On the spin cycle
Spinners who were thrust abruptly onto the international stage, with a variety of results
Andrew McGlashan
09-Oct-2008
Australia enter their series against India with a choice between two untried spinners, Jason Krejza and Cameron White, neither of whom has a very impressive first-class record. Cricinfo looks back at 11 (12, to be exact) other spinners who were thrust onto the international stage with a variety of results.
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Douglas Carr
A Test debut at 37 years of age would suggest the player has had plenty of time to learn his trade. For Carr, though, it was a different story when he was handed his debut against Australia in 1909. He was picked for his legspin, but had only been bowling it for a little over a year, having plied his trade as a mediocre seamer for much of his career. "I was always a legbreak bowler of sorts, but often used to bowl medium-fast stuff," he told Wisden. He took seven wickets at The Oval, but that was the sum total of his England career. Work commitments meant he was unavailable for the winter tour of South Africa, and although he helped Kent to the Championship in 1910, his form didn't persuade the selectors to call on him again.
A Test debut at 37 years of age would suggest the player has had plenty of time to learn his trade. For Carr, though, it was a different story when he was handed his debut against Australia in 1909. He was picked for his legspin, but had only been bowling it for a little over a year, having plied his trade as a mediocre seamer for much of his career. "I was always a legbreak bowler of sorts, but often used to bowl medium-fast stuff," he told Wisden. He took seven wickets at The Oval, but that was the sum total of his England career. Work commitments meant he was unavailable for the winter tour of South Africa, and although he helped Kent to the Championship in 1910, his form didn't persuade the selectors to call on him again.
Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine
Years before they bombarded batsmen with pace and bouncers, West Indies had a strong hand in spinners. Ramadhin and Valentine, who became one of the most famous double acts in the game, were both handed their chance on the 1950 tour of England based on the strength of two first-class matches, both of which were trial games for the tour. Their selection proved inspired. Valentine took 8 for 104 in his first Test, at Old Trafford, although West Indies still lost by 202 runs, and Ramadhin matched his 11-wicket match haul in the second Test at Lord's - the pair bowled 143 overs between them in the second innings. This time West Indies won by a massive 326 runs and went onto take the series 3-1. Ramadhin and Valentine shared 59 wickets in four Tests.
Years before they bombarded batsmen with pace and bouncers, West Indies had a strong hand in spinners. Ramadhin and Valentine, who became one of the most famous double acts in the game, were both handed their chance on the 1950 tour of England based on the strength of two first-class matches, both of which were trial games for the tour. Their selection proved inspired. Valentine took 8 for 104 in his first Test, at Old Trafford, although West Indies still lost by 202 runs, and Ramadhin matched his 11-wicket match haul in the second Test at Lord's - the pair bowled 143 overs between them in the second innings. This time West Indies won by a massive 326 runs and went onto take the series 3-1. Ramadhin and Valentine shared 59 wickets in four Tests.
Peter Taylor
"Peter Who?" became a famous Australian phrase after the selectors plucked Taylor out of state cricket for the final Test against England in 1985-86. Australia had already lost the series, and faced with a traditional Sydney "bunsen burner" felt they needed to try something different. Still, most people thought they'd meant to name Mark Taylor in the side, as Peter's first-class record hardly looked like baggy green material. But Peter it was and six days later (rest days were still in effect) he had completed a great sporting tale by spinning Australia to a consolation victory with 6 for 78. That was the pinnacle of his Test career, but he went on to play 83 ODIs. His place in the Test side eventually went to a certain SK Warne.
"Peter Who?" became a famous Australian phrase after the selectors plucked Taylor out of state cricket for the final Test against England in 1985-86. Australia had already lost the series, and faced with a traditional Sydney "bunsen burner" felt they needed to try something different. Still, most people thought they'd meant to name Mark Taylor in the side, as Peter's first-class record hardly looked like baggy green material. But Peter it was and six days later (rest days were still in effect) he had completed a great sporting tale by spinning Australia to a consolation victory with 6 for 78. That was the pinnacle of his Test career, but he went on to play 83 ODIs. His place in the Test side eventually went to a certain SK Warne.
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Narendra Hirwani
Talk about setting high standards. Taking 16 wickets in your first Test doesn't leave much room for improvement, and Hirwani's career never lived up to his early feats. At the age of 19, with just a dozen-odd first-class games behind him, he was handed his debut against a strong (if not fearsome) West Indies line-up in Chennai, with India needing to win to square the series. Aided by a pitch that crumbled, Hirwani ripped through the visitors twice, with eight wickets in each innings. After his first four Tests he had 36 scalps, the most by any bowler at that stage, but he couldn't keep the magic going away from home. In all he played just 17 Tests over eight years before being overlooked permanently as India realised spin wasn't the only way. But he would always have Chennai.
