A player making his debut in Test cricket is under a lot of pressure since they have to make a step up from First class set-up and take on International bowlers at the biggest stage. Hence, players need to have a solid temperament and they should also have the game to take on the world’s best bowlers on the biggest stage.
However, there have been a few players who have made this transition without any issues and have entered records. The record for the highest score on debut in a Test is held by Reginald Edward (R.E.) Foster, who piled up a monumental 287 runs for England against Australia in 1903.
Top 10 Batters with the Most Runs on Their Test Debut
| Player | Score | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings | Runs | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| Lawrence Rowe (WI) | 314* | – | – | 314 | West Indies | New Zealand | Kingston | Feb 16, 1972 |
| R.E. Foster (ENG) | 287 | 287 | 30 | 317 | England | Australia | Sydney | Dec 11, 1903 |
| Yasir Hameed (PAK) | 275* | 170 | 105 | 275 | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Karachi | Aug 20, 2003 |
| Kyle Mayers (WI) | 210* | 210* | – | 210* | West Indies | Bangladesh | Chattogram | Feb 3, 2021 |
| Devon Conway (NZ) | 200 | 200 | 32 | 232 | New Zealand | England | Lord’s | Jun 2, 2021 |
| Jacques Rudolph (SA) | 222* | 222* | – | 222* | South Africa | Bangladesh | Chattogram | Apr 24, 2003 |
| Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji (ENG) | 216* | 62 | 154* | 216* | England | Australia | Manchester | Jul 16, 1896 |
| Mathew Sinclair (NZ) | 214 | 214 | – | 214 | New Zealand | West Indies | Wellington | Dec 26, 1999 |
| Kepler Wessels (AUS) | 162 | 162 | 0 | 162 | Australia | England | Brisbane | Nov 26, 1982 |
| Umar Akmal (PAK) | 129 | 129 | 0 | 129 | Pakistan | New Zealand | Dunedin | Nov 24, 2009 |
Topping the list is one of West Indies legendary batters, Lawrence Rowe, who carved his name in history with a monumental 314* against New Zealand in 1972. This score is still the highest score by a debutant in Test cricket. Interestingly, three players on this list – Rowe, Yasir Hameed, and Jacques Rudolph – have all got the rare feat of scoring a double century (200+ runs) in their very first Test innings.
The table also highlights some recent batting brilliance. West Indies batter Kyle Mayers started his Test career with a bang with an unbeaten 210* for West Indies against Bangladesh in 2021 showcased his immense talent. His unbeaten doule ton on his Test debut took West Indies to an unbelievable win over Bangladesh in a Test match.
Similarly, Devon Conway notched up his double century on debut for New Zealand against England in the same year. The left-hander got to this milestone at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium in London, England. He converted this to a double hundred and made a grand entry to international cricket.
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Highest Score by an Indian on Test Debut
1. Shikhar Dhawan – 187(174) vs Australia (2013)
Shikhar Dhawan made his Test debut against Australia in 2013 in Mohali and made an immbediate impace with a dazzling 187 off 174 balls. Dhawan hot his stride from the word go and scored the fastest century by a Test debutant – he got to this milestone in just 85 deliveries. He also became the oldest player to score a century on Test debut.
2. Rohit Sharma – 177(301) vs West Indies (2013)
Rohit Sharma had already become a consistent performer in ODI cricket and got to make his Test debut against West Indies. He showed his class with a classy 177 off 301 balls in 2013. His strokeplay was flawless as he notched up 23 boundaries.
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3. Yashasvi Jaiswal – 171(387) vs West Indies (2023)
Making his Test debut in 2023, Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his stellar form from the Indian Premier League with a magnificent 171 off 387 balls against the West Indies. This was India’s first match in the 2023-25 WTC cycle and Jaiswal showed his temperament with a measured innings in foreign conditions. His innings featured 16 fours and a six.
Conclusion
These players all made a smashing smart to their Test careers. While, a few might not have gone on to build a more successful Test career, there have been others who did have a decent Test career. Their debut performances stand as a testament to the pressure they conquered and the exceptional talent they possess.
FAQs about Highest Score in Debut Test
Q) Which batter has the highest score in their debut Test?
A) Tip Foster has the highest score in their debut Test match when he scored 287 runs against Australia in Sydney.
Q) Which Indian batter has the highest score in their debut Test match?
A) Shikhar Dhawan, the left-handed opening batter made his Test debut against Australia where he scored 187 which is the highest score by an Indian in Test cricket.
Q) Which players have scored double centuries on their Test debut?
A) Lawrence Rowe, Yasir Hameed, and Jacques Rudolph have all scored double centuries (200+ runs) in their very first Test innings.
