1881

2

9 Tests, 249 Runs , Average 15.56, Highest Score 55

 

William Bruce v England  January 1885

3* and 45 and 3/88 and 0/4

14 Tests, 702 Runs, Average 29.25, Highest Score 80, 12 Wickets at 36.66, Best Bowling 3/88

Bruce was one of nine Test debutants in 1885 when Australian Test team went on strike. The nine debutants were Bruce, Jarvis, Marr, Morris, Musgrove, Pope, Robertson, Trumble and Worrall.

 

Affie Jarvis v England January 1885

82 and 10 and 0 catches

11 Tests, 303 Runs, Average 16.83, Highest Score 82, 9 Catches and 9 Stumpings

 

Alfred Marr v England January 1885

0 and 5 and 0/3

1 Test 5 Runs, Average 2.50

 

Samuel Morris v England January 1885

4 and 10*

1 Test, 14 Runs, Average 14

Morris was the first Black man to play Test cricket having been of West Indian heritage. Morris was also the first Tasmanian born player to play Test cricket.

 

Harry Musgrove v England January 1885

4 and 9

1 Test, 13 Runs, Average 6.50

 

Roland Pope v England January 1885

0 and 3

1 Test, 3 Runs, Average 1.50

 

Digger Robertson v England January 1885

0 and 2 and 0/24

1 Test, 2 Runs, Average 1

 

John “Billy” Trumble v England January 1885

71 and 11 and 0/41

7 Tests, 243 Runs, Average 20.25, Highest Score 59, 10 Wickets, Average 22.20, Best Bowling 3/29

John is the older brother of former captain Hugh Trumble.

 

Jack Worrall v England January 1885

34 and 6 and 1/97

11 Tests, 478 Runs, Average 25.15, Highest Score 76, 1 Wicket, Average 127, Best Bowling 1/97

Worrall played 90 games for Fitzroy in the VFA and coached Carlton in the VFL to three premierships and Essendon to two premierships.

 

George McShane v England March 1885

9 and 12*  and 0/3

3 Tests, 26 Runs, Average 5.20, Highest Score 12*, 1 Wicket, Average 48, Best Bowling 1/39

McShane was a Test match umpire before he had played a Test. This happened as he was selected to be twelfth man in the fourth Test in Sydney but after several umpires were rejected or declined, he was asked to umpire. The following test McShane would debut for Australia.

 

Frank Walters v England March 1885

7 and 5

1 Test, 12 Runs, Average 6

Sydney Callaway v England 1892

21 and 13* and 0/39 and 1/7

3 Tests, 87 Runs, Average 17.40, Highest Score 41, 6 Wickets, Average 23.66, Best Bowling 5/37

 

Harry Donnan v England 1892

9 and 2

5 Tests, 75 Runs, Average 8.33, Highest Score 15, 0 Wickets

Donnan scored the first century in the Sheffield Shield in 1892-1893.

 

Bob McLeod v England 1892

14 and 31 and 5/53 and 1/39

6 Tests, 146 Runs, Average 13.27, Highest Score 31, 12 Wickets at 31.83, Best Bowling 5/53

Younger brother Charlie also played for Australia.

 

Arthur Coningham v England 1894

10 and 3 and 2/17 and 0/59

1 Tests, 13 Runs, Average 6.50, 2 Wickets, Average 38

 

Tom McKibbon v England 1895

23 and 13 and 1/73 and 1/47

5 Tests, 88 Runs, Average 14.66, Highest Score 28*, 17 Wickets, Average 29.17, Best Bowling 3/35

 

Reggie Duff v England January 1902

32 and 104*

22 Tests, 1317 Runs, Average 35.59, Highest Score 146, 4 Wickets at 21.25 , Best Bowling 2/43

Duff and Armstrong on debut batted Number 10 and 11 in second innings (probably due to a sticky pitch) put on 120 for 10th wicket. Duff in his 40 test innings never scored a duck, the second most after Jim Burke with 44.

