7 Worst ODI debuts ranked: Sonny Baker joins this list of nightmare bowling performances

Jonhenry Wilson
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Sonny Baker hit for six
England's Sonny Baker weathered a disappointing ODI debut in September 2025.

Sonny Baker endured a nightmare ODI cricket debut for England.

But just how bad was it in comparison to other poor ODI debuts?

Find out more about the worst bowling performances on debut in ODIs.

1. Jediah Blades (West Indies)

  • ODI debut figures: 0/73 in 6
  • Opposition: Bangladesh

Blades holds the unwanted record for the worst bowling figures on ODI debut. This happened in Basseterre in 2024. West Indies still managed to win the match despite Blades being put to the sword.

Perhaps debut nerves got the better of him as four Bangladesh half-centurions clouted the international rookie to all corners of Warner Park. The Windies have afforded Blades a few more ODI since, with slightly better results.

2. Sonny Baker (England)

  • ODI debut figures: 0/76 in 7
  • Opposition: South Africa

Spinner Liam Dawson was the unproud owner of England‘s worst bowling figures on ODI debut for nine years. Dawson probably wouldn’t wish it on his countryman, but Baker has since claimed the record for himself.

Baker had no answer to the immensity of Aiden Markram’s hitting during the series opener at Headingley in Leeds in 2025. “He’s had a bad day,” understatedly summarised England captain Harry Brook after the match.

3. Peter Connell (Ireland)

  • ODI debut figures: 0/95 in 9
  • Opposition: New Zealand

The Black Caps and Ireland visited Aberdeen in 2008, when Connell copped a collective clout on the back of big centuries from Brendon McCullum and James Marshall.

The Kiwi pair shared a near 300-run alliance for the first wicket. When they were done, Ross Taylor tucked into a quickfire half-century. It was simply unrelenting for Connell and company in a massive 290-run defeat.

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4. Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands)

  • ODI debut figures: 2/51 in 5
  • Opposition: Sri Lanka

Ten Doeschate will take some solace in the fact that he took two wickets, but this was another ODI baptism of fire in Amstelveen in 2006. Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan put in big centuries.

Ten Doeshate can at least claim he walked away with the huge wicket of Mahela Jaywardene, but it was an otherwise poor allotment from him. Captain Luuk van Troost, understandably, saw it fit not to give the bowler his full 10 overs on the day.

5. Iain O’Brien (New Zealand)

  • ODI debut figures: 1/59 in 6
  • Opposition: England

O’Brien relished more renown as a Test cricketer than an ODI bowler, but wasn’t going to turn down a limited-overs debut in Napier in 2008. New Zealand would’ve hoped McLean Park conditions would have suite the debutant more than they eventually did.

Four of England’s top five gathered 50s and the fifth ended in the 40s. O’Brien had a go at most, if not all, of them – and eventually managed to remove Ian Bell. Besides the dismissal of Bell, there wasn’t much substance to O’Brien’s first ODI. He only played nine more.

6. Peter Borren (Netherlands)

  • ODI debut figures: 1/94 in 10
  • Opposition: Sri Lanka

Borren was a real character and came to be known as one of the funny men of Netherlands cricket, but his ODI debut performance was no laughing matter in Amstelveen in 2006.

Indeed, this was the same match that yielded ten Doeschate’s debut, as Dilshan and Jayasuriya capitalised against an inexperienced opposition attack. Unlike ten Doeschate, Borren had to complete his full 10 overs.

7. Zain Abbas (Hong Kong)

  • ODI debut figures: 1/56 in 6
  • Opposition: Pakistan

Abbas, unfortunately, never got to play ODI cricket again after this disappointing debut. He’ll have to remember it for the highs of being capped to the lows of being clouted in Karachi in 2008.

But nobody will ever take away the wicket of Sohail Tanvir – there’s at least that.

Worst bowling figures on ODI debut – top 7 summary list

1. Jediah Blades (West Indies): 0/73 in 6
2. Sonny Baker (England): 0/76 in 7
3. Peter Connell (Ireland): 0/95 in 9
4. Ryan ten Doeschate (Netherlands): 2/51 in 5
5. Iain O’Brien (New Zealand): 1/59 in 6
6. Peter Borren (Netherlands): 1/94 in 10
7. Zain Abbas (Hong Kong): 1/56 in 6

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