Rookies take different roads to test debuts
They’re tall and they’re test cricketers. There ends the similarities between Will Somerville and Shaheen Afridi.
The two made their test debuts on Monday night (NZ time) on day one of the third and final test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Dubai – Somerville aged 34 and Shaheen 18.
Both could have walked off content with their efforts – Somerville, batting at No 9, was unbeaten on 12 as he added handy tail runs with wicketkeeperbatsman BJ Watling (42no), while Shaheen took 1-43 off 17 overs as the Black Caps posted 229 for seven, Kane Williamson holding the faltering innings together with 89 from 176 balls.
Offspinner Somerville was selected for his debut ahead of legspinner Ish Sodhi after being called up for the tour following an injury to Todd Astle.
He was born in Wellington, made his first-class debut for Otago, had two stints in Australia and was talked about as a potential test player across the ditch before returning this year to chase a place for New Zealand.
The lanky spinner impressed with New South Wales in the 2016-17 season, taking 35 Sheffield Shield wickets at 23, but then was pushed into the background again behind internationals Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe.
After prompting from former test stalwarts Bruce Edgar and Daniel Vettori, Auckland signed Somerville over winter.
In between, he’s worked as a chartered accountant and never given up on the dream of playing at the highest level.
‘‘My family’s made a lot of sacrifices to come here with my children,’’ he said after his callup. ‘‘It’s been a long time coming and my dad always told me ‘your career is a lesson in persistence’.’
Somerville wasn’t NZ’s oldest test debutant – that honour stays with Herb McGirr, 38, from the 1929-30 season. Pakistan have never been afraid to blood them young – Shaheen became the 35th player under 19 to debut at test level.