Irish star O’Brien joins immortals

WHEN Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien powered his way to a century in the second innings of the Test against Pakistan on Monday, he joined an elite group of cricketers who have reached that mark in their country’s maiden dance on the Test arena.

One of those cricketers is Zimbabwe’s own Dave Houghton who compiled his century in the Chevrons first Test against India at Harare Sports Club in October 1992.

Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe’s inaugural Test, against India in Harare in October 1992, their 35-year-old captain Dave Houghton became the first man since Charles Bannerman 115 years earlier to score a century in his country’s first match. Houghton’s 121 helped ensure that Zimbabwe became the first team not to lose their first Test match since Australia in Bannerman’s match.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh started their Test career with a flourish, running up 400 against India in Dhaka in November 2000. The main contributor was Aminul Islam, who batted for 535 minutes for a splendid 145. “Before the end of the game, he was a taka millionaire on donations alone,” reported Wisden, “although an exchange rate of 80 takas to the pound meant this was not quite the fortune it appeared.”

Sadly, after this fine start, Bangladesh collapsed for 91 in their second innings, and ended up losing - a scenario that has become depressingly familiar ever since.

Sri Lanka

When Sri Lanka finally gained admission Sidath Wettimuny soon made up for lost time, batting throughout the first day of what was only their third official Test, against Pakistan in Faisalabad in March 1982. He ended up with 157. In 1984, Wettimuny played an even more famous innings, anchoring Sri Lanka’s lofty total in their first Test at Lord’s with a technically superb 190.

Australia

Test cricket - and Australia - didn’t have to wait very long for the first century. Charles Bannerman (who was actually born in England) faced the first ball of the inaugural Test, in Melbourne in 1876-77, scored the first runs . . . and before the end of the first day had reached three figures.

He finished with 165 before retiring hurt with a split hand. Australia made only 245 in all, and Bannerman’s percentage of the overall total (67.3%) remains a Test record. - Sports Reporter/Cricinfo.