 

Joe “Ike” Travers v England February 1902

9 and 1 and 1/14

1 Test 10 runs, 1 Wicket

 

Algy Gehrs v England 1904

3 and 5

6 Tests, 221 Runs, Average 20.09, Highest Score 67

Gehrs finished third in 1904 Stawell Gift.

 

Roy Park v England 1920

0 and 0/9

1 Test, 0 Runs, 0 Wickets

Park was bowled first ball by fellow debutant Harry Howell. Park son in law is Ian Johnson. Hartkopf played 57 games for University and Melbourne.

 

Albert Hartkopf v England 1925

80 and 0 and 1/120 and 0/14

1 Test 80 Runs, Average 40, 1 Wicket at 134

Hartkopf played 48 games for University in the VFL.

 

Ted A’Beckett v England 1928

41 and 6 and 1/92 and 0/39

4 Tests, 143 Runs, Average 20.42, Highest Score 41, 3 Wickets at 105.66, Best Bowling 1/41

 

Ron Oxenham v England 1928

16 and 39 and 0/67 and 1/44

7 Tests, 151 Runs, Average 15.10, Highest Score 48, 14 Wickets, Average 37.28, Best Bowling 4/39

 

Alan Fairfax v England 1929

65 and 1/84 and 1/20

10 Tests, 410 Runs, Average 51.25, Highest Score 65, 21 Wickets at 30.71, Best Bowling 4/31

Fairfax moved to England in 1931 to play professionally.

 

Percy Hornibrook v England 1929

26 and 18 and 3/142 and 1/51

6 Tests, 60 Runs, Average 10, Highest Score 26, 17 Wickets at 39.05, Best Bowling 7/92

 

Tim Wall v England 1929

9 and 3/123 and 5/68

18 Tests, 121 Runs, Average 6.36, Highest Score 20, 56 Wickets at 35.89, Best Bowling 5/14

Wall has the best figures in Sheffield Shield cricket with 10/36 for South Australia against NSW in 1933.

 

Jack Fingleton v South Africa 1932

40

18 Tests, 1189 Runs, Average 42.46, Highest Score 136

Fingleton was the first player to score centuries in four consecutive Test matches in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, and Brisbane.

 

Laurie Nash v South Africa 1932

13 and 4/18 and 1/5

2 Tests, 30 Runs , Average 15, Highest Score 17, 10 Wickets at 12.60, Best Bowling 4/18

Nash was a quick bowler who struggled with officialdom and despite calls for his selection during Bodyline he was not selected as Australia’s view was that type of bowling was unsportsmanlike. Nash was a champion footballer for South Melbourne playing 99 games for 246 goals and is a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Nash has said that the greatest footballer he ever saw was the one he saw in the mirror every time he shaved.

 

Leo O’Brien v England 1932

10 and 11

5 Tests, 211 Runs, Average 26.37, Highest Score 61

 

Bruce Dooland v England 1947

19 and 1 and 4/69 and 1/84

3 Tests, 76 Runs, Average 19, Highest Score 29, 9 Wickets at 46.55, Best Bowling 4/69

Dooland taught Richie Benaud how to bowl the flipper.

 

Len Johnson v India 1948

25* and 3/66 and 3/8

1 Test, 25 Runs, 6 Wickets at 12.33, Best Bowling 3/8

 

Sam Loxton v India 1948

80 and 2/61 and 1/10

12 Tests, 554 Runs, Average 36.93, Highest Score 101, 8 Wickets at 43.62, Best Bowling 3/55

Loxton played 41 Games for St Kilda from 1942-1946 including playing with Keith Miller. Loxton was St Kilda leading goalkicker in 1944 with 52. Post cricket Loxton was a member of parliament in Victoria from 1955-1979

 

Doug Ring v India 1948

11 and 3/103 and 3/17

13 Tests, 426 Runs, Average 22.42, Highest Score 67, 35 Wickets at 37.28, Best Bowling 6/72

Ring was the cricket commentator for many years on World of Sport.

