3 batsmen who struck a six to begin their Test career
Making debut in Tests is definitely one of the biggest challenges for a player in cricket. More than the change in quality that he faces, it’s the nerves that makes things tough for the debutant. Different players come up with different strategies to calm their nerves down while playing their first-ever international match. Most of the players take a defensive approach and go for the shots only after they are well settled. But there have been few exceptions who took an aggressive approach to get going in Tests. So through this article, we are taking a look at three players whose first scoring shot in Test cricket was a six.
3. Dhananjaya de Silva:
Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva made his Test debut against Australia in 2016. It was a debut to forget for de Silva but he managed to get his name etched in the record books by getting off the mark with a six. The right-handed batsman had come to the crease when Sri Lanka were reeling on 43 for 4. But despite his team being under pressure and Australian spinners bowling a tight line, de Silva did not shy away from smashing Steve O’Keefe for a six. He, however, could not build on the promising start as he was out for just 24. But he was the top-scorer for his side and was the only batsman to touch or cross the 20-run mark as Sri Lanka were all out for 117. However, they had gone on to win the Test by 106 runs.
Dhananjaya de Silva launched his Test career with a six, Sri Lanka v Australia, 1st Test, Pallekele, #lka #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/GJOwKxiV9D
— Truth First – Lanka (@ApiWenuwen) July 27, 2016
2. Sunil Ambris:
Another player in one of cricket’s most exclusive clubs is West Indies’ Sunil Ambris. In fact, the West Indian had a very eventful Test debut against New Zealand in Wellington in 2017. In his first-ever Test innings, he became the very first batsman in the history of Test cricket to be out hit wicket for a golden duck on Test debut. In his next innings, he became one of the very few players whose first scoring shot in Tests was a six. Facing his fourth ball in the innings, Ambris top-edged Trent Boult to open his account with a maximum.
West Indian Sunil Ambris first four balls in Test cricket:
1st ball: OUT – golden duck (hit wicket!)
2nd ball: dot
3rd ball: dot
4th ball: SIX – top edge over fine leg#NZvWI— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 4, 2017
1. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant’s name in this list should not be a surprise. The Indian wicketkeeper loves to play the big shots and in his very first Test innings, he made it clear that he would not shy away from playing his natural game in international cricket. Pant made his Test debut during the tour of England in 2018. The highly-rated batsman got a chance in the playing eleven for the Trent Bridge Test and got off the mark with a six off Adil Rashid. He hit the six while facing just his second ball of the innings.
The first Indian batsman to get off the mark in Test cricket with a Six.
Remember the name “Rishabh Pant”#INDvAUS #AUSvsIND #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/AQ7ebTPOwR
— Amit?? (@dark__horse007) January 19, 2021
