In the 147-year history of Test cricket, hundreds of players have scored centuries on debut, but only seven have managed the rare feat of scoring a double century (200+ runs) in their very first match.
Achieving such a milestone under debut pressure is a remarkable statement of skill, temperament, and determination.
Let’s take a look at these elite cricketers who left a historic mark right from their Test debut:
1. Reginald Erskine Foster (England)
Score: 287 runs
Opponent: Australia
Venue: Sydney
Year: 1903
Foster became the first player in Test history to score a double century on debut. Playing in the 1903 Ashes opener, his brilliant 287 powered England to a first-innings total of 577 and a comfortable 5-wicket victory.
2. Lawrence Rowe (West Indies)
Score: 214 runs
Opponent: New Zealand
Venue: Kingston
Year: 1972
Almost seven decades after Foster’s feat, West Indies’ Lawrence Rowe smashed 214 in his first Test appearance. Though the match ended in a draw, his knock remains one of the finest debuts in cricket history.
3. Brendon Kuruppu (Sri Lanka)
Score: 201*
Opponent: New Zealand
Venue: Colombo
Year: 1987
Kuruppu became the first Sri Lankan to score a double ton on debut. His unbeaten 201 came in a drawn match against New Zealand and stood out for its patience and resilience over more than 500 deliveries.
4. Matthew Sinclair (New Zealand)
Score: 214 runs
Opponent: West Indies
Venue: Wellington
Year: 1999
Sinclair's powerful innings helped New Zealand crush the West Indies by an innings and 105 runs. His debut double ton earned him the Player of the Match award and instant fame in Kiwi cricket.
5. Jacques Rudolph (South Africa)
Score: 222*
Opponent: Bangladesh
Venue: Chittagong
Year: 2003
Rudolph announced his arrival with an unbeaten 222 against Bangladesh, helping South Africa to a dominant win by an innings and 60 runs. His composed knock remains one of South Africa’s best debut innings.
6. Kyle Mayers (West Indies)
Score: 210*
Opponent: Bangladesh
Venue: Chittagong
Year: 2021
In one of the greatest fourth-innings chases ever, Kyle Mayers stunned the cricketing world by scoring an unbeaten 210 to guide West Indies to a 3-wicket win, chasing 395. This made him only the second player ever to score a double ton in the fourth innings on debut.
7. Devon Conway (New Zealand)
Score: 200 runs
Opponent: England
Venue: Lord’s
Year: 2021
Playing at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, Devon Conway struck a superb 200 against England, becoming the second New Zealander to achieve a double century on debut. His innings earned him the Player of the Match award, even though New Zealand fell just short of 400 in the innings.