5 players who had to wait for a long time before making their Test debuts

For cricketers, a call-up to the national squad means a lot. That is what they play for. Every cricketer dreams to represent his national squad and don the national colours. However, a call-up to the squad isn’t the end of the story. Some cricketers have to wait for a long time before making their debuts.Especially, in Test cricket, which is undoubtedly the pinnacle of all the formats, a player sometimes have to wait for a long time before getting the chance to earn the much-revered test cap. Cricketers themselves admit that a test cap remains their highest priority.They might have represented their respective countries in the other formats, but a test debut remained elusive for them for a number of years.Let’s have a look at 5 such players who had to wait for a long time before making their test debuts

#5 Ajinkya Rahane

Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane celebrates a century against Sri Lanka.

This talented right-hander from India had to wait for a long time before making his test debut. He was named in the Test squad in 2011 to play against West Indies. But he had to see seven players making their test debuts before him. He finally got the chance to make his test debut against Australia in 2013. He was very unimpressive in his debut and received a lot of flak.

Since then, he has matured to become one of India’s mainstays in the longer version of the game. He scored a magnificent hundred in Lords in 2014 to help India win a test match at Lords after 28 years.

#4 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh of Australia bats during day two of the First Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Blundstone Arena on December 11, 2015 in Hobart, Australia.

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The elegant left-hander from Australia was always tipped to be a good Test match player. He was included in the test squad for Australia’s tour to India in 2008 but didn’t play a single game.

Marsh made his test debut for Australia against Sri Lanka in 2011 and scored a century on his debut. He scored 141 and shared a crucial partnership with Michael Hussey.

Despite having immense talent, he hasn’t been able to cement his place in the test squad due to inconsistent performances.

#3 Brad Haddin

Brad Haddin had to wait for 7 long years before making his test debut.

Brad Haddin’s ultimate misfortune was that he belonged to the era of Australia’s all-time great wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist. He had to wait for a long time before making his Test debut. Brad Haddin was called up as part of Australia’s 2005 Ashes squad but didn’t play a single game.

After Gilchrist's retirement in early 2008, Haddin finally made his Test debut on May 22 against the West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica.

#2 Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann of England bowls during day one of the First Ashes Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba on November 21, 2013 in Brisbane, Australia.

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One of England’s best spinners of all time, Graeme Swann was someone who made his test debut in 2008 but he earned a call-up to the squad way back in 1999. He was brought into the England squad for the final Test against New Zealand in 1999. Swann did play a one-day game in that tour but had to wait for 9 long years before making his Test debut.

Swann made his Test debut in 2008 against India and made an immediate impact as he scalped two wickets in his very first over. He dismissed Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid and became only the second player in Test history after Richard Johnson who also played for England to take two wickets in his first Test over.

#1 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma had to wait for 3 years before making his test debut.

The ever-so-talented Rohit Sharma burst onto the scene in the 2007 T20 World Cup and he caught the eyes of the connoisseurs as he made a classy 50 on a green track against a South Africa bowling lineup in that World Cup. He was soon drafted into the ODI squad and played exceptionally well in the Commonwealth Bank series in Australia. He earned praises from former greats and even a stern critic like Ian Chappell.

However, despite possessing immense talent and showing tremendous potential, Rohit lost his place in the ODI squad due to inconsistent performances. He couldn’t break into the test squad as well. However in 2010, he was selected for the Indian test squad as a reserve batsman which was scheduled to play South Africa. When VVS Laxman failed to recover from an injury, Rohit was scheduled to play the Test match against South Africa in Nagpur.

However, on the morning of the match, he got injured while playing football and Wriddhiman Saha made his debut in that test match. Rohit had to wait for 3 more years before making his Test debut against West Indies in Kolkata in 2013. He scored a century on his debut and bailed India out of trouble in that game.