Though every match is important and special for a cricketer, however, debut and last matches are the most special ones. A player always tries to give their best and memorable performances in their first match to make it memorable. Interestingly, there have been a few cricketers who started their careers and ended their careers on the same ground.
Here, we bring you a list of all the cricketers who started and ended their test careers on the same match. Have a look:
7) Ricky Ponting – Waca Ground, Perth:
Ricky Ponting, the Australian cricketer, is considered as one of the most successful skippers in the history of international cricket, having won 220 matches from a total of 324 matches. During his glorious career, he played a total of 168 Tests and 375 ODIs for the Australian cricket team. Ricky Ponting made his Test debut in the year 1995 against Sri Lanka at the Waca, Perth ground. Interestingly, he played his last Test match against South Africa in the year 2012 at the Perth ground.
6) Brett Lee – Melbourne Cricket Stadium:
Former Australian cricketer, Brett Lee is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the world, with the fastest delivery measuring to 161-1km/h. Brett Lee made his test debut against India at Melbourne cricket stadium in the year 1999 and during his test career, he took 310 wickets in 76 tests he played. He played his last match against South Africa in the year 2008 at Melbourne Cricket Stadium.
5) Dale Steyn – St. George’s Park, Port Elizabeth:
Dale Steyn, the former South African cricketer is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of Test cricket. Dale Steyn took 439 rickets in 93 tests. He made his test debut against England in the year 2004 at St. George’s Park. Also, he played his last test match on the same ground against Sri Lanka at the same ground where he started his career.
4) Graeme Smith – Newlands, Cape Town:
Graeme Smith is the only cricketer to have led his side as skipper in more than 100 Tests.Smith made his debut in the year 2002 against Australia in Newlands, Cape Town and he played his last Test match in 2014 against Australia on the same ground.
3) Jacques Kallis – Kingsmead, Durban:
Jacques Kallis is the greatest all-rounder in the history of cricket, having taken 292 wickets and scoring more than 13000 runs in Tests. Kallis made his Test debut against England at the Kingsmead, Durban Test in 1995. While he played his last Test in 2013 against India on this ground.
2) Andrew Strauss – Lord’s Cricket Ground:
Former England cricketer Andrew Strauss is also included in this list. Andrew made his debut against New Zealand in the year 2004 and he announced his retirement from test match on the same ground against South Africa in 2012.
1) Shane Warne – Sydney Cricket Ground:
Shane Warne is one of the greatest cricketers to have played this game, having taken 700 wickets in Tests. It was in the year 1992 when Shane Warne made his Test debut against India and he retired on the same match playing against England in 2007.
