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- B.V.Swagath (GOLDEN DEBUT MATCH : South Africa Vs India, 1st Test Match at Kingsmead, Durban, 1992)

Pravin Amre would be remembered throughout Indian Cricket history for his century on Test Match Debut. The first Test at Durban was a historic match with South Africa playing their first test match at home after their comeback into International Cricket. It was also the first Test Match when the THIRD UMPIRE (Karl Liebenberg, the 3rd Umpire) was introduced. Two youngsters made their debut for India – Pravin Amre, the middle order batsman and Ajay Jadeja, the new opening batsman to pair up with Ravi Shastri.

The Indian Skipper, Md.Azharuddin won the toss and put the homeside to bat first on a lively Kingsmead wicket which was considered to be as quick as the Perth wicket. With all the Indian bowlers amongst the wickets, the Springboks’ innings folded up for a modest 254. South Africa was inexperienced at the test level but had players with great potential. Allan Donald who looks to be the fastest bowler, Brett Schultz, the left arm quick, Meyrick Pringle, the tall quick bowler and Brian McMillan, a very good swing bowler were the ideal bowling composition for South Africa on this wicket.

India began their first innings in a disastrous fashion losing four wickets for only 38 runs on the board. Then walked in Pravin Amre, playing his 1st innings in Test Cricket, with his team in a pathetic position. Indian team was on the brink of shedding away a big first innings lead to South Africa. But Amre assisted his skipper Azharuddin and the two took the score past hundred. India lost a couple of wickets in Azhar and Kapil’s and at the end of the 2nd day, India were struggling at 128/6 with Amre playing a fighting innings of 38.

The 3rd day began with India losing their 7th wicket of Manoj Prabhakar and Kiran More joined Amre. Pravin Amre had to score some quick runs with the danger of the team being all out very soon. But Kiran More gave the perfect support to the debutant. As they batted on and on, frustrations creeped in for the bowlers. Pravin Amre played some full blooded cut shots and More with his cheeky little shots took India to a safe position. Amre soon raced away to his hundred. A hundred on test match debut, with him being the 9th Indian to do so. It was a great innings considering the team position when he walked in, the quality of the bowling and the difficult wicket and overcast conditions. Pravin Amre got out after scoring 103 runs with eleven stroke filled boundaries.

With bad weather conditions, time was running out for any possible result to come out of the match. The match ended in an insignificant draw but what was significant was Pravin Amre scoring a century on Test Match Debut and to pick the Man of The Match award. And with that a place in the Cricketfundas.com's GOLDEN DEBUTS.

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