Top 7 Players Who Scored a Century on ODI Debut & Made History

Scoring a century in ODI cricket is already a significant achievement. Scoring a century on debut makes it even more memorable. Only a few batsmen have announced their arrival on the international stage by scoring a century.

Here, Cricbites has compiled a list of the top seven players who have made an extraordinary first impression by scoring a century on ODI debut.

1. Matthew Breetzke (South Africa) – 150 vs New Zealand

Scoring a century in ODI cricket is already a significant achievement. Scoring a century on debut makes it even more memorable. Only a few batsmen have announced their arrival on the international stage by scoring a century.

Here, Cricbites has compiled a list of the top seven players who have made an extraordinary first impression by scoring a century on ODI debut.

2. Desmond Haynes (West Indies) – 148 vs Australia

West Indies legend Desmond Haynes made a dream start to his ODI career on 22 February 1978, scoring 148 runs against Australia at St John’s.

His brilliant innings remained the highest score on ODI debut for almost five decades. Haynes went on to become one of the greatest opening batsmen in ODI history. And formed a brilliant partnership with Gordon Greenidge.

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) – 127 vs Ireland

Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz made an immediate impact by scoring 127 runs against Ireland in Abu Dhabi on 21 January 2021.

His century was the first century on ODI debut by an Afghan batsman. It showcased the country’s rapid rise in international cricket. Since then, Gurbaz has established himself as one of Afghanistan’s most explosive white-ball batsmen.

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4. Colin Ingram (South Africa) – 124 vs Zimbabwe

Colin Ingram made his mark on the cricketing world with a brilliant 124 against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein on 15 October 2010.

The left-handed batsman became the first South African to score a century on ODI debut. His creative innings showed great character. This earned him a memorable place in South African cricket history.

5. Mark Chapman (Hong Kong) – 124* vs United Arab Emirates

Representing Hong Kong, Mark Chapman remained unbeaten on 124 against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on 16 November 2015.

His unbeaten century was the first by a Hong Kong batsman on ODI debut, demonstrating his immense talent. Chapman later moved to New Zealand, where he continued his successful international career.

6. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 122* vs West Indies

Martin Guptill made his ODI debut on 10 January 2009, scoring an unbeaten 122 against West Indies in Auckland.

His century made him the first New Zealand batsman to score a century on ODI debut. Guptill later became one of New Zealand’s greatest ODI players. He scored several centuries and many memorable innings on the global stage.

7. Andy Flower (Zimbabwe) – 115* against Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe great Andy Flower made a brilliant start to his ODI career by scoring an unbeaten 115 against Sri Lanka in New Plymouth on 23 February 1992.

Flower became Zimbabwe’s first ODI debut centurion and, at the time, the first player from an associate nation to achieve the feat. His illustrious career later established him as one of Zimbabwe’s all-time great cricketers.

Conclusion

A century on ODI debut is one of the rarest achievements in cricket. It takes both skill and ability to remain calm under immense pressure. Many talented players have enjoyed memorable debuts. But these seven batsmen turned their first ODI appearance into a historic occasion.

Matthew Britzke now tops the list with the highest ODI debut score of 150. He surpassed Desmond Haynes’ record by decades. His performances are examples of how unforgettable a dream international debut can be.

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