They hadn't played much Test cricket
Limited-overs teams comprising players with extremely little Test experience, like the present West Indies and Pakistan sides playing in the Caribbean
Travis Basevi and George Binoy
27-Apr-2011
The West Indians in the present limited-overs side are extremely light on Test caps • Getty Images
Danza Hyatt, Christopher Barnwell, Ashley Nurse and Anthony Martin. Mohammad Salman, Hammad Azam and Junaid Khan. For most people tuning into the limited-overs leg of Pakistan's tour of West Indies, unless you are from those regions (and perhaps not even then), those were unfamiliar players. Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Gayle, Younis and Gul were all absent. In this week's List we've dug up limited-overs teams comprising players with the fewest Test caps, and the XIs Pakistan and West Indies fielded in the Twenty20 and the first two ODIs feature prominently. We've had to omit Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh because they played one-dayers before Tests.
Pakistan
Pakistan rested Younis Khan and Umar Gul from the ongoing limited-overs series in the Caribbean, while dropping wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal from the whole tour. As a result, their XI for the Twenty20 had only 101 Test caps, while the teams for the first and second ODI had 95 each. Shahid Afridi, who's played only 27 Tests since debuting in 1998, had the most experience, ahead of Misbah-ul-Haq (23). Though these three XIs rank in the top five for Pakistan, they aren't as light on Test experience as the team that played Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in 2008. Only four players - Younis, Shoaib Malik, Misbah and Sohail Tanvir - had played Tests in that team, a total of 91 matches among them.
Pakistan rested Younis Khan and Umar Gul from the ongoing limited-overs series in the Caribbean, while dropping wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal from the whole tour. As a result, their XI for the Twenty20 had only 101 Test caps, while the teams for the first and second ODI had 95 each. Shahid Afridi, who's played only 27 Tests since debuting in 1998, had the most experience, ahead of Misbah-ul-Haq (23). Though these three XIs rank in the top five for Pakistan, they aren't as light on Test experience as the team that played Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in 2008. Only four players - Younis, Shoaib Malik, Misbah and Sohail Tanvir - had played Tests in that team, a total of 91 matches among them.
| Opposition | Ground | Series | Start Date | Scorecard | Tests | Max | None |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v Zimbabwe | Sheikhupura | Zimbabwe in Pakistan | 2 Feb 2008 | ||||
| v West Indies | 4 | ||||||
| v West Indies | Gros Islet | Pakistan in West Indies | 25 Apr 2011 | ||||
| v England | 4 | ||||||
| v West Indies | Gros Islet | Pakistan in West Indies | 21 Apr 2011 |
West Indies
The Twenty20 against Pakistan in St Lucia was the third time West Indies were fielding a limited-overs XI with 52 Test caps. This latest instance was because the WICB wanted to plan for the future and blood young players. The most experienced Test player was Marlon Samuels, who had played 29 matches, ahead of Darren Sammy, who was the only other West Indian with more than ten caps. The previous two occasions they played teams with 52 Test caps was in the third ODI against Bangladesh at St Kitts in 2009, and against India in the Champions Trophy in South Africa. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle, among several others, were missing from those games because of a player strike.
The Twenty20 against Pakistan in St Lucia was the third time West Indies were fielding a limited-overs XI with 52 Test caps. This latest instance was because the WICB wanted to plan for the future and blood young players. The most experienced Test player was Marlon Samuels, who had played 29 matches, ahead of Darren Sammy, who was the only other West Indian with more than ten caps. The previous two occasions they played teams with 52 Test caps was in the third ODI against Bangladesh at St Kitts in 2009, and against India in the Champions Trophy in South Africa. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle, among several others, were missing from those games because of a player strike.
| Opposition | Ground | Series | Start Date | Scorecard | Tests | Max | None |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v Bangladesh | Basseterre | Bangladesh in West Indies | 31 Jul 2009 | ||||
| v India | 4 | ||||||
| v Pakistan | Gros Islet | Pakistan in West Indies | 21 Apr 2011 | ||||
| v Bangladesh | 3 | ||||||
| v Australia | Johannesburg | ICC Champions Trophy | 26 Sep 2009 |
India
In May and June 2010, in between the World Twenty20 and the Asia Cup, India sent a squad to Zimbabwe for a tri-series and two T20s. They rested all their Test players from that series, and most one-day stars too, and the XI that played the first T20 had eight players without Test experience. M Vijay, Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla had ten caps between them. Few people will remember those obscure matches but that tour made the IPL careers of wicketkeeper Naman Ojha, and fast bowlers Pankaj Singh and Umesh Yadav. By virtue of winning an India cap, they qualified for the IPL auction in January 2011 and hit the jackpot. Yadav was bought for for $750,000, Ojha for $ 270,000, and Pankaj for $95,000.
