Sport Today

by **Aslam Siddiq** » Thu, 07 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

>What in the name of #(*$#(%*#(% are the English selectors doing?
>First they make a surprise pick of Wells for the last Test. Then,
>after just one Test (abject failure in the first innings, decent
>unbeaten 20+ in the second) they proceed to drop him from the Test
>squad to South Africa.

Wells was out to the first ball he faced in the Test cricket. The only other
player who achieved this 'distinction' that I know of for sure is TA Ward of
South Africa (v Aus, Manchester, 1912). He actually went one better when he
was dismissed first ball in the second innings also, being the third victim of
TJ Matthews' hat-tricks in both innings.

Does any one remember any other instances where the Test debutant was
dismissed first ball? Shakeel Ahmed in the West Indies?

aslam

Quote:

>Bharat

by **R. Bharat R** » Thu, 07 Sep 1995 04:00:00

What in the name of #(*$#(%*#(% are the English selectors doing?
First they make a surprise pick of Wells for the last Test. Then,
after just one Test (abject failure in the first innings, decent
unbeaten 20+ in the second) they proceed to drop him from the Test
squad to South Africa.

Thats bad enough. (I speculated a week or so ago, that Wells was
"unlucky" to play the last Test, as he would now probably not go to
RSA. However, I assumed, as did virtually everyone, that he was a
lock for the "A" tour, at least.)

What's worse, they don't even pick him for the England "A" squad.

That seems just incomprehensible to me, and I was wondering why there
hasn't been much comment on this...

Bharat
--

Learning Systems Department, Siemens Corporate Research,
755 College Road, Princeton, NJ 08540 Ph:(609)734-6531 Fax:-6565
<Above opinions are exclusively the author's, and don't represent SCR>

by **Spaceman Spif** » Fri, 08 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

> Wells was out to the first ball he faced in the Test cricket. The only other
>player who achieved this 'distinction' that I know of for sure is TA Ward of
>South Africa (v Aus, Manchester, 1912). He actually went one better when he
>was dismissed first ball in the second innings also, being the third victim of
>TJ Matthews' hat-tricks in both innings.

> Does any one remember any other instances where the Test debutant was
>dismissed first ball? Shakeel Ahmed in the West Indies?

this is cool. i know something that aslam doesn't!!!
i mentioned in an earlier post that chris smith (robin smith's older & less
talented brother) was dismissed first ball by richard hadlee (i think) in the
1983 ENG-NZ series (following WC 83). he scored 43 in the 2nd innings.

Stay cool,
Spaceman Spiff

----------------------------------------------------------------------
**** Goodbye Jerry- thanks for the music ****
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Now I don't know, but I been told
it's hard to run with the weight of gold,
other hand I have heard it said,
it's just as hard with the weight of lead.

by **Halsey Bradfo** » Sat, 09 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

>Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 09:33:46 EDT

>Subject: Re: Wither Wells? (England A selection)

Does his non-inclusion in either touring team mean he has been discarded for
ever?>>----

Quote:

>-----

1?
Halsey Bradford
Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada

by **John Hal** » Sat, 09 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

>Does his non-inclusion in either touring team mean he has been discarded for
>ever?>>----

Not necessarily, but since he's about 34 years old his time must be
running out.
--
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is
the belief that one's work is terribly important.
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

by **John Hal** » Mon, 11 Sep 1995 04:00:00

writes

Quote:

>> Wells was out to the first ball he faced in the Test cricket. The only other
>>player who achieved this 'distinction' that I know of for sure is TA Ward of
>>South Africa (v Aus, Manchester, 1912). He actually went one better when he
>>was dismissed first ball in the second innings also, being the third victim of
>>TJ Matthews' hat-tricks in both innings.

>> Does any one remember any other instances where the Test debutant was
>>dismissed first ball? Shakeel Ahmed in the West Indies?

> I dont know why Iam suggesting these names, as Iam sure you'd
>know about them if they had qualified on this score :-) But, I suppose
>someone could tell me exactly what happened in these cases, so it wont
>be a complete waste of time :-)
> I was going to suggest Chris Smith, brother of Robin Smith, who
>opened for England against WI in the mid 80s. And Jimmy Cook in RSA
>against Kapil Dev. I sorta had the feeling they were first ball ducks
>too, on debut, but I wouldnt swear to it. Anybody ?

Chris Smith did indeed get a first-baller in his first Test innings.
This was in the Third Test v New Zealand in 1983: lbw b Hadlee. He did
get 43 in the second innings, though. He played 8 Tests in all, but none
were against WI.

