Moments after the applause in the England huddle at Hagley Oval that signposted Jacob Bethell's impending Test debut at No 3, the sound system they use to keep training sessions upbeat began blaring out The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. Even for a leadership group that likes a punt, this feels their biggest yet.
Bowlers can burst through with little by way of their back catalogue; bolters elevated on the basis of raw ingredients. England have had a few in their recent past, like Shoaib Bashir - first-class bowling average of 67 when called up - or Rehan Ahmed, a five-fer on Test debut aged 18. Pat Cummins is one Australian example, with nine Shield wickets at 46 when he first pulled on his baggy green in 2011.
But batters are usually expected to have tasted three figures in a first-class game before they get the nod, with Mike Gatting the last England player not to have done so before his debut on a tour of Pakistan in 1978, aged 20. It was not a resounding success, lbw for five shouldering arms to a googly and lbw for six to a full toss. Not that his career - even with the long wait for a first Test century - was insignificant.
This story is from the November 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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