 

Ken Archer v England 1950

26 and 46

5 Tests, 234 Runs, Average 26, Highest Score 48

Ken is five years older than Ron.

 

Graeme Hole v England 1951

18 and 63 and 1/10 and 0/3

18 Tests, 789 Runs, Average 25.45, Highest Score 66, 3 Wickets at 42, Best Bowling 1/9

 

Ron Archer v South Africa 1953

18 and 0 and 1/97 and 0/23

19 Tests, 713 Runs, Average 24.58, Highest Score 128, 48 Wickets at 27.45, Best Bowling 5/53

Ron is younger brother of Ken by five years.

 

Ian Craig v South Africa 1953

53 and 47

11 Tests, 358 Runs, Average 19.88, Highest Score 53

Craig made his first class debut at 16 and is Australia youngest ever Test player aged 17 and 239 days. Craig was appointed Test captain at age 22 and 194 days and after only six Tests ahead of Neil Harvey and Richie Benaud. Craig captained for just five Tests in South Africa 1957-1958. Illness ruled him out for the next summer and eventually retired aged 26.

 

Len Maddocks v England 1954

47 and 0 and 3 catches

7 Tests, 177 Runs, Average 17.70, Highest Score 69, 19 Catches and 1 Stumping

Maddocks was the team manager for Australia 1977 Ashes tour.

 

Johnny Martin v West Indies 1960

55 and 0/32 and 3/56

8 Tests, 214 Runs, Average 17.83, Highest Score 55, 17 Wickets at 48.94, Best Bowling 3/56

 

Frank Misson v West Indies 1960

0* and 2/36 and 0/36

5 Tests, 38 Runs, Average 19, Highest Score 25no, 16 Wickets at 38.50, Best Bowling 4/58

Frank’s son David was fitness advisor for Australia Cricket Team and has worked for several AFL teams and is now at St Kilda.

 

Ian Chappell v Pakistan 1964

11 and 0/49 and 0/31

75 Tests, 5345 Runs, Average 42.42, Highest Score 196, 20 Wickets at 65.80, Highest Score 2/21

Chappell is the Grandson of former captain Victor Richardson and at the Adelaide Oval there is grandstand named after him and his brother Greg and there are also the Victor Richardson gates.

 

David Sincock v Pakistan 1964

7 and 3/67 and 1/102

3 Tests, 80 Runs, Average 26.66, Highest Score 29, 8 Wickets at 51.25, Best Bowling 3/67

 

Ross Duncan v England 1971

3 and 0/30

1 Test, 3 Runs, 0 Wickets

Duncan injured his heel and only bowled 14 overs. He was replaced by Dennis Lillee for next Test. He did play one Test against the World XI in 1972 getting one wicket in Tony Greig.

 

Kerry O’Keefe v England 1971

27 and 0/71 and 0/45

24 Tests, 644 Runs, Average 25.76, Highest Score 85, 53 Wickets at 38.07, Best Bowling 5/101

With McCosker injured from a broken jaw in the centenary test, O’Keefe was the makeshift opening batter in the second innings.

 

Jeff Thomson v Pakistan 1972

19* and 0/100 and 0/10

51 Tests, 679 Runs, Average 12.81, Highest Score 49, 200 Wickets at 28, Best Bowling 6/46

Thomson had made his Test debut with a broken bone in his foot. Thomson second Test was 23 months later, and he had immediate impact in that 1974-1975 series against England taking 33 wickets in five Tests.

 

Max Walker v Pakistan 1972

11 and 2/112 and 3/39

34 Tests, 586 Runs, Average 19.53, Highest Score 78*, 138 Wickets at 27/47, Best Bowling 8/143

Walker played 85 games for Melbourne from 1967-1972. Walker’s best bowling of 8/143 was same of 1974-1975 in the sixth Test where Thomson missed injured, and Lillee only bowled six overs due to injury.