You are right about Jimmy Cook, too: c Tendulkar b Kapil Dev. Wisden in
its match report says that no-one had previously been out first ball in
their first Test, but in view of Smith's "feat" that is clearly wrong.
--
A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise
his clients to plant vines.
Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

by **Spaceman Spif** » Mon, 11 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

>You are right about Jimmy Cook, too: c Tendulkar b Kapil Dev. Wisden in
>its match report says that no-one had previously been out first ball in
>their first Test, but in view of Smith's "feat" that is clearly wrong.

i suppose they meant that it was the first time that someone had been out
first ball **of the match** on debut.

Stay cool,
Spaceman Spiff

----------------------------------------------------------------------
**** Goodbye Jerry- thanks for the music ****
----------------------------------------------------------------------

New ones come in as the old ones go
Everything's moving here but much too slowly
A little bit quicker and we might have time
To say how do you do before we left behind.

by **Sadiq Yus** » Mon, 11 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

> Wells was out to the first ball he faced in the Test cricket. The only other
>player who achieved this 'distinction' that I know of for sure is TA Ward of
>South Africa (v Aus, Manchester, 1912). He actually went one better when he
>was dismissed first ball in the second innings also, being the third victim of
>TJ Matthews' hat-tricks in both innings.

> Does any one remember any other instances where the Test debutant was
>dismissed first ball? Shakeel Ahmed in the West Indies?

I dont know why Iam suggesting these names, as Iam sure you'd
know about them if they had qualified on this score :-) But, I suppose
someone could tell me exactly what happened in these cases, so it wont
be a complete waste of time :-)
I was going to suggest Chris Smith, brother of Robin Smith, who
opened for England against WI in the mid 80s. And Jimmy Cook in RSA
against Kapil Dev. I sorta had the feeling they were first ball ducks
too, on debut, but I wouldnt swear to it. Anybody ?

Sadiq [ on shaky ground ] Yusuf

Quote:

>aslam

>>Bharat

--
Sadiq Yusuf

by **Jon Ivar Skuller** » Tue, 12 Sep 1995 04:00:00

: What in the name of #(*$#(%*#(% are the English selectors doing?
: First they make a surprise pick of Wells for the last Test. Then,
: after just one Test (abject failure in the first innings, decent
: unbeaten 20+ in the second) they proceed to drop him from the Test
: squad to South Africa.

Minor detail: It was a decent unbeaten 3, not 20+
I agree with the rest of your comments though.
Perhaps he'll get another chance, now that Symonds has decided he's not
a Pom after all?

: Thats bad enough. (I speculated a week or so ago, that Wells was
: "unlucky" to play the last Test, as he would now probably not go to
: RSA. However, I assumed, as did virtually everyone, that he was a
: lock for the "A" tour, at least.)

: What's worse, they don't even pick him for the England "A" squad.

: That seems just incomprehensible to me, and I was wondering why there
: hasn't been much comment on this...

--
______ ______________________________________
/ | |
| jon | jon ivar skullerud |
\______ | |

ivar | | http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/~jonivar/ |
_______/ |______________________________________|

by **John Hal** » Tue, 12 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

>: What in the name of #(*$#(%*#(% are the English selectors doing?
>: First they make a surprise pick of Wells for the last Test. Then,
>: after just one Test (abject failure in the first innings, decent
>: unbeaten 20+ in the second) they proceed to drop him from the Test
>: squad to South Africa.

>Minor detail: It was a decent unbeaten 3, not 20+
>I agree with the rest of your comments though.
>Perhaps he'll get another chance, now that Symonds has decided he's not
>a Pom after all?

No, Pooley of Middlesex has been picked in place of Symonds.
--
It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid.
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

by **IA BAXT** » Thu, 14 Sep 1995 04:00:00

: Perhaps he'll get another chance, now that Symonds has decided he's not
: a Pom after all?

Unluckily for Wells, Symonds' place seems to have gone to Jason
Pooley, the Middlesex opener.
Probably old news now anyway...

Ian.

by **Samir Chop** » Thu, 14 Sep 1995 04:00:00

Quote:

>Chris Smith did indeed get a first-baller in his first Test innings.
>This was in the Third Test v New Zealand in 1983: lbw b Hadlee. He did
>get 43 in the second innings, though. He played 8 Tests in all, but none
>were against WI.

>You are right about Jimmy Cook, too: c Tendulkar b Kapil Dev. Wisden in
>its match report says that no-one had previously been out first ball in
>their first Test, but in view of Smith's "feat" that is clearly wrong.

Cook was out on the first ball of the test match (Smith in the first
over) and it also happened to be the first ball faced by an South African
batsman on their return to test cricket.

Perhaps the unique nature of the event got to Wisden.

Samir
--
Oh, must we dream our dreams
and have them too? - EB