Mark Waugh's exceptional Test debut (Source: @ICC/x.com)
The double things always double up the excitement, and if that comes in cricket, thrills cross every boundary. Brothers have lit up the 22 yards for years, but when one replaces the other and delivers a masterclass, it becomes the ultimate bittersweet blockbuster.
The Ashes have always delivered unreal cricket dramas, but the historic Test series delivered some unforgettable moments that became more iconic than the match itself. Mark Waugh’s Test debut was already huge, an Ashes debut, but it became iconic for a whole different reason.
Replacing his brother Steve Waugh in the match, Mark smashed a hundred on his Test debut, against the arch-rival, England. Years have passed since the exceptional knock, but the performance became a forever iconic chapter in the Ashes history.
Sibling swap sets the stage for Mark Waugh’s dream Test debut
Brothers dazzling the 22 yards while holding the nation's colors on high is a familiar picture in the game of cricket. But often one sibling’s rise became a misery for the other, but they never stepped back, backing each other up. Australia produced some game-changing superstars, and the Waugh brothers are one such pair.
As the world knows about Steve Waugh’s excellence, his twin flame, his brother Mark Waugh, carved his own legacy. Making his Test debut in the iconic Ashes, Mark stunned the cricketing world with a masterclass knock.
During the Ashes 1990-91, Steve Waugh was going through a rough patch, and the management decided to drop him for the Adelaide Test, a disappointment for any batter. But the twist? His twin brother Mark stepped in, made his Test debut, and stunned the cricket world.
A tale of grit as Mark Waugh smashes 138 on Test debut
Debuts are always special, but when it comes against fierce rivals, that becomes a battle of announcing an immortal arrival, for Mark Waugh's desire turned into reality. Replacing his brother in the Adelaide XI, he blasted an exceptional knock that rattled the English bowlers and announced his arrival on the Test stage.
After winning the toss, Australia opted to bat first and faced some early blows. Losing four wickets in 104 runs, the Aussies needed a big boost, and Mark Waugh arrived to bat at the number six position. Taking the reins, he completed a fifty and stormed towards a deserving hundred.
In front of the heat of the debutant, England's bowlers looked helpless, and Waugh slammed his maiden Test hundred in his debut game. Ending the day one being unbeaten in 116 runs, he started the second day with the same domination.
As he aimed for a 150-run mark on debut, the rhythm was interrupted in the middle. When he was batting on 138 runs, Malcom broke the jinx, dismissing him. In that sublime innings, he played a knock of 138 runs in 188 deliveries with 18 boundaries.
Mark Waugh may have narrowly missed a 150 or a double century, but his debut hundred set Australia up for a commanding 386. In a 128-match Test career, the Aussie Superstar delivered some unreal knocks, but his debut delight has become a forever delightful chapter in the Ashes book.
