On this day in 1991: Waugh twins appear in a Test match together for the first time
Exactly on this day in 1991, Australia Steve and Mark Waugh became the first male twins to appear together in Test cricket. Steve was already an established player in the team at that time and it did not take Mark long to become one as brothers played together on 108 occasions. Earlier in 1991, Mark had made his Test debut at his brother’s expense in the Adelaide Test against England.
But the two had never played together before this. The historic occasion of both the brothers playing a Test together for the first time took place during Australia’s third Test of the five-match series against West Indies in Port of Spain which ended in a draw.
Mark came to bat for Australia at the no. 6 spot and made an instant impact. He played a calm and composed innings of 64 runs off 181 balls before being caught leg before wicket by Malcolm Marshall. Steve came to bat just after Mark but he failed to do well. Waugh senior departed after scoring just 26.
Apart from Mark Waugh, Mark Taylor also scored a crucial fifty as Australia were bundled out for 294 runs in their first innings. The Australian bowlers then did well to bowl out West Indies for 227 despite fifties from Jeff Dujon (70) and Curtly Ambrose (53). The Waugh brothers did not get a chance to bat as Australia declared their innings on 123 for three on the fifth day to force the match into the draw.
Apart from playing 108 Tests together, Steve and Mark also featured in 214 ODIs by each other’s side and won the 1999 World Cup together. Overall, they scored 35,025 runs in international cricket between them and picked up 431 wickets. Steve represented Australia in 168 Tests and 325 ODIs, scoring over 17,000 runs with the help of 35 centuries and 95 fifties. He also picked 287 wickets in international cricket. Mark, on the other hand, played 128 Tests and 244 ODIs, scoring more than 16,000 runs with the help of 38 centuries and 97 fifties. With the ball, he picked up 144 wickets across formats.
