Vincent in ripping Debut
[New Zealand Herald] | [Original Article]

PERTH - Lou Vincent made a fairytale start to his test cricket career yesterday when he struck a century on debut to leave New Zealand reasonably placed on the first day of the third and deciding test against Australia.

Vincent, who grew up in Forrest Hill on the North Shore and was striking hundreds as a third former for Westlake Boys High School, became just the sixth New Zealander to score a century on debut when he square drove Australian fast-bowler Jason Gillespie to the boundary shortly after the tea adjournment.

Remarkably, it was the first century scored on debut by a touring player in Australia since the Nawab of Pataudi sen struck 102 in the second test of the Bodyline series in 1932-33, and one of only four after the first-time efforts of Englishmen R.E. Foster in 1903-04 and George Gunn in 1907-08.

The other milestones were all reached at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Other New Zealanders to score a century on debut are Mathew Sinclair (214), Jack Mills (117), Rodney Redmond (107), Mark Greatbatch (107) and Bruce Taylor (105).

Vincent, who struck 14 fours and a six during his innings, was controversially adjudged caught behind by Darrell Hair, who apparently had not noticed that the ball had deviated off the gloves of Adam Gilchrist.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming broke his long-running drought of centuries by raising his third hundred in his 63rd test, and his first for 3 1/2 years.

The New Zealand captain brought up his overdue century by pulling Shane Warne for four.

At stumps, New Zealand were 293 for seven.


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