Top 5 youngest players to make debut for Australia in test cricket

Only three Australian cricketers have made test cricket debut before turning 19.

Representing their country in test cricket is one of the most memorable moments for any cricketer. Regarded as the ultimate form of the game, test cricket is still used as the primary parameter to judge a player’s talent in the sport.

Australia have always been one of the powerhouses in world cricket. A side filled with superstars, it is one of the toughest teams to break into. Despite the challenges, several players have had the opportunity to don the iconic Baggy Green at a very young age.

In this article, we will take a look at the top five youngest players to make debut for Australia in test cricket.

Top five youngest players to make debut for Australia in test cricket:

5. Clem Hill – 19y 100d vs England, 1907

Left-handed batter Clem Hill made his test debut for Australia in 1907 against England at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Stadium, at the age of 19 years and 100 days.

One of Australia’s most influential batters of the early era, Hill scored 3412 runs in 49 tests at an average of 39.21 including seven centuries.

His debut was a disappointing one, with the young batsman scoring just six runs across both innings.

4. Sam Konstas – 19y 85d vs India, 2024

Young New South Wales batter Sam Konstas is the latest to join the elite list. He began his test career at the age of 19 years and 85 days, making his debut against India in the fourth test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Melbourne.

Konstas became fourth youngest cricketer to represent Australia in test cricket. He came through the Under-19 ranks and was part of Australia’s U-19 World Cup winning campaign in 2024, where he scored 191 runs in seven innings. He even had an impressive start to his First-Class (FC) cricket record, with 718 runs at an average of 42.23 before his test debut.

3. Thomas Garrett – 18y 232d vs England, 1877

Right-handed batter Thomas Garrett made his test debut for Australia at 18 years and 232 days, against England in 1877 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the first-ever test match in cricket history.

His debut was a mixed affair; while he scored an unbeaten 18 runs in the first innings, he was dismissed for a duck in the second innings.

Garrett finished his international career in 1888 having made 339 runs at an average of 12.55 in 19 games.

2. Pat Cummins – 18y 193d vs South Africa, 2011

Australian captain Pat Cummins began his international career at the age of 18 years and 193 days, making his debut against South Africa in the 2011 Johannesburg test. After losing the first test, Australia had roped in young Cummins for the second and the last game of the series.

Cummins delivered a match-winning performance on his debut. The Australian pacer took six wickets in the second innings before forming an 18-run partnership with Mitchell Johnson to guide Australia to a victory.

However, after that, Cummins had to wait for five and a half years to return to the test side from injuries before he earned a permanent spot in the side.

1. Ian Craig – 17y 239d vs South Africa, 1953

Ian Craig holds the record for being the youngest player to represent Australia in test cricket. Craig made his test debut at the age of just 17 years and 239 days. Playing his first game against South Africa in 1953 at the MCG, Craig smashed a half-century (53) followed by another impressive knock of 47 runs in the second innings.

Despite making an impressive debut, Craig only played 11 tests making 358 runs at an average of just 19.88. His last test came against South Africa in 1958.

(All stats are updated till 26th December 2024)

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