Four Cricketers Who Played Their First And Last Test at the Same Venue

It is never easy for cricketers to call it a time for their International career especially if its the case for an experienced player in particular. They run through a lot of emotions and take the decision to hang one’s boot has always been a difficult one.

Meanwhile, it is always good to call it a day when the player is at the top of his game. It might surprise the world but the player should know how much fuel is left in the tank.

However, there are some players who get the privilege of finishing their Test career where it all took off for them. Thus, their cricketing journey completes a full circle.

Four cricketers who played their first and last Test match at the Same Venue:

Graeme Smith:

Former South African skipper Graeme Smith not only played his first and last Test match at the same venue of Cape Town but also played against the same opposition, Australia.

Veteran cricketer Smith played his maiden Test in 2002 scoring three and 68 whereas he played his last in 2014.

Smith was handed over the captaincy reins at quite a young age and didn’t he do justice to his role?

In fact, the opening southpaw batsman turned out to be the most successful captain in Test cricket winning 53 matches out of the 109. Interestingly he was given the Test captaincy when he was just eight Test matches old.

Furthermore, he scored 9,265 runs at an average of 48.25 in his red-ball form career. Smith always led the Proteas with aplomb and his records speak for volumes itself. However, Smith struggled to get going in his last Test series averaging a paltry 7.5 and thus scoring only 45 runs.

Shane Warne:

Shane Warne made his International Test debut against India in 1992 at Sydney. However, Warne didn’t have the best of starts as he leaked 150 runs and took a solitary wicket.

Interestingly, Warne’s first Test wicket was Ravi Shastri, who had scored a double century in leg-spinner’s first match. After 15 years, Warne returned to the same ground to play his last match with more than 700 wickets under his bag.

Warne, who is regarded as the best leg-spinner in the world took a total of 708 wickets in the 145 Test matches.

The legendary spinner scalped two wickets in his final Test match against England.

Furthermore, Australia went on to give a perfect farewell to Warne as they won that match convincingly by 10 wickets.

Jacques Kallis:

One of the best all-rounders to have embraced the gentleman’s game, Jacques Kallis made his Test match debut against England at Durban.

However, the right-handed batsman didn’t have the best of beginnings in his Test cricket appearance. Kallis scored only one run in his maiden innings.

Meanwhile, Kallis bid adieu to the game in a grand style. Kallis made a fine 115 in his final match against India at Durban. South Africa went on to win that match comfortably by 10 wickets.

Kallis scored 13,289 runs in the 166 Test matches he played for the Proteas.

In addition, he scalped 292 wickets in his long career. Thus, Kallis was the best all-rounder to play the game.

Kallis also had a fine One-Day career scoring 11,579 runs and taking 273 wickets. Moreover, Kallis was regarded as one of the best slip fielders.

Ricky Ponting:

Australia’s Ricky Ponting missed on his chance to score a century on his Test debut by four runs. Ponting played his first Test match against Sri Lanka at Perth.

However, Ponting didn’t have the best of exits as he scored only four and eight against South Africa in his final game at the same venue. Australia went on to lose that match and thus Ponting had an ignominious exit.

Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting was one of most successful captains in the cricket world. He led Australia to two successive World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007 which saw cricketers lavishing praise on him.

In fact, he was well known for his aggressive style and always led Kangaroos with aplomb.

So much so, Ponting was a livewire on the field. The right-hander gathered 13,378 runs in the 168 Test matches he played for the Aussies.