First ball six, Man of the Match - Mark Craig leaves a lasting mark in debut Test

New Zealand off spinner Mark Craig

On 4^th day of the 1^st Test between New Zealand and West Indies, won by the visitors by 186 runs at Sabina Park, Kingston, debutant off-spinner Mark Craig became only the first player ever in Test cricket history to smash the first delivery he faced for a six.

The 27-year-old was also only the 2^nd player after Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir to hit a six off the first ball he faced in International cricket. The Pakistani achieved the feat in the inaugural World Twenty-20 tournament’s final against arch rivals India. Tanvir carted S Sreesanth for a crucial six that brought Pakistan back into the game in the 18th over of a tense chase, which Pakistan eventually lost.

Craig, who bats left handed, hit Sulieman Benn for a six over long off in his first ball as New Zealand were looking for quick runs to declare to their innings. Craig also broke the New Zealand record for the best performance by a debutant bowler with his match haul of 8 for 188. He picked up 4 for 91 in first innings before he came back to bag another 4 wickets for 97 runs. Incidentally, in both the innings, he captured 2 wickets in a space of 3 deliveries.

He also became only the third Kiwi Test debutant after Stephen Fleming and Mathew Sinclair to be named Man of the Match.

The Auckland born plays for Otago in the domestic matches through which he got the selectors’ attention. With convincing performances in the couple of warm-up matches against Jamaica XI, he was drafted into the side to form a two member spin attack.