Smart starts

Following on from this week's List, we take a more detailed look at some of the most successful debut series for batsmen and bowlers. They aren't necessarily statistically the best, but the impact they had is also taken into consideration. There was also a minimum qualification of playing three Tests in a series

George Headley v England, 1929-30 - 703 runs @87.87
Slight of build but with sublime touch and timing, George Headley, the first great West Indian batsman, was known as the Black Bradman, and it was not hard to see why. He was unlucky not to be picked for West Indies' inaugural Test series, in England in 1928, even though he was only 18, but by the time of the return series in 1929-30 he was an assured selection. He scored 703 runs in eight innings, averaging 87.80. His scores included 21 and a chanceless 176 on his debut in his first Test, 114 and 112 in the third, and 223 in the fourth. He chipped in with three fifties in as many innings for Jamaica in the tour matches for good measure.

Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine v England, 1950 - 33 wickets @20.42 & 26 wickets @23.23
England knew all about the three Ws ahead of the 1950 series, but the inspired selections were those of unknown spinners Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine. Before the tour Valentine, who turned 20 shortly after he arrived in England from Jamaica, and Trinidad's Ramadhin, 21, had played just two first-class matches apiece (both trial matches for the trip). Neither did much of note but they were picked anyway and from the start the pair of them tormented England. In the Tests, Ramadhin took wickets 26 at 23.23, Valentine 33 at 20.42, as West Indies stunned England, coming back from defeat in the first Test to win the series 3-1. In all, Ramadhin took 135 wickets on the tour at 14.88, and Valentine 123 at 17.94. Both were named among Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1951.

Barry Richards v Australia, 1969-70 - 508 runs @72.57
This was the beginning and the end of Barry Richards' Test career. One of the greatest batsmen to play the game was limited to four matches because of apartheid, but what a four matches they were. "Richards was tall and elegant. He was still at the crease, saw the ball earlier than anyone and used his wrists to perfection," wrote Rodney Hartman in The Wisden Cricketer. "He had the potential to become one of the all-time great Test batsmen." It started fairly quietly in his first ,Test with scores of 29 and 32 as South Africa won by 170 runs. Then Richards got into gear in Durban with 140 off 164 balls. Australia were outplayed from start to finish and barely had a foothold in any of the games. Richards rounded off the series - a 4-0 whitewash - with 126 in Port Elizabeth, but this was the pinnacle for a great South African side before 22 years of isolation robbed the players of their international careers.

Sunil Gavaskar v West Indies, 1970-71 - 774 runs @154.80
Easy game, Test cricket. At least it looked that way for Sunil Gavaskar after he finished his first series, against West Indies, with the small matter of 774 runs. He missed the first Test, but on debut provided important innings of 64 and 67 as India completed their first victory over West Indies. The next three Tests finished in draws, in no small part down to Gavaskar's contributions, especially in the final Test in Port-of-Spain. He made 124 in the first innings, but West Indies gained a lead of 166 after centuries from Charlie Davis and Garry Sobers. Gavaskar, though, set out on a marathon effort to ensure India held on for the series, batting for nearly nine hours to reach 220. He'd set a high benchmark, but managed to maintain it throughout a 16-year career and ended with 10,122 runs.

David Steele v Australia, 1975 - 365 runs @60.83
Coming down from the dressing room at Lord's for his first Test innings, David Steele went down one flight of stairs too many and finished in the toilets. It was rare wrong turn. Called up to bolster a faltering England batting line-up against Lillee and Thomson, Steele stood up against the fierce pace and earned the acclaim of a nation. After leaving the toilet he made 50 and 45 at Lord's, following that with a fine double of 73 and 92 at Headingley. Before the series his butcher had offered him a pork chop for every run and a steak for every fifty as part of his benefit year - it was a promised he regretted. That first century, though, continued to prove elusive as Steele fell for 66 at The Oval, Australia holding on for a 1-0 series victory. His performances were enough to win him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but his Test career only lasted eight matches and finished the followed year after a series against West Indies.

