Representing the country at the highest level is the sole aim of any aspiring cricketer. As all are aware, the road to the same is not a smooth one, but one filled with a lot of obstacles and potholes. Having successfully overcome all of them, a player procures the highest honour of playing for the nation. Once that happens, it is upon the player himself to grab the opportunity with both hands and cement his place in the star-studded national side. For a batsman, that means scoring big runs or picking crucial scalps in the case of bowlers. We have witnessed numerous good spells bowled by bowlers on their ODI debut which in turn helped them in carving a unique niche for themselves. In the below piece, we look at 5 best bowling figures on ODI debut:
1. Kagiso Rabada (6-16)
This fearsome speedster proudly attains the top spot in this illustrious list. He achieved the landmark against Bangladesh during the 1
st ODI at Dhaka in 2015. The home team, who won the toss, chose to bat first and posted a meagre total of 160 on the board in their 50 overs.
Rabada on debut, was the chief destructor for the Proteas with figures of 8-3-16-6, breaking the backbone of this Bangladeshi line-up. In reply, the visitors chased it down with ease on the back of a good innings of 63(75) by Du Plessis and 45(53) by Rossouw. South Africa won the contest by 8 wickets and more than 18 overs to spare, taking a vital 1-0 lead in the series.
2. Fidel Edwards (6-22)
One of the fastest bowlers in world cricket, who is active even today plying his trade in different T20 leagues around the world, Edwards wreaked havoc against Zimbabwe during the 4
th ODI at Harare in 2003. Put into bat first, the Windies side managed a score of 256-3 in 45 overs courtesy a gritty innings of 127(141) by Hinds and 51(34) by Gayle. In response, the hosts could only manage 150-7 in 32 overs, losing the contest by 72 runs (D/L method). Taibu was the top-scorer for Zimbabwe with a knock of 66(85) while Edwards rattled the opposition with his express pace, finishing the game with figures of 7-1-22-6.
3. Jan Frylinck (5-13)
A left-arm medium-pacer from Namibia,
Frylinck accomplished the landmark against Oman during the final of ICC World Cricket League at Wanderers Sports Grounds in 2019. Having won the toss, Namibia chose to bat first and posted a competitive total of 226-7 in their 50 overs. Birkenstock lead the fight with bat in hand, scoring 61(108) and Frylinck ably supported him coming lower down, smashing 16(6). The total as it turned out, proved too hefty for Oman, who were skittled out for just 81, handing their oppressors a win by a gargantuan margin of 145 runs. Frylinck was the star with the ball in hand, ending the game with figures of 8-1-13-5.
4. Tony Dodemaide (5-21)
A right-arm medium pacer from Australia, Dodemaide achieved the feat against Sri Lanka during the 1
st game of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup, 1988 at Perth. Sri Lanka, who won the toss, invited Australia to bat first, who posted a tricky total of 249-7 in their 50 overs. Boon and Jones were the principal contributors with bat in hand, stroking 56(81) and 55(63) respectively. The target, though, not the biggest going around, proved way too much for the visiting Sri Lankan team, who were bundled out for a mere score of 168 in 44.2 overs, bestowing the hosts a victory by a convincing margin of 81 runs. Dodemaide was the premier reason for the same, who recorded figures of 7.2-0-21-5 on his ODI debut.
5. Uvais Karnain (5-26)
An effective right-arm medium-fast bowler and a handy contributor with the bat lower down, Karnain made it to the list after bowling this impressive spell against the Kiwis during the 2
nd ODI at Moratuwa in 1984. The visitors, who won the toss, elected to field first and put the hosts into bat on a dicey Moratuwa wicket. Sri Lanka managed a paltry score of 157-8 in 40 overs on the back of a crucial 50(60) by Ranatunga and 28(24) by Karnain. Having restricted the hosts to such a low total, it was indeed a cakewalk for the Kiwis to chase the total down and win a vital encounter. Hapless, it wasn’t to be as the visitors were decimated for just 116 in 34 overs, handing their rivals a win by 41 runs. Karnain was the pick of the bowler for the Lankans, finishing with figures of 8-1-26-5.
