Hampshire's James Schofield first ball expert ?

James Schofield Photo Vic Isaacs

James Schofield of Hampshire could be the first player in UK to have achieved a unique double of taking a wicket with his first ball in first-class cricket and in Limited Overs Cricket.

On Sunday 26th August, he became only the fifth player to achieve the feat in the Norwich Union League, since its original ineption in 1969. The list below provided by statistician Les Hatton shows the details.

Schofield took the wicket of Matthew Hayden of Australia on his first-class debut at West End earlier this season.

1. K Higgs (Lancashire) - L.J.Lenham c F.M.Engineer at Hove 27 April 1969 opening day of the league.

2. C.J.Armishaw (Derbyshire) - C.T.Radley c R.W.Taylor at Chesterfield 24 June 1973. Armshaw never made his first-class debut.

3. E.J.Barlow (Derbyshire) - F.M.Engineer (Lancashire) bowled at Chesterfield 25 April 1976.

4. C.D.Matthews (Lancashire) - T.S.Curtis (Worcs). c W.K.Hegg at Old Trafford 24 April 1988

5. J.E.K.Schofield (Hampshire) - A Singh (Worcs) c D.A.Kenway at Worcester 26 August 2001

Charlie Wat from Australia e-mailed the fact that P.T.McPhee of Tasmania took a wicket with his first ball in first-class cricket and his first ball in the Mercantlie Mutual (limited overs) Cup competition.