Test cricket is often associated with the elegant strokes of top-order batters and the gritty resistance of middle-order stalwarts. However, there are moments when the lower order, particularly the number nine batters, step up to the plate and deliver performances that defy expectations. These innings, played under immense pressure, not only rescue their teams but also etch their names in the annals of cricket history. Here, we celebrate five remarkable debut performances by number nine batters in Test cricket.
Milan Rathnayake (Image Source: X(Twitter))
Topping our list is Milan Rathnayake, who made an unforgettable Test debut for Sri Lanka against England in Manchester in 2024. With Sri Lanka reeling at 113/7, Rathnayake’s entry at number nine seemed like a formality. However, what followed was an extraordinary display of grit and determination.
Rathnayake scored a record-breaking 72 off 135 balls, surpassing the previous highest score by a number nine debutant. His innings included six boundaries and two sixes, and more importantly, it helped Sri Lanka recover to a respectable total of 236. His 63-run partnership with captain Dhananjaya de Silva was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s fightback.
Balwinder Sandhu (Image Source: X(Twitter))
Balwinder Sandhu’s debut innings in the fourth Test against Pakistan at Hyderabad (Sind) in January 1983 remains one of the most memorable performances by a number nine batter. Facing a formidable Pakistani bowling attack led by Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz, Sandhu walked in with India in deep trouble.
Displaying remarkable composure, Sandhu scored 71 off 88 balls, with nine boundaries and two sixes. Although India eventually lost the match by an innings and 119 runs, Sandhu’s fighting knock was a beacon of hope in an otherwise dismal performance by the Indian team.
Darren Gough (Image Source: X(Twitter))
In June 1994, England’s Darren Gough, better known for his fiery fast bowling, played a pivotal role with the bat on his Test debut against New Zealand in Manchester. Coming in at number nine with England in a precarious position, Gough scored 65 off 126 balls, including 10 boundaries.
Gough’s innings was crucial in steering England to a respectable total of 382. While the match ended in a draw, Gough’s contribution with the bat was widely praised.
Monde Zondeki (Image Source: X(Twitter))
Monde Zondeki, the fast bowler turned unexpected hero, smashed 59 off 128 balls on his Test debut against England in Leeds 2003. With a bat in hand and boundaries flying, Zondeki’s gritty innings were the surprise package that powered South Africa to a formidable 342.
Zondeki’s effort was not just about the runs but also the time he spent at the crease, frustrating the English bowlers and giving his team the platform they needed to secure a 191-run victory.
Wilf Ferguson (Image Source: X(Twitter))
Kicking off our list is Wilf Ferguson of the West Indies, who made his Test debut against England in Bridgetown in January 1948. Batting at number nine, Ferguson’s unbeaten 56 in the second innings was instrumental in helping the West Indies declare at 351/9.
In an era when lower-order batters were not expected to contribute significantly with the bat, Ferguson’s knock was a refreshing display of resilience.
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