Forgettable first match - Pakistan’s Zaid Mahmood concedes most runs in an innings on Test debut

Pakistan cricket team spinner Zahid Mahmood gave away 235 runs in the first innings against England in December 2022, becoming the bowler with the most runs conceded in an innings on Test debut.

The match, which took place at Rawalpindi, came under immense scrutiny by experts and fans for not living up to standards as the batters scored runs at a faster rate and much ease, unlike a usual Test match.

Nevertheless, it was the debutant bowler Zahid Mahmood who had to face the brunt of the same, as the English batters used their Bazball approach to amass 506/4 on the opening day, which is the highest Day 1 score in Test cricket, and 657/10 overall.

Mahmood was the most expensive bowler for the hosts, who gave away 235 runs in 33 overs. Even though he bagged four wickets, the unwanted record overshadowed his four-wicket haul.

Former Sri Lanka spinner Suraj Randiv held the record for more than a decade before Mahmood took over.

Making his debut against India in the second Test of the India tour of Sri Lanka 2010, Suraj Randiv failed to make a significant contribution despite his team being in a strong position courtesy of 642/4d in the first innings.

Randiv bowled 73 overs, conceding 222 runs with only two wickets to show for it. It helped the Indian team come back into the contest and the game ended in a high-scoring draw at the end of five days.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Jason Krejza also had a difficult first Test match on the international stage, as far as runs conceded are concerned.

The off-break bowler debuted against India in the fourth Test of the Australia tour of India.

Even though he took an astonishing eight wickets in the first innings, he ended up conceding 215 runs in 43.5 overs. He continued his wicket-taking spree in the second innings as well and took a four-wicket haul to finish the match with 12 debut wickets.

Interestingly, Jason Krejza was named Man of the Match even though Australia lost the contest by 172 runs. 

West Indies’ Omari Banks and India’s Nilesh Kulkarni complete our top five list of the most runs conceded in an innings on Test debut.

While Banks conceded 204 runs on his Test debut against Australia in May 2003, Kulkarni ended up conceding 195 runs in the first innings of the opening game during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 1997. 

Most runs conceded in an innings on Test debut

Image courtesy: Alamy