Top 5 cricketers who scored a century on debut

A total of 9 players have the distinction of scoring a hundred on their debut performances in ODIs. Here is the list of the top 5 players who achieved this remarkable fleet.

5) Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill of New Zealand scored a century on his ODI debut. He scored  a well-paced 122 not out off 135 balls against West Indies on 10 January 2009 in Auckland. His innings included 8 hits to the fence and 2 over it. Now, he opens for his side. He also holds the record for the highest individual score in World Cups and 2nd highest individual score In ODIs as he scored 237 not-out against West Indies. 

4) Saleem Elahi

Saleem Elahi of Pakistan contributed 102* off 133 balls against Sri Lanka in Gujranwala on 29 September 1995, hitting 7 fours and a six in his innings, but his career didn’t last long as he only played 13 tests and 48 ODIS from 1995 to 2004 demonstrating the uncertainty in cricket. He is also the first player from Pakistan to score a century on debut. 

3) Andy Flower

Andy Flower of Zimbabwe scored 115* off 152 balls against Sri Lanka in North Plymouth to be placed 3rd in the list, amassing 8 fours and 1 six in his innings on 23 February 1992. Flower played a total of 63 Tests for Zimbabwe, scoring 4,794 runs at a superb average of 51.54, taking 151 catches and 9 stumpings as a keeper. In One Day Internationals, he played a total of 213 matches scoring 6,786 runs at an average of 35.34, taking 141 catches and 32 stumpings to become the most successful Zimbabwean batsman and keeper. He is the only Zimbabwean to feature in the ICC’s Top 100 all-time batting rankings at number 31 (November 2013), putting him with all-time greats such as Brian Lara (ranked 23), Sachin Tendulkar (29), Steve Waugh (equal 31 with Flower on 895 points) and Rahul Dravid (33).

2) Desmond Haynes

Desmond Haynes  scored a swashbuckling 148* off 136 balls in Antigua against Australia, scoring 16 fours and 2 sixes in his innings on 22 February 1978. He was awarded the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1991. Haynes belonged to an era when West Indies were a force to reckon with and he formed a formidable partnership with Gordon Greenidge for his side during the 1980s. Between them, they scored 16-century stands and four in excess of 200. The pair made the third highest total for a batting partnership in Test cricket history. Haynes went on to score 7487 runs in 116 Test matches at an average of 42.29.

1) Dennis Amiss

Dennis Amiss of England is the very first player to score a century on his ODI debut. He achieved this feat when he scored 103 off 134 balls, hitting 9 boundaries in the process at Old Trafford against Australia on 24 August 1972. The right-handed batsman was a stroke maker and his two favourite areas to score runs were extra cover and mid-wicket. In first-class cricket, he went on to score 102 centuries.