 

Ian Davis v New Zealand 1973

15

15 Tests, 692 Runs, Average 26.61, Highest Score 105

 

Gary Gilmour v New Zealand 1973

52 and 4/75 and 0/16

15 Tests, 483 Runs, Average 23, Highest Score 101, 54 Wickets at 26.03, Best Bowling 6/85

Gilmour is best remembered for his performance in 1975 World Cup where he got 6/14 in the semifinal against England and then 5/48 in the losing final to the West Indies.

 

Gary Cosier v West Indies 1975

109 and 0/15

18 Tests, 897 Runs, Average 28.93, Highest Score 168, 5 Wickets at 68.20, Best Bowling 2/26

Cosier was vice captain to Graham Yallop during World Series Cricket.

 

David Hookes v England 1977

17 and 56

23 Tests, 1,306 Runs, Average 34.36, Highest Score 143*, 1 Wicket at 41, Best Bowling 1/4

Hookes debut in the centenary Test and is best remembered for hitting Tony Greig for five fours in the one over. Hooked scored a century against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield in 43 minutes and 34 balls.

 

Peter Sleep v Pakistan 1979

10 and 0 and 1/16 and 1/62

14 Tests, 483 Runs, Average 24.15, Highest Score 90, 31 Wickets at 45.06, Best Bowling 5/72

 

Dav Whatmore v Pakistan 1979

43 and 15

7 Tests, 293 Runs, Average 22.53, Highest Score 77

Whatmore has been a successful cricket coach, being Sri Lanka coach when they won the 1996 World Cup.

 

John Maguire v Pakistan 1983

4 and 3/111 and 0/26

3 Tests, 28 Runs, Average 7, Highest Score 15no, 10 Wickets at 32.20, Best Bowling 4/57

Maguire was a member of rebel South Africa tour in 1985.

 

Greg Matthews v Pakistan 1983

75 and 2/95 and 2/48

33 Tests, 1,849 Runs, Average 41.08, Highest Score 130, 61 Wickets at 48.22, Best Bowling 5/103

Matthews claimed the last wicket Maninder Singh in the tied Test in Chennai 1986 where he took 5/103 and 5/146.

 

Murray Bennett v West Indies 1984

22* and 3* and 0/78 and 0/12

3 Tests, 71 Runs, Average 23.66, Highest Score 23, 6 Wickets at 54.16, Best Bowling 3/79

 

Craig McDermott v West Indies 1984

0 and 3/118 and 3/65

71 Tests, 940 Runs, Average 12.20, Highest Score 42*, 291 Wickets at 28.63, Best Bowling 8/97

McDermott was 19 when he debut and claimed Viv Richards out for second ball in the second innings. McDermott claimed six wickets for the Test.

 

Matthew Nicholson v England 1998

5 and 9 and 1/59 and 3/56

1 Test, 14 Runs, Average 7, 4 Wickets at 28.75

 

Martin Love v England 2002

62* and 6*

5 Tests, 233 Runs, Average 46.60, Highest Score 100*

Love came in for an injured Damien Martyn and his safe hands saw him in first slip take four catches.

 

Phil Jacques v South Africa 2005

2 and 28

11 Tests, 902 Runs, Average 47.47, Highest Score 150

 

Ed Cowan v India 2011

68 and 8

18 Tests, 1,001 Runs, Average 31.28, Highest Score 136

 

Jackson Bird v Sri Lanka 2012

0 and 2/32 and 2/29

9 Tests, 43 Runs, Average 14.33, Highest Score 19no, 34 Wickets at 30.64, Best Bowling 5/59

 

Joe Burns v India 2014

13 and 9

23 Tests, 1442 Runs, Average 36.97, Highest Score 180

Burns joined the Italy cricket team as he was eligible through his mother and was appointed captain in December 2024.

 

 

Visiting XI

 

 

Jack Hobbs – England 1908

83 and 28

61 Tests, 5,410 Runs, Average 56.94, Highest Score 211, 1 Wicket at 165, Best Bowling 1/19

Hobbs was selected as one of Wisden five cricketers of the century. Hobbs played for Surrey from 1905-1934 retiring aged 52 playing 854 first class matches for 61,760 runs at average of 50 and scoring 199 hundreds.

