When Adam Voges started yelling
Australia’s Adam Voges became the oldest player to score a century on debut when he scored 130 not out on the Day 2 of 1st Test against West Indies at the Windsor Park, Dominica.
The 35-year-old became the 20th Australian to score a century on debut and also the oldest. In an after match interview, he said he’s happy that he made the most from the opportunity he got after that long wait.
“I just yelled I think. I just had my hands up in the air yelling, just pure elation. It’s been a long road, it’s been a lot of hard work.
“Just to get the opportunity firstly and then to make the most of it and get a hundred on debut, is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.”
Voges has played 160 first-class matches and scored 10834 runs at an average of 45.52. He also averaged more than 100 in Sheffield Shield cricket last summer. His hundred became possible after the Australian tailenders supported him well from the other end.
The visitors were 221 for 9 when Voges was on 77, Josh Hazlewood then came in and played a massive well-backed innings with Voges. The last wicket stand made 92 runs.
Hazlewood’s determined 39 runs gave Voges what he needed and he capitalise well.
“We hadn’t been taken the runs from the first couple of balls from the over and I came down and said ‘I might take the first one this time, mate’ and he said ‘yeah, that’s okay’,” Voges smiled.
“Massive excitement. Massive relief. Just to get this opportunity and then make the most of it, is very satisfying.”
“I got a lovely message from my family. They would have loved to be here. Cricket Australia organised a video message from all my family and I got to watch that before play yesterday. So that was a really special moment.”
West Indies started off well on the Day 2 before the 35-year-old debutant Adam Voges surged the Australian innings to help them finish 145 runs ahead. Soon, the visitors were dismissed on 318 runs with 170 lead on board. Windies were 25 for 2 at the close of day’s play, Darren Bravo and another debutant Shane Dowrich is on the crease and have a massive task ahead of them.