A start before you know you have OR One that you cant wait enough for??

I wondered if players remember their debut matches. I decided to take the example of 2 completely different debuts.

For cricketers, the path to international cricket (be it test match or ODI or T20) starts off from the small stage strings of memorable performances in the first class arena.

Sometimes, its also a question of necessity. The players are skilled and performing very well. However, there is no requirement in the national squad and so they have no option but to wait for their chance.

An apt example would be today's Mr. Cricket - Mike Hussey. When he was plundering all those runs at the domestic front, there was no requirement in the Aussie middle order. Hussey had 3 consecutive seasons when we scored more than 1000 runs in the English domestic season
- 2055 runs @ 79.03 in 2001
- 1442 runs @ 68.66 in 2002
- 1697 runs @ 89.31 in 2003

These might sound like a superman effort, enough to get you into any test playing side in the world. Any test playing side, except for one that is continuing to play without losing a single test series and has a middle order of

- Ponting, arguably the second greatest number 3 batsman in the world alongside Dravid (behind the Don)

- The Waugh Brothers - One of them a very gifted and attacking batsman - elegant to watch and quite consistent and the other a great finisher of innings apart from a superb captain

- Martyn - 2001 was Martyn's golden patch - He thought he had messed up his debut very badly with one rash shot in the summer of '94. He had been lucky enough to have been handed out a second chance, ala Mathew Hayden. He grabbed that chance with both hands and started the second innings of his test career very well.

But, fortunately, the international cricket lovers were not robbed of the chance to watch this totally dedicated and brilliantly skilled cricketer shine on the international scene. The Aussies did not just give a chance to their brightest young prospect (Pup, who is also widely recognized as the next captain), but also rewarded years of hard work by giving Hussey his break and how he took it :).

Hussey started his career playing out of position, at the opener's slot, in Justin Langer's absence. However, he did make 2 hundreds in his first 3 test matches. (and he got his favored middle order slot by his 3 test match at the expense of Simon Katich).


Some cricketers are skilled (and more importantly, lucky) enough to be picked early on in their career because their talents are noticed by the right people at the right moment.

Moving on, we look at another example of a start, albeit a different one. We are talking about, ofcourse Yasir Ali - who is the only cricketer in the last 100 years to have made a first class debut in a test match while playing for a team that was not near the bottom of the test rankings (unlike Bangladesh and Zimbabwe). Yasir Ali is a fast bowler whose furiously paced path to international cricket started off with performances in the state under 19 side. Next came the academy and one good tour with the academy was considered good enough for a test cap!!!

The debut against Bangladesh wasn't spectacular by any stretch of imagination. 1 wicket in each innings and 1 ball faced while batting (not out). He is now trying to get a second chance by the traditional way of playing first class cricket.

Nevertheless, they are 2 completely different examples of debuts. At the end of the day, i guess, as a cricketer, you wish that you dont get noticed too early on and make a debut when you are not physically or mentally (or both) prepared for the demands of the international game and get caught out. Second chances are hard to come by and players should wish they are prepared best when they get their break.

Moving on to a story of another debut - One that did not find its way to any newspaper or blog (so far :))

It was a bright and sunny morning in the August of 1994 and the match was being played at the railway grounds in Bangalore (behind the old railway station in the majestic area). It was the first match of the inter-school tournament. One of the schools was making its debut in the world of competitive cricket. The team making its debut fielded first and, after 3 hours, was left with the daunting task of chasing 233. One member of the opposition scored 80 odd runs, having been given a life when on 10 when a simple chance at backward point was spooned. Opening the batting were the youngest members of the squad (the only ones from class 8). They might have looked a little nervous (according to the coach) walking up to bat at around 1pm chasing a total of 233 in 40 overs. But they were a lot more nervous than they appeared to be :(. I know this so sure because i was one of them and my best friend was the other guy. I had already received a fair share of brickbats during the innings break because it was me that dropped that chance at backward point. After all the abuse, i was told - "Go there and survive the first few overs. We dont want to lose early wickets" My friend walked straight up to the non-striker's end and he was a few paces ahead of me. I had no option but to take first strike. I thank God that i was not dismissed off the first ball, one that i confidently guided to the fine leg fielder to get off the dreaded duck. That is, unfortunately, as far as i got as far as run making was concerned.

I was also blessed to have been the recipient of a nasty bouncer which evaded the helmet grill and stuck my ear (and caused a ringing sensation for the next 2 minutes). After a break of 5 minutes for a check by our coach to determine if i was doing fine, I composed myself and got down to facing the next delivery with (hopefully) the same confidence as my first delivery. The result was not what i expected. A fraction of a second after the ball was delivered, i looked back to see the furniture badly disturbed :(. Although it was not a memorable debut, i am surprised that i remember the turn of events of that day (till the point that i was dismissed) even now.