How cricket’s Test nations fared on debuts

DUBLIN: Ireland will become just the 11th nation to play men’s Test cricket when they face Pakistan at Dublin’s Malahide in a match starting Friday.

Ideally they would like to emulate the feat of Australia, who remain the only side to have won their inaugural Test — beating England in the first such match, in Melbourne in 1877.

And the Irish will certainly hope that, whatever happens in the days ahead, they avoid the fate of New Zealand, who took 26 years to win their first Test match.

Below AFP Sport looks at how all the previous 10 Test nations started off and how long they each took to record a win in the format.

Australia: First Test match: 1877, Melbourne; Result: Beat England by 45 runs.

England: First Test: 1877, Melbourne; Result: Lost to Australia by 45 runs; Time of first win: 2 weeks, 2 Tests.

South Africa: First Test: 1889, Port Elizabeth; Result: Lost to England by 8 wickets; Time of first win: 7 years, 12 Tests.

West Indies: First Test: 1928, Lord’s; Result: Lost to England by an inns and 58 runs; Time of first win: 2 years, 6 Tests.

New Zealand: First Test: 1930, Christchurch; Result: Lost to England by 8 wickets; Time of first win: 26 years, 45 Tests.

India: First Test: 1932, Lord’s; Result: Lost to England by 158 runs; Time of first win: 20 years, 25 Tests.

Pakistan: First Test: 1952, Delhi; Result: Lost to India by an inns and 70 runs; Time of first win: 1 week, two Tests.

Sri Lanka: First Test: 1982, Colombo; Result: Lost to England by 7 wkts; Time of first win: 3 years, 14 Tests.

Zimbabwe: First Test: 1992, Harare; Result: Drew with India; Time of first win: 3 years, 11 Tests.

Bangladesh: First Test: 2000, Dhaka; Result: Lost to India by 9 wkts; Time of first win: 5 years, 35 Tests.