Rodney Hogg v England, 1978-79 - 41 wickets @12.85
Fast bowler Rodney Hogg was plucked from obscurity in 1978-79 to lead an Australian attack decimated by defections to World Series Cricket and he did all that was asked of him and more, finishing the Ashes series with 41 wickets at 12.85. Even so, his heroics could not prevent a weak side losing 1-4. Hogg's fiery temper was not to everyone's liking: he repeatedly clashed with Graham Yallop who he had first fallen out with at school level a decade earlier, culminating in Hogg offering to take his skipper round the back of the Adelaide Oval to sort things out. "The selectors wanted to drop him after the second Test because they saw him as a distraction," Yallop recalled. "I argued we didn't need any further controversy in the light of WSC. Off the field he was okay. But once he got on the field he was a different bloke."

Mohammad Azharuddin v England, 1985 - 439 runs @109.75
His career would end in controversy but Mohammad Azharuddin started with a bang, against England. The series was level at 1-1 when he made his debut in a dull match at Eden Gardens, blighted by smog and slow scoring. India batted for 200 overs to reach 437, but Azharuddin's 110 was a pleasant highlight. "He confirmed the impression made in Jaipur and Ahmedabad of placid temperament, sound technique and flawless application," said Wisden. He followed this with another century, in a heavy defeat in Madras, then scored 122 in Kanpur although he couldn't help India claw back the series.

Dominic Cork v West Indies, 1995 - 26 wickets @25.42 & 197 runs @28.14
The England team during the 1990s wasn't the most joyous of places to be, but occasionally a player was unearthed to bring a much-needed spark. The previous summer it had been Darren Gough, but 1995 was all about Dominic Cork - which is just how Dominic Cork liked it. After missing out on the first Test, he debuted at Lord's with stunning results, bowling England a final-day victory with 7 for 43, the best debut figures by an Englishmen. And he couldn't stop taking wickets. Two games later, at Old Trafford, he put England on track for another victory with a hat-trick in the first over of the fourth day. Richie Richardson dragged on, Junior Murray was trapped lbw, and the same fate befell Carl Hooper. Cork could do no wrong - for that summer at least.

Adam Gilchrist v Pakistan, 1999-2000 - 264 runs @88, 12 catches and one stumping
Adam Gilchrist redefined what a keeper-batsman could do for a team, but when he entered the team in November 1999 it wasn't with unanimous acclaim. He debuted in Brisbane, the home ground of Ian Healy, whose illustrious career had been brought to an end. Healy was offered a Gabba farewell, but Australians don't stand on ceremony when their time is up. Still, it didn't make for the easiest of transitions for Gilchrist. Not that you wouldn't have believed it from his performances. He slammed 88 in his first innings; however it was in the second Test, in Hobart, that he showed his match-winning qualities with an unforgettable 149 as Australia chased 369. He went on to be a key component as Australia formed one of the strongest sides of all-time.

Michael Clarke v India, 2004-05 - 400 runs @57.14 & 6 wickets @ 2.17
This was one of the most keenly anticipated debuts in Australian cricket. He had been earmarked as an international batsman - and likely future captain - from a young age, and had moved seamlessly through the age groups. But Clarke's success in India went beyond expectations. His 151 on debut in Bangalore came when Australia were tottering on 149 for 4. He became the first Australian for ten years to score a hundred in his first Test. "He played with real audacity, particularly against the spinners, picking the length early and using his feet to get to the pitch of the ball," said Wisden. Clarke then played a key role in securing "the final frontier" - Australia's first series win in India for 35 years - with 91 and 73 in Nagpur. India clawed back one Test on a raging turner in Mumbai, but just for good measure Clarke collected 6 for 9 with his left-arm spin.

Kevin Pietersen v Australia, 2005 - 473 @52.55
It's hard to believe now, but Pietersen nearly didn't play the 2005 Ashes. Graham Thorpe was hanging on to his England place and there were those who thought his experience would be vital. However, Duncan Fletcher took a plunge on Pietersen and it paid off handsomely. He was the lone batting highlight at Lord's as England were crushed by 239 runs, and his bombastic approach helped sway the momentum at Edgbaston. A couple of quiet Tests followed - not helped by his habit of dropping sitters - but then the series came to a thrilling denouement at The Oval. England were racked with tension on the final day, but Pietersen rose above it, albeit after being dropped three times. His 158 buried Australia's hopes amid increasing scenes of increasing celebration which would go on for weeks.