Flashback: The first-ever wicket in ODI cricket
The debut of One-Day International took place due to a washed-out Test match back during the 1970-71 season in Australia. England toured that season for facing the home team in a 5-match Test series. The 3rd Test was scheduled to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between December 31st and January 5th. With rain preventing the play on the first two days, the officials decided to abandon the game on the 3rd day.
The Australian Board and the MCC Officials (England team) decided to reschedule the game to a later date that month. They even replaced the washed out Test with a limited-overs match on January 5th in Melbourne with weather conditions permitting the play. The game was planned to be a game of 40 overs for each side and each over consisting of eight balls.
The game was planned to be a normal tour game only to earn ODI status later on for becoming the first-ever One-day International game. The right-arm pacer Graham McKenzie of the home team began the proceedings after Australia elected to bowl first. He bowled the first ball of the game to Geoff Boycott who opened the batting alongside John Edrich.
The first-ever ODI wicket
Alan Thomson, the all-rounder from Victoria shared the new ball with McKenzie and kept the things tight for the visitors. In the 8th over of the innings, Thomson broke the brief opening stand of 21 runs as Boycott was dismissed caught by Bill Lawry. Thus, Alan Thomson scripted his name to history by becoming the first-ever player to pick a wicket in the ODI format. England were bowled out in the final over of the innings reaching 190 which was chased down by the hosts with five wickets and 42 balls to spare.
Thomson finished with figures of 8-2-22-1 in what turned out to be the lone game in his ODI career. Alan Thomson had an experience of two Test matches by the time of his ODI debut and played two more after that game. Unfortunately, his International career did not go beyond the 1970-71 season. Thomson served as umpire around the same time for Senior Grade VFL, the Australian Rules football game.
