118 players have scored centuries on their Test debut, out of which 7 have even converted that into a double-hundred.
This article will talk about the top ten batsmen who scored the highest individual innings in their career debut Test match.
Highest Individual Scores on Test Debut
| Batter | Score | Against | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tip Foster (ENG) | 287 | Australia | Sydney | 1903 |
| Jacques Rudolph (SA) | 222* | Bangladesh | Chattogram | 2003 |
| Lawrence Rowe (WI) | 214 | New Zealand | Kingston | 1972 |
| Matthew Sinclair (NZ) | 214 | West Indies | Wellington | 1999 |
| Kyle Mayers (WI) | 210* | Bangladesh | Chattogram | 2021 |
| Brendon Kuruppu (SL) | 201* | New Zealand | Colombo (CCC) | 1987 |
| Devon Conway (NZ) | 200 | England | Lord’s | 2021 |
| Shikhar Dhawan (IND) | 187 | Australia | Mohali | 2013 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 177 | West Indies | Eden Gardens | 2013 |
| George Headley (WI) | 176 | England | Bridgetown | 1930 |
Key Stats
Tip Foster’s mountainous record of the highest individual score by a Test debutant still stands tall even after 120 years of longer-format cricket.
West Indian Lawrence Rowe’s 214 is the highest score by any debutant cricketer in his home country; the first two entrants came at away venues.
Rowe also scored a second innings century on his debut game, becoming the first-ever player to score a twin century on his Test debut. Yasir Hameed from Pakistan is the only other cricketer to repeat what Rowe has done.
Rowe’s 314 runs (214 & 100*) in that game against New Zealand is also the highest aggregate any player has scored in his first Test match.
In the above list, George Headley is the only player to score a second-innings century in his debut. He scored 21 runs in the first innings and followed it with a massive 176 when he walked into bat for the second time in that game.
Ashton Agar holds the record for the highest individual score on by a No.11 batsman (98) which was actually scored in his debut innings. You can check the top five No. 11 batsmen scores here.
