Green in Baggy Green XI: Rookies who made it

Before Matt Renshaw, there was Michael Slater. And before Slater, there was Steve Waugh. On it goes, all the way back to Bradman; those proud wearers of the Baggy Green who debuted with only modest first-class experience to call on.

With Renshaw set to debut as a 20-year-old with just 12 first-class matches under his belt, we've taken a look back through the annals of Australian cricket history, and prove quite unequivocally that experience doesn't count for everything when it comes to Australia's Test debutants.

In fact, the below team – made up of players who appeared in fewer than 20 first-class matches when called up to debut for Australia – reads like a who's who of Baggy Green greats.

Will Renshaw one day join the list?

The Green in Baggy Green XI

1. Michael Slater

Image Id: 85EFE40E63CC450290BFBBDD33DD6511

First-class record before Test debut: 16 matches, 1520 runs at 58.46 (4x100s, 11x50s)

Age at Test debut: 23

Slater arrived from the NSW country town of Wagga Wagga and quickly made an impact, scoring a century in his third match and adding two more before his first full Sheffield Shield season – 1992-93 was complete. A first-innings 69 in the final was the icing on the cake, and saw him picked for Australia's '93 Ashes tour. He made a century against Somerset first up, won a Baggy Green ahead of Matthew Hayden, and made an unforgettable 152 in just his second Test.

2. Phillip Hughes

Image Id: 55EE7F1277594F71BBB2E527F7E54C0E

First-class record before Test debut: 18 matches, 1,648 runs at 58.85 (5x100s, 10x50s)

Age at Test debut: 20

The late Phillip Hughes was a teenage prodigy who as a kid scored hundreds for fun. He transferred that into the professional arena with five hundreds in his first 18 first-class matches, including one as a 19-year-old in the Shield final of 2007-08. A year later he was on a plane to South Africa, and about to make history with a pair of hundreds in his second Test. The ride was rocky after that – he was in and out of the side no fewer than four times – but his dramatic entrance showed he had the class to make it.

3. Sir Donald Bradman

Image Id: 9EC5E1944BB14033BFFA11D34123210D

First-class record before Test debut: 9 matches, 989 runs at 76.08 (4x100s, 3x50s)

Age at Test debut: 20

People might not be familiar with the name but this bloke could play a little. Fittingly, the Don made a century in his very first first-class innings – 118 – and scarcely looked back. Three more followed in his next eight outings, including one in each innings in just his seventh match, against Queensland. He was picked for his Test debut a month later, and the legend was born.

4. Neil Harvey

Image Id: 2BD983E8EBD742D8A60D77010EA3F69F

First-class record before Test debut: 11 matches, 705 runs at 47 (1x100, 4x50s)

Age at Test debut: 19

A teenaged Harvey blasted 154 in his second first-class match inside three hours and was immediately marked as one to watch. He failed to post three figures in his next 10 matches but selectors saw the gifts the left-hander possessed, and picked him as a 19-year-old to debut in the Baggy Green. He missed out on in his maiden outing for the Test side but promptly scored hundreds in his second and third Test, igniting a brilliant career.

5. Steve Waugh

Image Id: 7C6A168C4905437A884AAC3D22902A46

First-class record before Test debut: 11 matches, 605 runs at 43.21 (2x100s, 2x50s)

Age at Test debut: 20

Waugh batted at No.9 and made 31 in his first-class debut with NSW, after he and twin Mark had made waves in Sydney grade cricket. He soon made his way up the order and a 94 against the Vics was a breakthrough knock, before kick-starting his 1985-86 Shield campaign the following summer with a century against Tasmania. Two months later, he was debuting in the Boxing Day Test and trying to resurrect Australian cricket.

6. Justin Langer

Image Id: 559F26BDA59F42E0AC1D1678B390E519

First-class record before Test debut: 14 matches, 1,121 runs at 44.84 (3x100s, 5x50s)

Age at Test debut: 22

Langer made 131 in his third first-class match after posting 59 on debut, pegging himself as one of a new crop of talented young batsmen from WA. The left-hander's biggest splash however, came in the 1991-92 Shield final, when he made a second-innings 149 to help his side to victory over NSW. A double of 96 and 110 against the Redbacks the following summer kept his name in the frame and he debuted against the fearsome Windies in the memorable Adelaide Test of January '93.

7. Ian Healy

Image Id: E73E5B80F83E487D8FB7755D21166D88

First-class record before Test debut: 8 matches, 19 catches, 2 stumpings, 253 runs at 25.30 (1x50)

Age at Test debut: 24

Healy was an unknown from Queensland when he was plucked from obscurity to make his Test debut in Karachi in September 1988. Prior to that, he'd played against a touring West Indian side and in a Shield final, while his best knock was an unbeaten 58. The enthusiastic young gloveman had also snaffled eight catches in a single match, however the selectors made a bold call – and clearly got it right.

8. Brett Lee

Image Id: 066DEE194C074CF8918D494ADBCBF309 

First-class record before Test debut: 16 matches, 71 wickets at 22.07 (3x5wi)

Age at Test debut: 23

Steve Waugh was the national captain at the time and had long heard whispers of a young quick from the NSW south coast who was hitting extreme speeds and causing carnage in grade cricket. Lee debuted for the Blues in November 1997 and while he impressed with searing pace, he wasn't doing considerable damage in the scorebook. His above figures are inflated by a tour to Zimbabwe with an Australia Academy team, in which he snared 17 wickets at fewer than six apiece. But Waugh saw him terrorise the touring Indians while playing for NSW in late '99, and had to have him in his Test side. He repaid the faith with a five-fer on debut.

9. Shane Warne

Image Id: CCA21E491A244E51873C0198B16B805A

First-class record before Test debut: 7 matches, 26 wickets at 22.46

Age at Test debut: 22

Warne took one wicket on first-class debut and was then part of an Australia 'B' squad for a tour of Zimbabwe, in which he claimed second-innings figures of 7-49 in just his third first-class match. Consistent wickets followed in the Shield and he grabbed seven against a visiting Windies side before earning a call-up to the Test team against India at the SCG. It was a forgettable debut but the Warne wheel turned sharply, much like his leg-breaks.

10. Craig McDermott

Image Id: 76D4D74F6FD849D1ACC0F36CE6FE594E

First-class record before Test debut: 14 matches, 45 wickets at 29.37 (1x5wi)

Age at Test debut: 19

McDermott was another tearaway teen, the fiery Queensland quick taking 20 wickets in eight matches in his first Shield season. It was the following summer however, that he had his breakthrough, snaring 6-49 on day one of a Shield clash against Tasmania to put his name up in lights. Three weeks later he was taking on the might of the West Indies at the MCG, and with six wickets on debut, he was away.

11. Glenn McGrath

Image Id: A546600F384C45F58ACC123646003251

First-class record before Test debut: 8 matches, 32 wickets at 26.25 (2x5wi)

Age at Test debut: 23

McGrath was thrust into the Test team in November 1993 largely off the back of his performances the previous summer. In his debut Shield season, he'd claimed 25 wickets at 23, with two five-wicket hauls and a seven-wicket performance in the Blues' Shield final victory. He only played one Shield match prior to the beginning of the Test series against the Kiwis in late '93, taking four wickets, and from there he was chosen for Baggy Green, taking three wickets in a relatively uneventful debut.

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