Securing the admiration of the Australian crowd within days of his Test debut is a remarkable feat for any international player, especially when playing in Australia. Shamar Joseph, the West Indies left-arm fast bowler, achieved this with an outstanding all-round performance in the opening Test against Australia. His aggressive demeanour and ability to handle pressure left a lasting impression.
Batting at No. 11 in both innings, Joseph showcased impressive stroke play comparable to top-order batters. Notably, he dismissed Steve Smith on the very first delivery of his Test career and concluded with a five-wicket haul. Engaging in Test cricket is challenging, especially against the top-ranked team in their home conditions. Shamar Joseph, while not exceptionally fast, consistently targeted the right areas, causing difficulties for the Australian batsmen.
Despite his commendable performance, it wasn’t sufficient, and Australia ultimately secured a 10-wicket victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Here are the top five outstanding Test debuts made by visiting players in Australia during the 21st century:
#1 Lou Vincent- Perth 2001
Lou Vincent had a fairy-tale beginning to his Test career, smashing an impressive century on debut against Australia in 2001. The former New Zealand opener, known for his prolific runs in age-group cricket, joined the elite ranks as the sixth New Zealander to achieve a Test century on debut.
In the second Test, he also notched a half-century, contributing to a drawn third Test in Perth. Remarkably, Vincent’s debut century marked the first occurrence since 1932 of a visiting player scoring a Test century in Australia, following Iftikhar Ali Khan Patuadi.
Vincent showcased solid defence initially and then displayed elegant shots during his innings of 104, featuring 14 fours and a six. His fluent batting continued in the second innings, where he scored a fine half-century.
#2 Faf du Plessis– Adelaide 2012
Faf du Plessis had an outstanding Test debut, showcasing top-class temperament after initially being a reserve player for the England tour. In the series against Australia, South Africa aimed to defend the Test mace and secure a series win.
Following a drawn first Test in Brisbane, Australia gained the upper hand in the second Test, having South Africa at 77/4 at the end of Day 4, with the Proteas chasing 430. Faf du Plessis had an exceptional Test debut, scoring a stroke-filled 78 in the first innings and exhibiting mental toughness in the second.
Facing challenges from close-in fielders and a tough spell by Peter Siddle, he crafted an epic maiden Test century, playing 376 deliveries over eight hours, securing an unlikely draw. South Africa ultimately won the series after triumphing in the final Test in Perth.
#3 Washington Sundar- Brisbane 2021
Washington Sundar played a crucial role in India’s historic comeback against Australia, securing a 2-1 series win for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite not being initially selected for the Test squad, he made his debut, claiming Steve Smith as his first Test wicket and two more scalps in the first innings, helping restrict Australia to 369.
Australian pacers initially dominated, reducing India to 186/6, but the partnership between debutant Washington Sundar and second-time Test player Shardul Thakur showcased remarkable maturity. Sundar’s composed 62 off 144 deliveries, and their collaboration brought India close to Australia’s first-innings score.
Sundar took the crucial wicket of David Warner in the second innings, contributing to Australia’s total of 294. With a challenging target of 328, Rishabh Pant’s remarkable innings secured victory for India. In the second innings, Sundar added vital runs, scoring 22 off 29 deliveries, contributing to India’s success under pressure and making it a memorable outing for himself.
#4 Aamer Jamal- Perth 2023
Aamer Jamal delivered an outstanding bowling performance in the recent Test series against Australia. Debuting in Perth, Jamal secured a five-wicket haul in his inaugural Test innings, concluding with impressive figures of 6/111.
Aamer Jamal, known for his attacking style, took advantage of the bouncy Perth pitch and bowled accurately. He started by dismissing Travis Head and later got the crucial wicket of centurion David Warner in his debut Test.
He consistently caused the lower-order batsmen to edge the ball. Despite his impressive six-wicket performance in the first innings, Pakistan suffered a substantial 360-run defeat.
#5 Shamar Joseph
Shamar Joseph achieved a historic feat by becoming the first West Indies player to take five wickets and score 50+ runs on his Test debut. Despite West Indies facing a 10-wicket defeat, Joseph’s outstanding performance earned him widespread appreciation from the crowd.
Post-match, he expressed gratitude, emphasizing the significance of dismissing Steve Smith in the very first delivery of his Test career. Even before displaying his bowling prowess, Joseph exhibited batting skills at No. 11, facing the formidable Australian seam attack with ease.
Scoring an unfazed 36 off 41 deliveries, he contributed to a notable 55-run partnership for the final wicket with Kemar Roach. With the ball, Joseph was spot-on from his first delivery, dismissing Steve Smith with a splendid away swinger.
Subsequently, he took wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, and Nathan Lyon, concluding with figures of 5/94.
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