 

Roy Fredericks – West Indies 1968

76 and 47

59 Tests, 4,334 Runs, Average 42.49, Highest Score 169, 7 Wickets at 78.28, Best Bowling 1/12

Fredericks was a member of 1975 World Cup victory.

 

Shubman Gill – India 2020

45 and 35*

31 Test, 1,860 Runs, Average 35.76, Highest Score 128

Gill in 38 matches is the fastest to 2,000 ODI runs.

 

Arthur Shrewsbury – England 1881

11 and 16

23 Runs, 1,277 Runs, Average 35.47, Highest Score 164

Shrewsbury was the first cricketer to reach 1,000 Test runs. Shrewsbury toured Australia on a lesser known tour in 1888 where the British played a series of Aussie Rules matches in Victoria and SA and rugby in the northern states.

 

John Morrison – New Zealand 1973

44 and 16

17 Tests, 656 Runs, Average 22.82, Highest Score 117, 2 Wickets at 35.50, Best Bowling 2/52

Morrison two wickets were in his 16th Test getting Allan Border and Dennis Lillee out.

 

Jeff Dujon – West Indies 1981

41 and 43

81 Tests, 3,322 Runs, Average 31.94, Highest Score 139, 267 Catches and 5 Stumpings

Dujon played as a specialist bat in his first two Tests with David Murray selected as keeper. Dujon was Lillee 309th test wicket one shy away from Lance Gibbs’ record of 310.

 

Billy Bates – England 1881

58 and 47 and 2/43 and 2/43

15 Tests, 656 Runs, Average 27.33, Highest Score 64, 50 Wickets at 16.42, Best Bowling 7/28

At the MCG in 1883 Bates got a Hatrick with the wickets Percy McDonnell, George Giffen and George Bonnor. Bates bowled in the first innings 26 overs 7/28 and then got 7/74 in the second innings.

 

George Ulyett – England 1877

10 and 24 and 0/36 and 3/39

25 Tests, 949 Runs, Average 24.33, Highest Score 149, 50 Wickets at 20.40, Best Bowling 7/36

Ulyett was a member of England first ever Test team and on three occasions opened the batting and bowling in the same test.

 

Alfred Shaw – England 1877

10 and 2 and 3/34 and 5/38

7 Tests, 111 Runs, Average 10.09, Highest Score 40, 12 Wickets at 23.75, Best Bowling 5/38

Shaw bowled the first over ever in Test cricket. Shaw was the first Englishman to take five wickets in an innings in the very first ever test in 1877.

 

Fanie de Villiers – South Africa 1993

1/83

18 Tests, 359 Runs, Average 18.89, Highest Score 67*, 85 Wickets at 24.27, Best Bowling 6/23

Rain affected De Villiers Test debut, however in his second Test in Sydney he bowled South Africa to victory taking 6/43 after taking 4/80 in the first innings.

 

Mohammad Siraj – India 2020

0* and 2/40 and 3/37

34 Tests, 120 Runs, Average 4.80, Highest Score 16*, 93 Wickets at 29.69, Best Bowling 6/15

Siraj bowled India to victory at the Gabba in his third Test taking 5/73 in the second innings.

 

Twelfth Man KL Rahul – India 2014

3 and 1

56 Tests, 3,216 Runs, Average 34.58, Highest Score 199, 69 Catches

Rahul scored a 110 in his second Test at Sydney and has filled in, when necessary, as wicketkeeper.

 

 

Others

 

Tom Armitage – England 1877

9 and 3 and 0/15

2 Tests, 33 Runs, Average 11, Highest Score 21, 0 Wickets

Armitage played in England’s first ever Test and is listed as player number one for England.

 

Henry Charlwood – England 1877

36 and 13

2 Tests, 63 Runs, Average 15.75, Highest Score 36

Charlwood was a member of England’s first ever Test side.

