Steyn and AB, Ganguly and Dravid, and other pairs who made their debuts together
Twenty-four years after Dravid and Ganguly made their Test debuts at Lord's, a look at pairs who started together and went on to have stellar careers
Bharath Seervi
20-Jun-2020
de Villiers and Steyn: the only batsman-bowler pair to make their debut in the same Test and go on to play over 75 Tests apiece • Getty Images
On June 20, 1996, India fielded two Test debutants at Lord's, and both went on to have outstanding careers. Exactly 24 years later, we look at all the pairs who debuted on the same day, where each went on to play at least 75 Tests.
Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, England v India, Lord's, 1996
Ganguly and Dravid were handed debuts in the second Test of India's 1996 tour of England. Both did excellently: Ganguly scored centuries in both Tests of the series and Dravid made fifties in both. The two became an integral part of the team for a long period. India never lost a Test in which Ganguly scored a century (he made 16 of those), and only four of Dravid's 36 hundreds came in losing causes - three of those were in the 2011 England series, which India lost 4-0. Dravid missed only three Tests for India in his entire career of 16 years. Ganguly had ups and downs but his career average never dropped below 40.
Ganguly and Dravid were handed debuts in the second Test of India's 1996 tour of England. Both did excellently: Ganguly scored centuries in both Tests of the series and Dravid made fifties in both. The two became an integral part of the team for a long period. India never lost a Test in which Ganguly scored a century (he made 16 of those), and only four of Dravid's 36 hundreds came in losing causes - three of those were in the 2011 England series, which India lost 4-0. Dravid missed only three Tests for India in his entire career of 16 years. Ganguly had ups and downs but his career average never dropped below 40.
Key stat: Ganguly played 113 Tests and Dravid was also part of all those 113 Tests.
Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge, India v West Indies, Bengaluru, 1974
Greenidge and Richards had sparkling starts to their careers after making their debut in the same Test. Greenidge scored 93 and 107 in that match, and Richards made an unbeaten 192 in his second Test. Both retired in the same year, 1991, with Richards West Indies' highest run-getter at the time, and Greenidge the third highest. They are still in the top five of that list.
Greenidge and Richards had sparkling starts to their careers after making their debut in the same Test. Greenidge scored 93 and 107 in that match, and Richards made an unbeaten 192 in his second Test. Both retired in the same year, 1991, with Richards West Indies' highest run-getter at the time, and Greenidge the third highest. They are still in the top five of that list.
Key stat: Richards was a part of 63 Test wins, the most for West Indies, while Greenidge played in 57, the third-highest.
Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis, Pakistan v India, Karachi, 1989
Tendulkar and Younis are the only pair of opposing players to have made their debuts in the same match and played over 75 Tests. Younis dismissed Tendulkar in their debut Test. Tendulkar went on to become the batsman with most runs and centuries, while Younis became Pakistan's second-highest wicket-taker. However, after their debut series, only twice did they face off against each other in Tests - in the 1999 series (India and Pakistan did not play each other in a Test series for nearly ten years).
Tendulkar and Younis are the only pair of opposing players to have made their debuts in the same match and played over 75 Tests. Younis dismissed Tendulkar in their debut Test. Tendulkar went on to become the batsman with most runs and centuries, while Younis became Pakistan's second-highest wicket-taker. However, after their debut series, only twice did they face off against each other in Tests - in the 1999 series (India and Pakistan did not play each other in a Test series for nearly ten years).
Key stat: Tendulkar got out to Younis once in four Tests and four times in 23 ODIs.
AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn, South Africa vs England, Port Elizabeth, 2004
De Villiers and Steyn are the only batsman-bowler pair to make their debuts for their team together and then go on to play 75-plus Tests each. de Villiers finished as the fourth highest run scorer for South Africa in Tests and is only the second of those to average over 50 (among those who have made over 3000 runs). Steyn went on to beat Shaun Pollock's tally to become his country's top wicket-taker. Steyn was ranked the No. 1 bowler in the ICC's rankings for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014. de Villiers played 98 consecutive Tests from his debut without missing any until 2015.
De Villiers and Steyn are the only batsman-bowler pair to make their debuts for their team together and then go on to play 75-plus Tests each. de Villiers finished as the fourth highest run scorer for South Africa in Tests and is only the second of those to average over 50 (among those who have made over 3000 runs). Steyn went on to beat Shaun Pollock's tally to become his country's top wicket-taker. Steyn was ranked the No. 1 bowler in the ICC's rankings for a record 263 weeks between 2008 and 2014. de Villiers played 98 consecutive Tests from his debut without missing any until 2015.
Key stat:In Test wins, Steyn has a bowling strike rate of 32.1, the best ever for bowlers with 150-plus wickets, while de Villiers averaged 63.43 with bat, the best for South Africa (minimum 50 wins).
Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1990
Stewart and Hussain were given debuts in the same Test, in Jamaica in 1990. Stewart held his position firmly in the side but Hussain had played only seven Tests by 1995. From 1996 onwards, both were an important part of the team. Stewart was the highest run scorer in Tests in the 1990s. He then became the second-highest run getter overall for England behind Graham Gooch, and the most capped England player (133 Tests) at the time of his retirement. Hussain led England from 1999 to 2003, captaining in 45 Tests, including to successive Test series wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2000 and 2001.
Stewart and Hussain were given debuts in the same Test, in Jamaica in 1990. Stewart held his position firmly in the side but Hussain had played only seven Tests by 1995. From 1996 onwards, both were an important part of the team. Stewart was the highest run scorer in Tests in the 1990s. He then became the second-highest run getter overall for England behind Graham Gooch, and the most capped England player (133 Tests) at the time of his retirement. Hussain led England from 1999 to 2003, captaining in 45 Tests, including to successive Test series wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2000 and 2001.
Key stat: Stewart has effected the most fielding dismissals for England (277) and Hussain has played the joint most innings at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions combined for England (147).
Dilip Vengsarkar and Syed Kirmani, New Zealand v India, Auckland, 1976
India's second most successful batsman until 2000 and the most successful wicketkeeper before MS Dhoni, made their debuts in the same Test. Vengsarkar finished his career in 1992 with 6868 runs in 116 Tests and 17 centuries - second only to Sunil Gavaskar on all three parameters at the time. Kirmani played 88 Tests, all as wicketkeeper, in a career that ended in 1986. At that time, only three wicketkeepers had played more Tests than him; currently he is eighth on the list.
India's second most successful batsman until 2000 and the most successful wicketkeeper before MS Dhoni, made their debuts in the same Test. Vengsarkar finished his career in 1992 with 6868 runs in 116 Tests and 17 centuries - second only to Sunil Gavaskar on all three parameters at the time. Kirmani played 88 Tests, all as wicketkeeper, in a career that ended in 1986. At that time, only three wicketkeepers had played more Tests than him; currently he is eighth on the list.
Bharath Seervi is stats sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo @SeerviBharath