One-Test wonder

In cricket, a One-Test wonder is usually a cricketer who is only selected for one Test match during his career and never represents his country again (not necessarily due to poor performance). Examples include Andy Ganteaume, who scored 112 for the West Indies in his only Test innings in 1948.^[1] The term may derive from the term One-hit wonder, which is used to describe singers who only have one hit song.

Players who are picked for only one Test are often bowlers: batsmen tend to be given a longer run to establish themselves at Test level. One-Test wonders also tend to be picked for a home series, as a stop-gap replacement. As of September 2006, there had been 377 One-Test wonders.^[2] Many were unlucky never to be picked again: in addition to Ganteaume, Rodney Redmond is the only other player to have scored a century in his only Test, scoring 107 and 56 while opening the batting for New Zealand in 1973;^[3] and West Indian Vic Stollmeyer, brother of Jeff Stollmeyer, is the only player to have recorded a score in the 90s in his only Test; no other One-Test wonder has scored more than 80.^[4] Stuart Law scored 54 not out in his only Test innings for Australia, leaving him without a Test average.^[5] Gobo Ashley took 7 for 95 for South Africa in the first innings of his single Test in 1889,^[6] and Charles Marriott recorded match figures of 11 for 96 (5 for 37 and 6 for 59) in his only match for England in 1933.^[7][8] No other bowler has taken more than five wickets in an innings, or ten wickets in the match, in their only Test.^[9] Among wicket-keepers, Indian player Rajindernath made four stumpings in his only Test, but was not called on to bat.^[10]

Occasionally, One-Test wonders have been recalled to Test cricket after a gap of several years. The most extreme example was John Traicos, who made his Test debut for South Africa in 1970 and played his second Test for Zimbabwe in 1993.^[11] The most recent example was Ryan Sidebottom, who was recalled for his second Test in 2007 after his debut in 2001.^[12] Coincidentally his father, Arnie Sidebottom, was a One-Test wonder.^[13]

Fourteen One-Test wonders have also played in a single One Day International for their team.^[9] Kim Barnett is the only batsman to have scored more than 55,^[14] and David Lawrence is the only bowler to have taken four or more wickets,^[15] in their only ODI (both for England).^[9]

More rarely, the term may refer to a player who has played in more than one Test, but was very successful only once. Examples include the bowlers India's Narendra Hirwani,^[16] and Australia's Bob Massie,^[17] both of whom took eight wickets in each innings of their debut matches, but then failed to live up to their early promise.

Notes

1. ^ Andy Ganteaume scored 112 for West Indies in the second Test against England at the Queen's Park Oval in February 1948. He did not bat in the second innings.[1]
2. ^ The 377 One-Test wonders in September 2006 exclude Alan Jones, who played one "Test" for England against a Rest of the World XI in 1970 which was later stripped of Test status, and never played for England again - The uncapped One-Test wonder, Cricinfo, September 9, 2006.
3. ^ Rodney Redmond scored 107 and 56 for New Zealand in the third Test against Pakistan at Eden Park in February 1973, but the match was drawn.[2]
4. ^ Vic Stollmeyer was stumped on 96 in his only Test innings, for West Indies in the third Test against England at the Oval in August 1939. His side did not bat a second time and the match was drawn.[3]
5. ^ Cricinfo - Players and Officials - Stuart Law
6. ^ Gobo Ashley took 7/95 for South Africa in the second Test against England at Newlands in March 1889. His side lost by an innings, so he did not bowl again.[4]
7. ^ Charles Marriott took match figures of 11 for 96 (5/37 and 6/59) for England in the third Test against West Indies at the Oval in August 1933.[5]
8. ^ Best performances by One-Test wonders, Stump Bearders No 33, BBC Sport, 20 August 2002.
9. ^ ^{a b c} One-match wonders, and Shah's second chance, Cricinfo, May 16, 2007
10. ^ Cricinfo - Players and Officials - Rajindernath
11. ^ Cricinfo - Players and Officials - John Traicos
12. ^ Cricinfo - Glowing in the cold
13. ^ Cricinfo - Sidebottom ready for long-awaited second chance
14. ^ Kim Barnett scored 83 for England in the third ODI against West Indies at Lords on 27 May 1991.[6]
15. ^ David Lawrence took 4/67 for England in the one-off ODI against Sri Lanka at the Oval on 4 September 1988.[7]
16. ^ Narendra Hirwani took 8/61 and 8/75 for India in the fourth Test against West Indies at Madras in January 1988.[8]
17. ^ Bob Massie took 8/84 and 8/53 for Australia in the second Test against England at Lord's in June 1972.[9]

References

• Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
• Ultimate One-Test wonder, Cricinfo, December 31, 2005