First Test centurions for every test team

Test Cricket is the most coveted, respected and loved form of the game of cricket. It has shaped and determined people’s idols and inspirations. Nothing can beat the thrill of witnessing a Test match, with its umpteen twists and turns.

The longest form of the game is considered its highest standard. The first ever Test match was played between England and Australia from 15-19 March 1877 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Australia won by 45 runs.

This format has had to face a lot of trials and tribulations in recent times. Owing to the quality of oppositions and pitches on offer, Test matches are becoming rather one-sided and mostly end up being high scoring draws.

To counter the threat caused by the ever-increasing lure of T20 leagues across the globe, cricket administrators have had to take notice and adopt measures to maintain the glory of Test cricket. A day-night Test was introduced a couple of years back where Australia played hosts to New Zealand, using a pink ball.

This is the current situation for Test cricket. Purists never have, and never will accept the fact that T20 is the most popular and interesting form of the game. Nevertheless, every country will definitely cherish having played so many Test matches, over the years since their inception into Test cricket.

For all the cricket lovers, we take you down memory lane by featuring the first Test centurions for each Test team.

Australia

Australia and for that matter Test match cricket didn’t have to wait too long to witness their first Test centurion. In the inaugural Test match played between Australia and England at the MCG, Australia’s Charles Bannerman scored the first ever century in the history of Test cricket.

He scored the first Test run against England, on route to a fabulous 165 runs before retiring hurt with a split hand. And what’s surprising is, after all these years and after so many Test matches played worldwide, there is one record that Charles Bannerman still holds- the percentage of runs of the overall total, 67.5%.

Bangladesh

At the turn of the millennium, in the year 2000, Bangladesh made their Test debut against India. Played at Dhaka in November 2000 it was a match which would go down in the record books.

Bangladesh started off with a bang by scoring a humungous total of 400 against an established Indian side and the chief contributor was Aminul Islam who batted for 535 minutes on his way to a splendid knock of 145.

But after their spirited beginning, they collapsed like a pack of cards in the second innings to get bundled out for a measly total of 91 to lose their inaugural test match. And it’s very sad that this trend of Bangladesh not winning or competing in test matches hasn’t changed eighteen years after they got test match status.

England

W G Grace

The English test team couldn’t taste too much success in their first-ever series against Australia in Australia. No one was able to create or break any records, or in this case, create history.

It was in the year 1880, in their fourth Test overall and their first at home at The Oval that England got its first ever Test centurion in the form of W.G Grace. The great batsman created history for England by notching up a match-winning 152 runs.

England’s captain at that time, James Lillywhite went on to praise Charles Bannerman’s efforts by saying that only the great W.G Grace could have outdone him. That was good England rated Charles Bannerman’s knock.

India

Lala Amarnath

India made their Test debut as a country much later than the likes of England and Australia. They first played test cricket in the year 1933. In their second ever Test match, the world of cricket got to see the first test century from an Indian.

In the Bombay Gymkhana against England, India’s fine all-rounder Lala Amarnath, who also was India’s captain later on, scored a fighting 118 albeit in a losing cause.

India was cricket crazy even back then in 1933. Lala Amarnath recollects that upon returning to the hotel after his brilliant batting effort, a huge crowd was waiting for him. He also said it took fifteen minutes for him to make it to the hotel lobby and he had a dozen odd gold Rolex watches strewed in his bed!

Lala Amarnath had created history and cemented his name in the record books post getting his and India’s first ever test century. And that craze and love for their favorite cricketers has certainly not reduced in India, in fact, it has only gone up with each passing year.

Ireland

Kevin O Brien

The most recent entrants into the Test match circuit- Ireland created history by becoming the 11th Test team to become a full-time Test playing nation. They soon will be joined by Afghanistan who will mark their inroad into Test cricket, in yet another show of their improvement as a cricketing nation when they take on India at Bengaluru.

Ireland faced Pakistan in their first ever Test match at Malhide. They gave a very good account of themselves, pushing Pakistan really close, as they didn’t allow it to be a lopsided affair.

What tops of this monumental occasion for Ireland was the fact that their all-rounder Kevin O'Brien notched his and his country’s first Test century in this game. He went on to score 118 after his team was asked to follow-on in pace-friendly conditions.

His century will be remembered for a long time, as its knocks like this which gives renewed hope that no matter what Test Cricket will, and always be a force to reckon with.

New Zealand

Stewie Dempster(Middle row, first from right)

New Zealand saw two batsmen, yes two score centuries in their maiden Test match. In the year 1931, against West Indies at Wellington, two Kiwi batsmen Stewie Dempster and Jackie Mills went on to score centuries after being involved in a mammoth partnership of 276 runs.

Of course, the record books will mention Stewie Dempster's name as he was the first Kiwi Test centurion, scoring 136 runs. He also scored New Zealand’s first overseas century against England at the Lords in the year 1931.

Pakistan

Nazar Mohammed

Pakistan made their Test debut in the year 1952 against their arch-rivals, India at New Delhi. They didn’t have a memorable debut as India won by an innings, leaving more questions than answers for Pakistan.

They needed something special to happen to resurrect their tour. And it was provided by their batsman Nazar Mohammad, who patiently batted through Pakistan’s 515-minute innings to score 124 runs. And he was assisted by spinner Fazal Mohammad who took twelve wickets in the match to hand Pakistan their first test match victory.

South Africa

Jimmy Sinclair(Left)

Among the weaker teams to start their journey in Test cricket were the Proteas. They went seven Test matches before a batsman could register a fifty. In 1898-99, at the Newlands in Cape Town, history was made as in their 8th game as a Test match nation, they got their first centurion.

The player who managed to become the first Test centurion for South Africa was Jimmy Sinclair by making 106 runs. But what Jimmy Sinclair couldn’t do was to stop the string of defeats for his country, but nevertheless, he’s entered the record books and coincidentally is the player to score the first three centuries for South Africa.

Sri Lanka

Sidath Wettimuny

Thirty years after Pakistan made their foray into test match cricket, Sri Lanka made their test debuts. In the year 1982, Sri Lanka made their test debut against Pakistan at Faisalabad.

And the Lankans didn’t waste too much time, as in their first game their batsman Sidath Wettimuny notched up Sri Lanka’s first ever century. He ended up with a brilliant 157. But what he would be famously remembered for is his fighting and courageous knock of 190 against England at the Lord’s stadium, the home of cricket.

West Indies

Clifford Roach(Left)

West Indies made their test debut in the year 1930. They faced off against England in Bridgetown, Barbados which used to be known for his fast and hostile decks, unlike what we see in modern times- flat and slow.

A Trinidadian, Clifford Roach was the first centurion for the West Indies in their first test against England. He went on to score 122 runs. Not only had that he also gone to notch up the first ever double ton by the Caribbean in the same series against England.

Well, looking at West Indies and the state of their test cricket currently, they could do with another Clifford Roach to revive their lost touch and glory.

Zimbabwe

Dave Houghton

Zimbabwe’s captain for their inaugural Test match against India at Harare in 1992, Dave Houghton made it to the record books for a very good reason. He happens to be the oldest player to become the first centurion for his team.

Also, after Charles Bannerman for Australia, 118 years later, Dave Houghton’s knock ensured that Zimbabwe didn’t lose their debut match, something which all other teams did. Some achievement that by Dave Houghton and Zimbabwe!