The 25 bowlers who took a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket
Proteas seamer Corbin Bosch took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket against Pakistan in Centurion on 26 December 2024.
Bosch is the fourth South African Test cricketer to achieve the feat – and 25th overall.
Three bowlers – two South Africans and one West Indian – did it in 2024.
One did it in 2023. Prior to 2023, the last bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket was in 2016.
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25 bowlers to take wicket with first ball in Test career
| Bowler | Country | Wicket | Country | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 25. Corbin Bosch | South Arica | Shan Masood | Pakistan | Centurion | 2024 |
| 24. Tshepo Moreki | South Arica | Devon Conway | New Zealand | Mount Maunganui | 2024 |
| 23. Shamar Joseph | West Indies | Steven Smith | Australia | Adelaide | 2024 |
| 22. Nijat Masood | Afghanistan | Zakir Hasan | Bangladesh | Mirpur | 2023 |
| 21. Hardus Viljoen | South Arica | Alastair Cook | England | Johannesburg | 2016 |
| 20. Dane Piedt | South Arica | Mark Vermeulen | Zimbabwe | Harare | 2014 |
| 19. Shaminda Eranga | Sri Lanka | Shane Watson | Australia | Colombo | 2011 |
| 18. Nathan Lyon | Australia | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | Galle | 2011 |
| 17. Chamila Gamage | Sri Lanka | Mohammad Ashraful | Bangladesh | Colombo | 2002 |
| 16. Nilesh Kulkarni | India | Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | Colombo | 1997 |
| 15. Richard Illingworth | England | Phil Simmons | West Indies | Nottingham | 1991 |
| 14. Intikhab Alam | Pakistan | Colin McDonald | Australia | Karachi | 1959 |
| 13. Dick Howorth | England | Dennis Dryer | South Africa | London | 1947 |
| 12. Keith Miller | Australia | Walter Hadlee | New Zealand | Wellington| 1946 |
| 11. Tyrell Johnson | West Indies | Walter Keeton | England | London | 1939 |
| 10. Dennis Smith | New Zealand | Eddie Paynter | England | Christchurch | 1933 |
| 9. Matt Henderson | New Zealand | Eddie Dawson | England | Christchurch | 1930 |
| 8. Maurice Tate | England | Fred Susskind | South Africa | Birmingham | 1924 |
| 7. George Macaulay | England | George Hearne | South Africa | Cape Town | 1923 |
| 6. Jack Crawford | England | Bert Vogler | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1906 |
| 5. Bert Vogler | South Africa | Ernie Hayes | England | Johannesburg | 1906 |
| 4. Ted Arnold | England | Victor Trumper | Australia | Sydney | 1903 |
| 3. Bill Bradley | England | Frank Laver | Australia | Manchester | 1899 |
| 2. Arthur Cunningham | Australia | Archie MacLaren | England | Melbourne | 1894 |
| 1. Tom Horan | Australia | Walter Read | England | Sydney | 1883 |
“If I make my debut at SuperSport Park, especially for Test cricket, I don’t think anything could be more fitting for it is where my dad started his cricketing journey,” Bosch told IOL before his Test debut. His father, Tertius Bosch, played for the Proteas and Titans.
“So, for me to start my Test journey. I don’t think there could be a better place. I love the ground. I love the fans. And it’s just a fantastic place to play cricket. The atmosphere, I absolutely love it.
“And it couldn’t be a more special occasion if I was to get my debut at SuperSport Park.”
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