All bowlers across the world dream of playing their first Test match and taking their maiden wicket. However, that fantasy turns into a nightmare when the wicket you took is deducted because you overstepped.
Such was the case with Akash Deep, India’s most recent debutant, who castled Zak Crawley on Friday, seeming to win his maiden Test wicket. However, the umpire’s laterally extended arms dashed Akash Deep’s aspirations, notwithstanding his sad and depressed expression.
Akash Deep isn’t alone. Other bowlers have had a rollercoaster of feelings in their debut Test, too.
This article features five bowlers who took their first Test wickets off no-balls.
1. Akash Deep (India)
Akash Deep, India’s newest Test player, played his first match against England. Like others before him, Akash Deep first wicket was bittersweet—it was off a no-ball.
The opportunity arose when Akash Deep managed to jag back in and castle Zak Crawley, only for the umpire to signal that the Bengal seamer had overstepped. He eventually got his man, bowling Crawley off a legitimate delivery.
2. Tom Curran (England)
England seamer Tom Curran is also included on this infamous list. The oldest of the Curran brothers sprang to prominence after he caught the rampaging David Warner while he was batting on 99 in the 2017 Boxing Day Test in the Ashes.
Curran’s short-pitched delivery rushed the small former Australian opener, who dragged one straight to mid-on. However, the umpire declared the delivery to be a no-ball, and Warner rode his luck to finish a century and give Australia the edge against their hated rivals.
3. Mark Wood (England)
Mark Wood, England’s fast bowler, is also on this list since he delivered a no-ball to dismiss Martin Guptill in his debut Test at Lord’s in 2015.
A straightish delivery that raised slightly to take the Kiwi’s outside edge turned out to be a no ball. The fielder at first slip collected the ball effortlessly, and Wood was off to celebrate his maiden Test wicket, but replays revealed that he had overstepped and would have to bowl again.
This occurred when the Kiwi openers were putting up a solid stand in response to England’s 389 in the first innings.
4. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Famous Sri Lanka and Mumbai Indians’ player, Lasith Malinga, fell into the group who missed their first Test wicket due to a blunder: a no-ball.
This happened when Malinga dismissed Australia’s superb left-hander Darren Lehmann in a Test in Darwin in 2004, but the umpire’s laterally extended arm dashed his hopes.
However, Malinga developed from this experience and went on to become one of the best bowlers in cricket history, particularly in the shorter forms.
5. Ben Stokes (England)
This list also includes current England captain Ben Stokes, who is perhaps the first real all-rounder to have made his impact for the Three Lions since the great Sir Ian Botham.
Stokes sprang to prominence when he bowled a superb outswinger of reasonable length to entice Brad Haddin forward and poke at it in the second Ashes Test of the 2013-14 series, which England lost 0-5.
The Australian wicket-keeper batsman did so and wound up nicking it behind, resulting in a no-ball! A furious debate ensued between the two, and Haddin went on to score a fantastic century.