Sportzwiki’s Year End Review 2016: Top Five Memorable Debuts

Dec 29, 2016 at 6:04 PM

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Sportzwiki’s Year End Review 2016: Top Five Memorable Debuts

As we bid goodbye to 2016, the year which has seen enough of all format cricket to engross the fans as youngsters from different teams had made their appearances in the international arena with a bang followed by the late bloomers like Stephen Cook of South Africa which is more like an icing on the cake.

There has been a lot of controversies taking place this year too, but we’ve a stock of young talent to look at as we happen to pack up a capsule of five – to recall those memorable moments with the bat and the ball from the newcomers – be it in Test cricket or limited-overs cricket.

Here’s the list of 5 memorable debuts we witnessed in 2016:

5. Collin de Grandhomme 6 for 41 (7 for 64) against Pakistan on Debut:

The 30-year-old Zimbabwe-born all-rounder Collin de Grandhomme made a remarkable debut for New Zealand on the second day of the Christchurch Test while picking 6 wickets for conceding 41 runs which is the best figures for any Kiwi bowler on Test debut after AM Moir’s 6 for 155 against England at Christchurch in 1951.

De Grandhomme, who does not have pace like Trent Boult and Tim Southee, but he bowled great line and the length while using his height to make it difficult for sub-continent batters from Pakistan.

The medium-pacer has outfoxed the batters while encouraging them to drive the swinging deliveries. He picked his first wicket on his 15th ball in the form of Azhar Ali.

Pakistan side was bowled out for just 133 in their first innings and 171 in the second innings on a seamer-friendly wicket. New Zealand won the match by 8 wickets.

De Grandhomme picked seven wickets after conceding 64 runs in his debut Test. He claimed the only wicket of Sami Aslam in the second innings.

4. KL Rahul unbeaten 100 on ODI debut against Zimbabwe:

The Indian opener KL Rahul on his exceptional debut notched up his unbeaten debut century against Zimbabwe in the first One-day International match at Harare to see his side winning the game by 9 wickets and 45 balls to spare.

With India requiring just two to win, the right-handed batsman whacked a six to reach the triple figure mark in grand style to become only the 11th debutant to do so in ODI cricket.

Tasting some kind of a feat, the 24-year-old became the first Indian batsman to smash a century on his maiden 50-over game as he went past fellow countryman Robin Uthappa’s 86 which he scored against England at Indore in 2006.

Rahul scored 100 not out off 115 balls as he flayed an inexperienced bowler line-up of Zimbabwe. While piercing the gaps, Rahul has scored 63 runs on the off-side which includes 23 runs in the cover region.

The formidable Karnataka lad had smashed 7 boundaries and a solitary six in his well deserved century.

3. Keaton Jennings 112 on Debut against India at Wankhede:

After the courageous innings from youngster Haseeb Hameed, while playing with his broken finger, he made way for Durham batsman Keaton Jennings, who had been in sublime form in domestic cricket and came with the same kind of form to make a mark in the international opener.

The Johannesburg-born Jennings enjoyed the bowling of Jayant Yadav while hitting him for 32 runs which included five fours. He played watchfully against veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and went after fast bowlers in the middle overs.

The 24-year-old rookie had scored his century off 196 balls which included 12 boundaries before perishing to Ashwin in gully region after scoring 112 off 219 deliveries. Looking comfortable against spin trio he stayed over four hours at the crease after being dropped twice on duck and Nelson (111).

Jennings went without scoring in the second innings as the visitors collapsed before suffering an innings defeat.

Jennings’ 112 is the highest score by any Test cricketer at the iconic Wankhede stadium as he wants past his fellow countryman Owais Shah, who has scored 88 in 2005-06.

He also became the 18th player to score a century for England during his Test debut and only the fourth English cricket to achieve the milestone on his first day of the Test match.

2. Stephen Cook 100 on Debut against England at Centurion:

The 33-year-old Stephen Cook pulled his sleeves on debut to score a magnificent ton against England in the fourth Test of Basil D’Oliveira Trophy at the Centurion. The hosts won the only Test of the four-match series to salvage some pride by 280 runs.

Stephen, who became the 100th Test batsman and sixth Proteas to score the century on a debut as his international runs started off with a boundary at the square-leg when Jimmy Anderson gave him a juicy half-volley on his leg stumps. He had shown his elegance with the bat and understanding while running between the wickets. Apart from nervous nineties, he looked calm and composed against the England’s spin and pace attack.

While staying 5 hours and 22 minutes at the crease Stephen has scored 115 runs off 218 balls, before sharing a second-wicket stand of 202 in 53 overs with former skipper Hashim Amla 109 off 169 balls.

Stephen was picked after being in the prolific form in domestic cricket. The right-handed batsman enjoyed some luck during his innings as he was dropped by Jonny Bairstow on 47 in Stuart Broad’s over followed by LBW appeal which was turned down by the umpire that in replays showed Ben Stokes’ delivery brushed the leg stump.

1. Mehedi Hasan Miraz 7 for 138 (19 for 297) against England:

This performance deserves to be at the No.1 spot, who could have thought Bangladesh had something special in store in the form of young off-spinner, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, who picked 6 wickets in his first innings on Test debut which includes 5 for 64 on the very first day of his international appearance.

The 19-year-old all-rounder Miraz on his dream debut had pushed English batters on the back foot with his brilliant disciplined bowling and variable bounce while delivering the balls at the same line and length which seemed an old habit he was relying on and flummoxing the counterparts.

The young sensation went on to wreak havoc through the England batting line-up while tossing up the ball on a pitch which had a lot of turn on offer.

The all-rounder Miraz picked 6 wickets each in the second Test at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka to claim the famous win for Bangladesh.

Miraz settled with the figures of 19 wickets at an average of 15.63 in two-match Test series after conceding 297 runs at an economy of 2.71 which includes 1 ten-wicket haul.

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