Playing the first international match is always special for anyone. Some players make it memorable for the lifetime with their own top performances. It becomes more special when the player hits a sixer on the very first delivery that he faced. New Zealand cricketer Mark Craig sits in this special name.
Till the date, there is only one player who has hit a sixer on the first ball of his Test debut. Surprisingly, this only player is better known for his off-spin bowling. However, he is also a handy batsman and he showed that quality on the very first ball he faced in Test career.
At the age of 27-year-old, Mark Craig made debut for New Zealand during the Kingston Test against West Indies in June 2014. It was a memorable debut for Mark Craig for various reasons. He won the Player of the Match award for registering the best bowling figures by a New Zealand Test debutant. In that same game, he also became the first batsman in Test cricket history to hit a sixer on debut ball. At present, Mark Craig is the only batsman to achieve this feat.
After winning the toss, the visitors New Zealand decided to bat first. With the help of twin centuries and three more half-centuries, New Zealand scored 508/7 decl. in the first innings.
In reply, West Indies were bowled out for 262 runs in their first innings. New Zealand pacer Tim Southee (4/19) and the debutant off-spinner Mark Craig (4/91) both picked up four wickets in that innings.
Facing the first ball in Test cricket, Mark Craig hit a sixer to Sulieman Benn
Though the visitors got a massive lead of 246 runs, they decided to not enforce the follow-on. In their second innings, New Zealand scored 156/8 decl. Mark Craig came to bat in international cricket for the first time during the final over of that innings.
After Tim Southee lost his wicket on the first ball of the 61st over of that innings, Craig came to bat at no.10 position. The left-handed batsman faced first time on the fourth ball of that over and hit a sixer to West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn over the long-off. In the next ball, Craig took a single and New Zealand declared their innings.
Chasing down the 403 runs target, West Indies were all out on 216 runs. Once again, Craig became the hero as he managed the bowling figures of 15-2-97-4. In that game, Craig took a total of eight wickets which is still a Test debutant record for a New Zealand bowler. For his brilliant match-winning bowling effort, Craig won the Player of the Match award.
Mark Craig has played 15 Tests where he has scored 589 runs (average 36.81) and took 50 wickets. He has hit three half-centuries in 25 Test innings and his best Test knock was 67 runs. Craig hasn’t played any other international format yet. On the other hand, he played the last Test against India at Kanpur in September 2016.