Test debut fifers: The heroes who came before Sri Lanka's Praveen Jayawickrama

Praveen Jayawickrama

Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama recently became the first Sri Lankan to claim 10 or more wickets on Test debut. He achieved this match-winning feat during the second Test against Bangladesh to become the 10th player overall to pick five or more wickets in each innings of his maiden Test.

mid-day.com looks at other players who have claimed five or more wickets in both innings of their debut match.

Frederick Martin (England) v Australia: 6-50 & 6-52, The Oval, London (1880)
England left-arm pacer Frederick Martin was the first bowler to claim 10 or more wickets on Test debut. Martin, nicknamed Nutty, grabbed 12-102 against Australia to hold a record of best figures by a debutant until Aussie Bob Massie (16-137) rattled England in 1972. Martin claimed six wickets each in both innings as England beat Australia by two wickets in the second Test to seal the three-match series 2-0.

Thomas Richardson (England) v Australia: 5-49 & 5-107, Manchester (1893)
England pacer Thomas Richardson, considered as one of the finest fast bowlers in history, began his Test career with a bang, claiming five wickets in both innings of the third Test against Australia to finish with a match figures of 5-156. The third and final match, however, ended in a draw but England went on to win the series 1-0.

Clarence Grimmett (Australia) v England: 5-45 & 6-37, Sydney (1925)
Clarence Grimmett spun Australia to victory in the fifth and final Test over England. The leg-spinner claimed 11 wickets giving away just 82 runs, which included five and six wickets in first and second innings respectively as the hosts registered a massive 307-run win to win the series 4-1.

Charles Marriott (England) v West Indies: 5-37 & 6-59, The Oval (1933)
Charles Marriott, considered one of the best leg break and googly bowlers on the domestic circuit, didn't disappoint in his only Test against the West Indies. The Englishman picked five and six wickets in the first and second innings respectively as hosts England registered an innings and 17 run win in the third Test to clinch the series 2-0.

Kenneth Farnes (England) v Australia: 5-102 & 5-77, (1934)
Cambridge and Essex fast bowler Kenneth Farnes, who was quite impressive in domestic cricket, lived up to expectations by claiming 10 wickets in his maiden Test against Australia. However, despite his fine performance, England went on to lose the match as Australia began the five-match series on a splendid note, winning the game by a massive 238 runs.

Hines Johnson (West Indies) v England: 5-41 & 5-55, Jamaica (1948)
Pacer Hines Johnson (6 feet, 3 inches tall), looked impressive on his Test debut. He was rewarded with five wickets in each innings as West Indies went on to win the fourth Test by 10 wickets to clinch the series 2-0.

Sydney Burke (South Africa) v New Zealand: 6-128 & 5-68, Cape Town (1962)
Right-arm pacer Sydney Burke had a dream debut against New Zealand, claiming 11-196. But his efforts, however, went in vain as The Kiwis beat the hosts by 72 runs to win their first-ever Test match in South Africa. To everyone's surprise, Burke was made 12th man for the next Test. He played his second and final Test three years later against England at the same ground.

Bob Massie (Australia) v England: 8-84 & 8-53, Lord's, London (1972)
Australia went into the series against England as underdogs having not won a single match in the last 11 Tests. But Ray Illingworth's men fell into the trap laid by debutant Bob Massie, who claimed 16 wickets, conceding just 137 runs as Australia beat England by eight wickets to level the five-match series 1-1.

Narendra Hirwani (India) v West Indies: 8-61 & 8-75, Chennai (1988)
Narendra Hirwani is the only Indian bowler to claim 10 or more wickets on Test debut. The leg-spinner achieved this feat against West Indies, when he returned an impressive 16-wicket match haul. Hirwani's eight wickets in each innings helped the Ravi Shastri-led side beat West Indies by a massive 255-run margin to end the five-match Test series 1-1. It was India's first Test match and series win over the West Indies in 10 years.