 

Tom Emmett – England 1877

8 and 9 and 0/13

7 Tests, 160 Runs, Average 13.33, Highest Score 48, 9 Wickets at 31.55, Best Bowling 7/68

Emmett was a member of England’s first ever Test side.

 

Andrew Greenwood – England 1877

1 and 5

2 Tests, 77 Runs, Average 19.25, Highest Score 49

Greenwood was a member of England’s first ever Test side.

 

Allen Hill – England 1877

35* and 0 and 1/42 and 1/18

2 Tests, 101 Runs, Average 50.50, Highest Score 49, 7 Wickets at 18.57, Best Bowling 4/27

Hill played in the first ever Test and gets the first ever wicket in Test cricket.

 

Harry Jupp – England 1877

63 and 4

2 Tests, 68 Runs, Average 17, Highest Score 63

Jupp played in the first ever Test as an opening bat and made England’s first ever Test fifty.

 

James Lillywhite Jnr – England 1877

10 and 4 and 1/19 and 1/1

2 Tests, 16 Runs, Average 8, Highest Score 10, 8 Wickets at 15.75, Best Bowling 4/70

Lilywhite was England’s first ever Test captain.

 

John Selby – England 1877

7 and 38 and 1 catch.

6 Tests, 256 Runs, Average 23.27, Highest Score 70, 1 Catch

Selby played in England’s first ever Test and as England’s first ever wicketkeeper.

 

James Southerton – England 1877

6 and 1* and 3/61

2 Tests, 7 Runs, Average 3.50, Highest Score 6, 7 Wickets at 15.28, Best Bowling 4/46

Southerton played in England’s first Test and was England’s oldest player aged 49 but would pass away aged 52.

 

Charlie Absolom – England 1879

52 and 6

1 Test, 58 Runs, Average 29

Absolom batted at Number 9 on debut and came in at 7/26 after Spofforth took a hat trick.

 

Lord George Harris – England 1879

33 and 36 and 0/14

4 Tests, 145 Runs, Average 29, Highest Score 52, 0 Wickets

Lord Harris was England’s second ever Test captain.

 

Leland Hone – England 1879

7 and 6 and 2 catches

1 Test, 13 Runs, Average 6.50, Highest Score 7, 2 Catches

 

Albert Monkey Hornby – England 1879

2 and 4 and 1/0 (from 7 overs)

3 Tests, 21 Runs, Average 3.50, Highest Score 9, 1 Wicket at 0, Best Bowling 1/0

Hornby captained England in cricket and rugby and played football for Blackburn. Hornby was captained when the start of the Ashes name between matches.

 

Alfred Bunny Lucas – England 1879

6 and 13 and 0/31

5 Tests, 157 Runs, Average 19.62, Highest Score 55, zero Wickets

 

Francis MacKinnon – England 1879

0 and 5

1 Test 5 Runs, Average 2.50

 

Rev Vernon Royle – England 1879

3 and 18 and 0/6

1 Test, 21 Runs, Average 10.50, zero Wickets

 

Sandford Schultz – England 1879

0* and 20 and 1/16 and 0/10

1 Test, 20 Runs, Average 20, 1 Wicket at 26

 

Alexander Webbe – England 1879

4 and 0

1 Test, 4 Runs, Average 2

 

Dick Barlow – England 1881

0 and 33 and 0/22

17 Tests, 591 Runs, Average 22.73, Highest Score 62, 34 Wickets at 22.55, Best Bowling 7/40

 

Billy Midwinter – England 1881

36 and 4 and 2/50

8 Tests Australia, 4 for England

12 Tests, 269 Runs, Average 13.45, Highest Score 37, 24 Wickets at 25.20, Best Bowling 5/78

Midwinter played two Tests for Australia against England in 1877 then two Tests for England against Australia in Australia 1881-1882 and then six Tests for Australia against England from 1883-1887. Midwinter played in England with DR WG Grace Gloucestershire club, he was included in the Australia team to tour England in 1878 when he was walking onto the Lords Oval  with the Australian team he was virtually kidnapped by Dr Grace and taken to the Oval to play for Gloucestershire and then selected by England team to tour Australia in 1881 before staying in Australia and playing against England in 1883 and tour England in 1884.

