Almost 150 years of Test cricket, and it is a No. 9 fast bowler who now holds the record for the joint-most sixes on Test debut as Pakistan’s Razaullah made a massive splash in his maiden Test match for his country.
Pakistan produced their first 200+ total in the England vs Pakistan Test series after being bowled out for under-200 in five consecutive innings.
They had lost the series after poor shows in the first two Tests, following which the PCB made a wholesale of changes in the squad and coaching staff but still were knocked over for 133 in the first innings in the ENG vs PAK 3rd Test at Edgbaston.
Having conceded a deficit of 330 runs, Pakistan delivered a fightback in their last batting dig of the tour, scoring 453 runs on the back of four half-centurions.
That they managed to drag the game into day 4 and set England a target of 130 was eventually down to debutant Razaullah’s spirited knock. Razaullah, batting at No. 9, produced perhaps the most exhilarating knock by a Pakistan batsman in recent times, cracking 81 runs off only 63 balls.
ENG vs PAK: Razaullah Makes All-Time Test Record Of Most Sixes On Test Debut
The right-hander hammered 4 fours and 9 sixes as he enthralled the Birmingham crowd. Razaullah took down the dominating pace attack of England: he smoked Josh Tongue for a six; whacked Gus Atkinson for three sixes in a space of four deliveries before tonking the menacing Jofra Archer for three sixes and a four in a single over. His ninth maximum was a jaw-dropping down-the-pitch hit to off-spinner Dan Lawrence that landed in the hotel situated inside the venue.
He was eventually dismissed by Lawrence, stumped by Jordan Cox, falling 19 runs short of a maiden Test century.
Razaullah’s 9 sixes are now the joint-most a batsman has hit in an innings on Test debut. Former New Zealand legend Tim Southee previously held this record alone for his 9 sixes on his Test debut against England in Napier back in 2008.
West Indies’ left-handed batsman Kyle Mayers is third on this list for his 7 maximums on Test debut against Bangladesh in 2021 in Chattogram.
Batsmen with the most sixes in an innings on Test debut:
9 – Tim Southee (NZ) vs ENG, Napier, 2008
9 – Razaullah (PAK) vs ENG, Birmingham, 2026
7 – Kyle Mayers (WI) vs BAN, Chattogram, 2021
Razaullah’s 81 is also the fourth-highest individual score by a Test debutant batting at No. 9 or lower.
Highest scores by a batsman on Test debut batting at No. 9 or below:
113 – Abul Hasan (BAN) vs WI, Khulna, 2012
104 – Reggie Duff (AUS) vs ENG, Melbourne, 1902
98 – Ashton Agar (AUS) vs ENG, Nottingham, 2013
81* – Corbin Bosch (SA) vs PAK, Centurion, 2025
81 – Razaullah (PAK) vs ENG, Birmingham, 2026
Meanwhile, Pakistan have begun their defense of 129 in a stunning fashion, dismissing both England openers, Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay, for only 2 runs, both dismissals scalped by Mohammad Abbas in England’s first over.
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