ODI cricket has become one of the most-followed formats of the sport. The craze of ODI cricket has increased gradually since the 1980s. Earlier, only a few teams played this format of cricket. However, in 2021, there are many nations playing the 50-format of the sport.
The 50-over format allows the batsmen and the bowlers enough time to showcase their skills in the middle. A batsman needs to have the patience to play the new ball and then attack. Similarly, the bowlers need to have skills to bowl well in the powerplay as well as death overs.
ODI cricket has revolutionized a lot over the last few years. Nowadays, cricketers are not afraid of taking risks in this format of the sport. Some new players start their careers with a risky big shot, and that goes for a six. In this article today, we will look at five such players.
(Please Note: This list considers all players who have made their ODI debut since 2002.)
1. Latest player to hit a six on the first ball of ODI career: Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan received his maiden ODI cap against the Sri Lankan cricket team on July 18, 2021. The young wicket-keeper batsman was celebrating his 23rd birthday on that day.
To make the occasion more memorable, Kishan slammed a half-century on his ODI debut and helped the Indian cricket team defeat their neighbors by seven wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva bowled the first ball to Kishan in ODIs and that went for a six.
2. Richard Ngarava
Zimbabwe’s left-arm fast medium bowler Richard Ngarava made his ODI debut against the Afghanistan cricket team in 2017. He did not get a chance to bat in his career’s first match.
But in the second game, Richard hit a six the first match that he faced. The southpaw smashed a maximum off Mohammad Nabi’s bowling. However, his team Zimbabwe lost that game.
3. Craig Wallace
Scotland’s wicket-keeper batsman Craig Wallace made his ODI debut in the year 2012. However, he did not face a single delivery till the year 2016.
Wallace opened the innings for his team in a match against Afghanistan. His opening partner Kyle Coetzer got out for a duck, but Wallace began his innings in style with a six off Dawlat Zadran’s bowling. Scotland lost that game by 78 runs.
4. Jawad Dawood
Canadian cricketer Jawad Dawood played only two matches in his ODI career. He made his debut in 2009 but did not get a chance to bat. In 2010, Dawood played a one-day international against the Afghanistan cricket team.
Dawood came out to bat at number eight and smashed a maximum off Samiullah Shinwari’s bowling. He played a handy cameo of 25 runs in that match and helped Canada beat Afghanistan by four wickets.
5. Only from South Africa to hit a six off first ball in ODI career since 2002: Johann Louw
Johann Louw played three ODI matches for the South African cricket team. He made his debut in a home series against Bangladesh in the year 2008.
Louw got a chance to bat at number nine on debut and he made it count. He destroyed Shakib Al Hasan and smashed two sixes and a four off his first three deliveries in the one-day arena.