 

Ted Peate – England 1881

4* and 2 and 1/64 and 0/22

9 Tests, 70 Runs, Average 11.66, Highest Score 13, 31 Wickets at 22.03, Best Bowling 6/85

 

Dick Pilling – England 1881

5 and 3 and 3 stumpings

8 Tests, 91 Runs, Average 7.58, Highest Score 23, 10 Catches and 4 Stumpings

 

William Scotton – England 1881

21 and 50*

15 Tests, 510 Runs, Average 22.17, Highest Score 90

 

Ivo Bligh – England 1882

0 and 3

4 Tests, 62 Runs, Average 10.33, Highest Score 19

Bligh was England captain that first regained the official Ashes in the terracotta urn in 1882-1883.

 

Charles Leslie – England 1882

4 and 4 and 3/31

4 Tests, 106 Runs, Average 15.14, Highest Score 54, 4 Wickets at 11, Best Bowling 3/31

Leslie great grandson is former England ODI cricketer Matthew Fleming.

 

Walter Read – England 1882

19 and 29 and 0/27

18 Tests, 720 Runs, Average 27.69, Highest Score 117, 0 Wickets

Read was the first Number 10 to make a Test hundred in 1884. Read would captain England for two Tests.

 

George Studd – England 1882

7 and 0

4 Tests, 31 Runs, Average 4.42, Highest Score 9

George brother Charles played five Tests for England.

 

Edward Tylecote – England 1882

33 and 38 and 3 stumpings

6 Tests, 152 Runs, Average 19, Highest Score 66

 

George Vernon – England 1882

11* and 3

1 Test, 14 Runs, Average 14

 

George Bean – England 1892

50 and 3

3 Tests, 92 Runs, Average 18.40, Highest Score 50

 

Arthur Fielder – England 1904

1 and 4

6 Tests, 78 Runs, Average 11.14, Highest Score 20, 26 Wickets at 27.34, Best Bowling 6/82

 

Albert Knight – England 1904

2 and 0

3 Tests, 81 Runs, Average 16.20, Highest Score 70*

 

Joe Humphries – England 1908

6 and 16 and 2 catches

3 Tests, 44 Runs, Average 8.80, Highest Score 16, 7 catches

 

Bill Hitch – England 1911

0* and 1/37 and 0/21

7 Tests, 103 Runs, Average 14.71, Highest Score 51*, 7 Wickets at 46.42, Best Bowling 2/31

 

Tiger Smith  – England 1911

5 and 3 catches

11 Tests, 113 Runs, Average 8.69, Highest Score 22, 17 catches and 3 stumpings

Smith umpired 8 Tests from 1931 to 1939

 

Joe Vine – England 1912

4*

2 Tests, 46 Runs, Average 46, Highest Score 36

 

Harry Howell – England 1920

5 and 0*

5 Tests, 15 Runs, Average 7.50, Highest Score 5, 7 Wickets at 79.85, Best Bowling 4/115

Howell was also a footballer for Wolverhampton.

 

Harry Makepeace – England 1920

4 and 4

4 Tests, 279 Runs, Average 34.87, Highest Score 117

Makepeace was a footballer for Everton and made four appearances for England.

 

Arthur Dolphin – England 1921

1 and 0 and 1 catch.

1 Test, 1 Run, Average 0.50, 1 Catch

Dolphin umpired six Tests from 1933 to 1939.

 

John Mortimore – England 1959

44* and 11 and 1/41

9 Tests, 243 Runs, Average 24.30, Average 73*, 13 Wickets at 56.38, Best Bowling 3/36

 

Wayne Larkins – England 1980

25 and 3

13 Tests, 493 Runs, Average 20.54, Highest Score 64

Larkins went on the 1981 Rebel tour to South Africa and had nine years between Test appearances from 1981 to 1990.