In May and June 2010, in between the World Twenty20 and the Asia Cup, India sent a squad to Zimbabwe for a tri-series and two T20s. They rested all their Test players from that series, and most one-day stars too, and the XI that played the first T20 had eight players without Test experience. M Vijay, Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla had ten caps between them. Few people will remember those obscure matches but that tour made the IPL careers of wicketkeeper Naman Ojha, and fast bowlers Pankaj Singh and Umesh Yadav. By virtue of winning an India cap, they qualified for the IPL auction in January 2011 and hit the jackpot. Yadav was bought for for $750,000, Ojha for $ 270,000, and Pankaj for $95,000.
| Opposition | Ground | Series | Start Date | Scorecard | Tests | Max | None |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 8 | ||||||
| v Zimbabwe | Harare | India in Zimbabwe | |||||
| v Sri Lanka | Harare | Zimbabwe Triangular Series | 5 Jun 2010 | ODI 2988 | 26 | 23 | 9 |
| v Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | ||||||
| v Sri Lanka | Bulawayo | Zimbabwe Triangular Series | 30 May 2010 | ODI 2983 | 40 | 23 | 7 |
New Zealand
The squads for two one-day series in Sharjah, in 1994 and 2001, were the lightest New Zealand were in terms of Test caps. In 1994, though most of the team had some Test experience, Adam Parore and Chris Pringle's nine matches were the most. Stephen Fleming was only beginning his illustrious career at the time, and had played one Test. In 2001, the likes of Fleming and Vettori didn't make the trip to Sharjah and Craig McMillan, with 31 Tests, was New Zealand's most experienced player. That squad was more experienced than the 1994 novices though and the XIs had 86-91 caps among them.
The squads for two one-day series in Sharjah, in 1994 and 2001, were the lightest New Zealand were in terms of Test caps. In 1994, though most of the team had some Test experience, Adam Parore and Chris Pringle's nine matches were the most. Stephen Fleming was only beginning his illustrious career at the time, and had played one Test. In 2001, the likes of Fleming and Vettori didn't make the trip to Sharjah and Craig McMillan, with 31 Tests, was New Zealand's most experienced player. That squad was more experienced than the 1994 novices though and the XIs had 86-91 caps among them.
| Opposition | Ground | Series | Start Date | Scorecard | Tests | Max | None |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v Sri Lanka | 3 | ||||||
| v Pakistan | Sharjah | Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup | 20 Apr 1994 | ||||
| v Australia | 2 | ||||||
| v Sri Lanka | Sharjah | ARY Gold Cup | 10 Apr 2001 | ||||
| v Pakistan | 4 | ||||||
| v Sri Lanka | Sharjah | ARY Gold Cup | 17 Apr 2001 | ||||
| v Pakistan | 4 |
England
The fewest Test caps in an England ODI side is 91 in the ODI against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2001. Mark Ramprakash, with 46 Tests, had the most, ahead of Nick Knight, Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Flintoff, Ryan Sidebottom and Ben Hollioake. The players in that XI without Test experience were Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, Paul Grayson, James Foster and James Kirtley. It was only the second time England had fielded a limited-overs team with fewer than 100 Test caps.
The fewest Test caps in an England ODI side is 91 in the ODI against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2001. Mark Ramprakash, with 46 Tests, had the most, ahead of Nick Knight, Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Flintoff, Ryan Sidebottom and Ben Hollioake. The players in that XI without Test experience were Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, Paul Grayson, James Foster and James Kirtley. It was only the second time England had fielded a limited-overs team with fewer than 100 Test caps.
| Opposition | Ground | Series | Start Date | Scorecard | Tests | Max | None |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | England in Zimbabwe | |||||
| v Pakistan | Sahiwal | England in Pakistan | 23 Dec 1977 | ODI 45 | 93 | 34 | 2 |
| v India | Indore | ||||||
| v Pakistan | Nottingham | NatWest Series | 8 Sep 2006 | ODI 2411 | 101 | 31 | 4 |
| v Pakistan | Birmingham |
Australia
Most of Australia's limited-overs sides with fewer than 100 Test caps were either during the Packer years, when players were banned from the team, or when Bangladesh toured in 2008, when the established players were rested. As recently as February 2011, though, Australia played a team against England with 99 Test caps in the absence of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke. Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin had 74 of the 99 caps in the team led by Cameron White.
Most of Australia's limited-overs sides with fewer than 100 Test caps were either during the Packer years, when players were banned from the team, or when Bangladesh toured in 2008, when the established players were rested. As recently as February 2011, though, Australia played a team against England with 99 Test caps in the absence of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke. Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin had 74 of the 99 caps in the team led by Cameron White.
| Opposition | Ground | Series | Start Date | Scorecard | Tests | Max | None |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| v England | 2 | ||||||
| v Pakistan | Nottingham | Prudential World Cup | 13 Jun 1979 | ||||
| v England | 0 | ||||||
| v England | Melbourne | England in Australia | 7 Feb 1979 | ||||
| v New Zealand | 7 |
Travis Basevi is a cricket statistician and UK Senior Programmer for Cricinfo and other ESPN sports websites. George Binoy is an Assistant Editor at ESPNcricinfo