Sundar third Indian cricketer to hit 50 and take 3 wickets on Test debut

Cricket Desk: Washington Sundar’s Test debut was a situational one but India have every reason to cherish what could be the start to a new career. As his maiden Test wicket, Washington Sundar dismissed Steve Smith in 1st innings of the ongoing 4th Test match in Brisbane.

He went on to bag the wickets of Cameron Green and Nathan, hence completing with figures of 3/89 in the 1st innings. India’s reciprocation to Australia’s 369 was falling weak with Rishabh Pant’s wicket bringing India down to 186/6.

But from there, a partnership was born. Washington and Shardul added 123 runs to their partnership, which is the highest 7th wicket stand for India at the Gabba, after the duo scored their maiden half-centuries in the 3rd session od Day 3.

As Sundar brought up his fifty, new records were set. With his half-century, Sundar became only the 3rd Indian to score a fifty on Test debut in Australia. Taking his all-round performance into account, Washington became only the second Indian player to hit a half-century in their debut batting innings and claim 3 or more wickets in their debut bowling innings.

Overall, Washington is only the 10th player who on his Test debut achieved the aforementioned rare double.

Before Washington, only one Indian had achieved his double in Test cricket and that was Dattu Phadkar with a 51 and 3/14 against Australia at the SCG in the 1947-48 tour.

As Mitchell Starc yielded the deed for Australia, Washington Sundar walked back with a 62 on Test debut. Hence, Washington made it to the list of top run scores among Indian debutants batting at No.7. With his 62, Washington stands 3rd highest in the list after Rahul Dravid (95 vs England, Lord's 1996) and Bapu Nadkarni (68* vs New Zealand, Delhi 1955).