 

Phil Tufnell – England 1990

0* and 0* and 0/62 and 0/36

42 Tests, 153 Runs, Average 5.10, Highest Score 22*, 121 Wickets at 37.68, Best Bowling 7/47

Tufnell was a cult figure who bowled England to victory in 1997 at the Oval taking 7/66 in the first innings and then 4/27 in the second innings as Australia were bowled out for 104, losing by 20 runs.

 

Warren Hegg – England 1998

3 and 9 and 4 Catches

2 Tests, 30 Runs, Average 7.50, Highest Score 15, 8 Catches

 

Tom Curran – England 2017

4  and 1/65 and 0/53

2 Tests, 66 Runs, Average 33, Highest Score 39, 2 Wickets at 100, Best Bowling 1/65

Tom’s brother Sam has played 24 Tests while his dad Kevin played for Zimbabwe.

 

Kanwar Rai Singh – India 1948

2 and 24

1 Test, 26 Runs, Average 13

 

Khokhan Probir Sen – India 1948

4 and 2 and 1 Catch and 1 Stumping

14 Tests, 165 Runs, Average 11.78, Highest Score 25, 20 Catches and 11 Stumpings

 

Hrishikesh Kanitkar – India 1999

11 and 45

2 Tests, 74 Runs, Average 18.50, Highest Score 45

Hrishikesh father Hemant played two Tests for India as well in 1974.

 

Mayank Agarwal – India 2018

76 and 42

21 Tests, 1488 Runs, Average 41.33, Highest Score 243

 

Bryan Andrews – New Zealand 1973

0* and 5* and 0/100

2 Tests, 22 Runs, Average 22, Highest Score 17, 2 Wickets at 77, Best Bowling 2/40

Andrews got Greg Chappell out for a duck in his second Test.

 

Headley Keith – South Africa 1953

10 and 40* and 0/44

8 Tests, 318 Runs, Average 21.19, Highest Score 73, 0 Wickets

 

Gary Kirsten – South Africa 1993

16

101 Tests, 7,289 Runs, Average 45.27, Highest Score 275, 2 Wickets at 71, Best Bowling 1/0

Gary half brother Peter played 12 Tests for South Africa. Gary coached India from 2008 to 2011 including 2011 World Cup.

 

Jayantha Silva – Sri Lanka 1995

6* and 0 and 1/120

7 Tests, 6 Runs, Average 2, Highest Score 6*, 20 Wickets at 32.35, Best Bowling 4/16

 

Charlie Davis – West Indies 1968

18 and 10 and 1/94

15 Tests, 1,301 Runs, Average 54.20, Highest Score 183, 2 Wickets at 165, Best Bowling 1/27

Davis’s first wicket on debut was Bill Lawry for 205.

 

Prof Richard Edwards – West Indies 1968

9* and 21 and 1/128

5 Tests, 65 Runs, Average 9.28, Highest Score 22, 18 Wickets at 34.77, Best Bowling 5/84

 

Colin Stuart – West Indies 2000

1 and 4 and 2/52 and 1/66

6 Tests, 24 Runs, Average 3.42, Highest Score 12*, 20 Wickets at 31.40, Best Bowling 3/33

 

Stuart took part in the only instance where three players completed one over in Sri Lanka 2001. Merv Dillon bowled the first two balls before being injured then Colin Stuart bowled the next two balls but was removed for bowling two full tosses, Chris Gayle then bowled the last three balls.

 

Carlos Brathwaite – West Indies 2015

59 and 2 and 0/109 and 1/30

3 Tests, 181 Runs, Average 45.25, Highest Score 69, 1 Wicket at 242, Best Bowling 1/30

 

 

 

Give an Almanac membership this Christmas…

 

 

 

DOWNLOAD THE FOOTY ALMANAC MEMBERSHIP FORM HERE

 

 

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.