Talk about setting high standards. Taking 16 wickets in your first Test doesn't leave much room for improvement, and Hirwani's career never lived up to his early feats. At the age of 19, with just a dozen-odd first-class games behind him, he was handed his debut against a strong (if not fearsome) West Indies line-up in Chennai, with India needing to win to square the series. Aided by a pitch that crumbled, Hirwani ripped through the visitors twice, with eight wickets in each innings. After his first four Tests he had 36 scalps, the most by any bowler at that stage, but he couldn't keep the magic going away from home. In all he played just 17 Tests over eight years before being overlooked permanently as India realised spin wasn't the only way. But he would always have Chennai.
Shane Warne
It's a great lesson for any young spinner. Your first experiences of Test cricket don't have to define a career. Australia were desperately searching for a match-winning spinner after faithful, but not always prolific, service from the likes of Greg Matthews and Peter Taylor. They plumped for the plump Warne, despite his limited record for Victoria. When Warne finished his debut match against India, at the SCG, his figures were a painful 1 for 150 after he'd been taken to the cleaners by Ravi Shastri (eventually Warne's first Test scalp) and Sachin Tendulkar. He would have plenty more battles with the latter, and in 2008 named him the best Test cricketer he'd played with or against. Warne went wicketless in his second Test too, but success wasn't far away. He helped bowl Australia to a narrow victory against Sri Lanka in Colombo; then, when he was recalled a year later, he claimed a breakthrough seven-wicket haul against West Indies. He never looked back.
It's a great lesson for any young spinner. Your first experiences of Test cricket don't have to define a career. Australia were desperately searching for a match-winning spinner after faithful, but not always prolific, service from the likes of Greg Matthews and Peter Taylor. They plumped for the plump Warne, despite his limited record for Victoria. When Warne finished his debut match against India, at the SCG, his figures were a painful 1 for 150 after he'd been taken to the cleaners by Ravi Shastri (eventually Warne's first Test scalp) and Sachin Tendulkar. He would have plenty more battles with the latter, and in 2008 named him the best Test cricketer he'd played with or against. Warne went wicketless in his second Test too, but success wasn't far away. He helped bowl Australia to a narrow victory against Sri Lanka in Colombo; then, when he was recalled a year later, he claimed a breakthrough seven-wicket haul against West Indies. He never looked back.
Paul Adams
As retirements go in the modern game, Adams' farewell last week slipped by very quietly. The beginning of his career was far different. In late 1995, England were playing a warm-up game against South Africa A in Kimberley when they came upon this bowler, the likes of whom they'd never seen before. Adams claimed nine wickets in a match and was quickly termed "frog in a blender" for an action that had him looking at his own feet as he bowled. Some wanted him to debut the following the week at Centurion Park, but the selectors resisted. Not for long, though. Aged 18, Adams was handed his debut in the Boxing Day Test in Port Elizabeth, finished with four wickets in his first match, then claimed a further four as South Africa took the series 1-0 with victory at Cape Town.
As retirements go in the modern game, Adams' farewell last week slipped by very quietly. The beginning of his career was far different. In late 1995, England were playing a warm-up game against South Africa A in Kimberley when they came upon this bowler, the likes of whom they'd never seen before. Adams claimed nine wickets in a match and was quickly termed "frog in a blender" for an action that had him looking at his own feet as he bowled. Some wanted him to debut the following the week at Centurion Park, but the selectors resisted. Not for long, though. Aged 18, Adams was handed his debut in the Boxing Day Test in Port Elizabeth, finished with four wickets in his first match, then claimed a further four as South Africa took the series 1-0 with victory at Cape Town.
Daniel Vettori
When the bespectacled 18-year-old Vettori made his Test debut against England, in Wellington in 1997, he was New Zealand's youngest Test debutant. It looked like he had skipped maths class to be there. He had played just two first-class matches - one against the touring England side - but as far as New Zealand were concerned there was no time like the present, and Vettori was far from overawed by the experience. New Zealand were thumped by an innings, though Vettori returned the respectable figures of 2 for 98, having claimed Nasser Hussain as his first Test wicket. He immediately became a fixture in the Test team and is now one of the most experienced international cricketers in the game. It's easy to forget he's still only 29.
When the bespectacled 18-year-old Vettori made his Test debut against England, in Wellington in 1997, he was New Zealand's youngest Test debutant. It looked like he had skipped maths class to be there. He had played just two first-class matches - one against the touring England side - but as far as New Zealand were concerned there was no time like the present, and Vettori was far from overawed by the experience. New Zealand were thumped by an innings, though Vettori returned the respectable figures of 2 for 98, having claimed Nasser Hussain as his first Test wicket. He immediately became a fixture in the Test team and is now one of the most experienced international cricketers in the game. It's easy to forget he's still only 29.
