Most runs conceded on Test debut

Against Bangladesh at Galle, ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake conceded the fifth-most runs in an innings by a Test debutant.

Bangladesh continued to amass runs on the second day of the first Test of the two-match series in Sri Lanka, at Galle. Resuming on 292-3, they reached 458-4 before a mini-collapse forced them to finish the day on 484-9. Mushfiqur Rahim (163), Najmul Hossain Shanto (148), and Litton Das (90) were the leading scorers.

Play: The fiendishly difficult quiz on ambidextrous cricketers

The home seamers, Asitha Fernando (3-80) and Milan Rathnayake (3-38), did well, but Prabath Jayasuriya returned 0-154. Eyes were on debutant Tharindu Rathnayake, the second ambidextrous bowler in the XI, after Kamindu Mendis. Unlike Mendis, a batter who seldom bowls, Tharindu is essentially a bowling all-rounder.

Read: The history of the ambidextrous bowler

Tharindu provided early strikes, striking twice in two balls as Bangladesh had slipped to 45-3. However, as Shanto, Mushfiqur, and Das piled on the runs, he could not break through again until very late in the second evening. He finished with 3-196, the fifth-most runs conceded by anyone on Test debut.

Bangladesh are not all out yet, however, and can resume their innings on the third day. If Rathnayake bowls any further in this innings, he might even go past the 200-mark and 'climb' this list further.

Most runs conceded on men’s Test debut

Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Bowler Team Opposition Venue Season
33 1 235 4 Zahid Mahmood Pakistan England Rawalpindi 2022/23
73 16 222 2 Suraj Randiv Sri Lanka India SSC 2010
43.5 1 215 8 Jason Krejza Australia India Nagpur 2008/09
40 2 204 3 Omari Banks West Indies Australia Bridgetown 2003
49.2 3 196 3 Tharindu Rathnayake Sri Lanka Bangladesh Galle 2025

Tharindu also conceded the most runs by anyone who changed arm over the course of a Test innings. In this game, he bowled 15.5 overs with his right arm before switching to left-arm finger-spin.

Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.