NEW DELHI: 30-year-old Corbin Bosch delivered a dream debut performance for South Africa on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
The 24-year-old all-rounder, making his first Test appearance on Thursday, claimed a wicket off his very first delivery, dismissing Pakistan’s opener Shan Masood and making an immediate impact in the match.
Bosch’s standout debut reignited memories of R Ashwin’s comments about the player three years ago when he was part of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL.
Ashwin lauded Bosch on X (formerly Twitter), remarking, “Corbin Bosch was at RR 3 years ago and was the kind who was chasing excellence. Has started off well with the ball but it’s worth remembering that he averages 40 plus with bat in FC.”
Bosch’s impressive first-class credentials came to life on the international stage, proving Ashwin’s predictions true.
Wicket off the first ball of Test career for South Africa
- Bert Vogler vs ENG, Johannesburg, 1906
- Dane Piedt vs ZIM, Harare, 2014
- Hardus Viljoen vs ENG, Johannesburg, 2016
- Tshepo Moreki vs NZ, Mount Maunganui, 2024
- Corbin Bosch vs PAK, Centurion, 2024
Bosch’s bowling was pivotal for South Africa, as he ended the first two sessions with figures of 4/63, including the key scalps of Shan Masood, Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, and Naseem Shah.
At tea, Pakistan found themselves reeling at 209-9. While the likes of Kamran Ghulam (54) and Aamer Jamal (28) offered some resistance, aggressive and accurate spells, led by Bosch and Dane Paterson, kept Pakistan’s innings in check.
For Bosch, who has been lauded for his hunger for improvement, the debut has displayed consistent hard work and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