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Noel David
If asked to list Indian spinners during the 1990s it would be a long time before David was mentioned. When Javagal Srinath was injured during the 1996 tour of West Indies the selectors didn't exactly go for a like-for-like replacement. David spent the Test leg sat on the sidelines, but was thrown into action during the one-day series. He more than held his own with 3 for 21 to set up a ten-wicket win for India, but his career included just a further three ODIs and one more wicket. He was far from a slouch with the bat, with a first-class best of 207, and in an era when India's fielding was less than sprightly, he stood out for his work in the covers.
If asked to list Indian spinners during the 1990s it would be a long time before David was mentioned. When Javagal Srinath was injured during the 1996 tour of West Indies the selectors didn't exactly go for a like-for-like replacement. David spent the Test leg sat on the sidelines, but was thrown into action during the one-day series. He more than held his own with 3 for 21 to set up a ten-wicket win for India, but his career included just a further three ODIs and one more wicket. He was far from a slouch with the bat, with a first-class best of 207, and in an era when India's fielding was less than sprightly, he stood out for his work in the covers.
Chris Schofield
The English legspinner, a rare breed hardly seen around county grounds. And when one does appear, people get very excited, very quickly. When Duncan Fletcher named his first batch of central contracts in 2000, one of the 12 names was Schofield, the Lancashire legspinner. The decision wasn't without some merit - Schofield had good figures from the previous winter's A tour, where he claimed 34 wickets on tours of Bangladesh and New Zealand - but it showed England's desperation for a leggie. A contract meant Schofield was always likely to play early in the summer, even if conditions were far more suited to swing and seam. He didn't bowl in his first Test, against Zimbabwe, at Lord's (and also bagged a duck), and when he finally turned his arm over at Trent Bridge he never settled. That was the sum total of his Test career, and six years later he had vanished from the first-class scene, only to reappear at Surrey, quite amazingly, in England's Twenty20 squad. It was another short-lived adventure, though.
The English legspinner, a rare breed hardly seen around county grounds. And when one does appear, people get very excited, very quickly. When Duncan Fletcher named his first batch of central contracts in 2000, one of the 12 names was Schofield, the Lancashire legspinner. The decision wasn't without some merit - Schofield had good figures from the previous winter's A tour, where he claimed 34 wickets on tours of Bangladesh and New Zealand - but it showed England's desperation for a leggie. A contract meant Schofield was always likely to play early in the summer, even if conditions were far more suited to swing and seam. He didn't bowl in his first Test, against Zimbabwe, at Lord's (and also bagged a duck), and when he finally turned his arm over at Trent Bridge he never settled. That was the sum total of his Test career, and six years later he had vanished from the first-class scene, only to reappear at Surrey, quite amazingly, in England's Twenty20 squad. It was another short-lived adventure, though.
Nathan Hauritz
The Australian selectors don't mind making players wait for their chance - just ask Mike Hussey - but occasionally they pluck out a youngster. Hauritz was summoned for the 2004-05 tour of India ahead of Stuart MacGill, but was expected to carry the drinks throughout since Warne was in the side. However, Warne was injured after the third Test, so Hauritz suddenly became the frontline spinner. On a raging turner at the Wankhede Stadium he claimed five wickets in the last Test - including VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar in the second innings - but was outshone by Michael Clarke's 6 for 9. Australia collapsed to 93 all out chasing 107 and Hauritz hasn't had a Test look-in since. He has also had to move states to keep his first-class career afloat.
The Australian selectors don't mind making players wait for their chance - just ask Mike Hussey - but occasionally they pluck out a youngster. Hauritz was summoned for the 2004-05 tour of India ahead of Stuart MacGill, but was expected to carry the drinks throughout since Warne was in the side. However, Warne was injured after the third Test, so Hauritz suddenly became the frontline spinner. On a raging turner at the Wankhede Stadium he claimed five wickets in the last Test - including VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar in the second innings - but was outshone by Michael Clarke's 6 for 9. Australia collapsed to 93 all out chasing 107 and Hauritz hasn't had a Test look-in since. He has also had to move states to keep his first-class career afloat.
Prosper Utseya
One of a host of Zimbabwe players pushed into international cricket too early by the collapse of the team, Utseya has managed to forge a promising career as an offspinning allrounder. The start, though, was a humbling experience: he was called into action at the last minute when a host of rebel players withdrew ahead of Sri Lanka's visit in 2004. Utseya didn't bat or bowl in his first match. and it took him until the 2006 tour of West Indies to make a mark. A greater elevation was around the corner, though, when he was surprisingly handed the captaincy as Zimbabwe tried to maintain an international team worthy of the name.
One of a host of Zimbabwe players pushed into international cricket too early by the collapse of the team, Utseya has managed to forge a promising career as an offspinning allrounder. The start, though, was a humbling experience: he was called into action at the last minute when a host of rebel players withdrew ahead of Sri Lanka's visit in 2004. Utseya didn't bat or bowl in his first match. and it took him until the 2006 tour of West Indies to make a mark. A greater elevation was around the corner, though, when he was surprisingly handed the captaincy as Zimbabwe tried to maintain an international team worthy of the name.
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer at Cricinfo