O’Brien becomes fourth batsman to score hundred in his country’s debut Test

DUBLIN: Kevin O’Brien has become the fourth batsman in history to score a hundred on his country’s debut when he made an unbeaten 118 against Pakistan on the fourth day of Ireland’s inaugural Test here at Malahide on Monday.

The first player was Charles Bannerman who hit a hundred in the first-ever Test match in the history of cricket, played at Melbourne in 1976-77. He retired hurt on 165 – the highest individual score in a country’s inaugural Test.

The second such instance was seen after a long period of 116 years when Dave Houghton made 121 against India, captaining Zimbabwe in its debut Test at Harare in October 1992.

The third batsman was Aminul Islam who scored 145 against India in the inaugural Test of Bangladesh, played at Dhaka in November 2000.

O’Brien completed his historic Test century from 186 balls with ten fours.

He also holds the record of scoring the fastest World Cup hundred - off 50 balls, against England at Bangalore in 2011.

Kevin Joseph O’Brien, born on March 4, 1984 in Dublin, is an allrounder – right-handed middle-order batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler. He has already played 125 one-day internationals and 59 twenty20 internationals before making his Test debut.

Kevin holds a rich cricketing family background as his father Ginger O’Brien, elder sister Ciara O’Brien and elder brother Niall O’Brien have also played first-class cricket.

Niall is also his team-mate in this Test, playing as wicketkeeper, and both have set the first instance of two brothers playing together in a Test, both have made their debut in the same Test.

Niall has also played 100 ODIs and 30 T20s.

Ireland, made to follow-on, were in danger of a heavy defeat when O´Brien, who top-scored with 40 in their first-innings 130, walked in at 95 for four on Monday. But he retained his composure to complete a fifty off 100 balls.

He received excellent support from all-rounder Stuart Thompson -- the second Ireland batsman to make a Test fifty -- in a seventh-wicket stand of 114 that denied Pakistan an innings win in this one-off match.

At stumps on the fourth day, Ireland were 319 for seven, a lead of 139 runs,   after being made to follow-on.

Kevin O´Brien was 118 not out with Tyrone Kane eight not out.