/sky247-english/media/agency_attachments/u8Dd4hyaH0mQGXmyg0Eo.png)
/sky247-english/media/media_files/oXHoxgPA7CrylmMTcwp1.jpg)
Follow Us/sky247-english/media/media_files/gRA9JY8ClPJBqgC8XuD1.png)
Shamar Joseph (Source: Twitter)
It is every cricketer's dream to represent their country in the longest format of the game. Picking up a wicket or scoring some valuable runs on their debut is something he/she can relish for a long time. Meanwhile, it is icing on the cake if a bowler gets a wicket on their first ball. It gives a smashing start to their career and a huge boost going forward.
/sky247-english/media/media_files/L36rCpmHRJkAgRgNCcLd.jpg)
Since 1991 only 9 bowlers have managed to take a wicket on the first ball of their Test career and only one Indian is on the list. Let's take a look at five bowlers to take a wicket off the first ball of their career.
5. Nilesh Kulkarni
/sky247-english/media/post_attachments/e98a3931-790.png "publive-image")
Nilesh Kulkarni is the first and the only Indian to take a wicket with his first delivery in red-ball cricket. He achieved this feat in August 1997 in a Test match between India and Sri Lanka. The left-arm spinner got rid of Marvan Atapattu as the Lankan great was caught behind for an individual score of 26 runs.
4. Nathan Lyon
/sky247-english/media/post_attachments/6f2b45fe-405.png "publive-image")
The legendary Australian spinner Nathan Lyon took his maiden wicket on his very first ball in Test cricket against Sri Lanka on 1 September 2011. With the wicket of wicketkeeper batter Kumar Sangakkara, the 36-year-old off-spinner became the third Australian to achieve this rare feat.
3. Hardus Viljoen
/sky247-english/media/post_attachments/dd90263f-451.png "publive-image")
South African paceman Hardus Viljoen has played just one Test match, but he started his journey with a bang. During England's tour of South Africa in 2016, the right-arm fast-medium bowler dismissed rival skipper Alastair Cook on his very first ball. Interestingly, he hit a boundary on the very first ball he faced.
2. Nijat Masood
/sky247-english/media/post_attachments/63c7f1ba-937.png "publive-image")
Afghanistan fast bowler Nijat Masood achieved this feat on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur in June 2023. The 25-year-old dismissed Bangladesh opener Zakir Hasan for one in the second over of the match.
1. Shamar Joseph
/sky247-english/media/post_attachments/70cae100-dcc.png "publive-image")
West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph is the latest entry in this dream list. The right-arm pacer dismissed batting stalwart Steve Smith on Day 1 of the AUS vs WI Test on January 17, 2024. Joseph, who got off to a good start, removed another great Test batter, Marnus Labuschagne, on the same day.