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Australia on the verge of handing out 50 Test caps in a decade!

Mitchell Marsh is being considered to be the likley replacement for Shane Watson.

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Michael Clarke made his Test debut against India in October 2014 © Getty Images
Michael Clarke made his Test debut against India in October 2004 © Getty Images

By Rajarshi Majumdar

In the last 10 years, 48 Australian cricketers have been given the Baggy Green, and numbers 49 and 50 might just be around the corner. As Shane Watson has been ruled out of the entire tour of United Arab Emirates (UAE) against Pakistan, two more players might make their Test debut.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who is being considered as Watson’s likely replacement, had an impressive run in the Zimbabwe Triangular Series 2014, and he might be set to take the No 6 spot. Steven O’Keefe is also expected to debut if two spinners are chosen. If the pair is selected, then they will be 49th and 50th Test players to debut since Michael Clarke.

These 48 cricketers in that era represent a rise of 60 percent from the previous decade, which only saw 30 players making their debut during the time in which Australia were invincible — possibly because they had the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, who were at their best.

Only 16 players have won a solitary Test cap out of 114 debutants in the last 30 years.

Span Matches Won Lost Draw Tied W/L Ratio Debutants
1984-1994 97 31 26 39 1 1.19 36
1994-2004 117 73 24 20 0 3.04 30
2004-2014 114 66 28 20 0 2.35 48

Cumulative Test debutants:

 Team 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
England 3 9 13 16 20 25 25 30 33 40
Australia 5 7 8 14 22 27 37 41 46 47
South Africa 1 3 4 5 8 12 15 18 19 21
West Indies 7 8 9 15 26 31 35 39 40 43
New Zealand 3 6 8 15 17 22 26 30 35 38
India 1 6 8 10 11 17 23 25 30 32
Pakistan 2 3 6 6 14 22 25 26 34 34
Sri Lanka 4 6 8 11 13 15 23 24 26 28
Zimbabwe 8 8 8 8 8 8 16 18 24 26
Bangladesh 4 5 7 14 16 19 23 25 30 33

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(Rajarshi Majumdar is a reporter at CricketCountry. He played cricket for all age levels under the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for over 12 years. Apart from cricket he is an avid follower of football, supports Manchester United and a foodie at heart.)

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