In a historic achievement for West Indies cricket, Gudakesh Motie put his name into the record books as the first non-Asian spinner to open the bowling in the first innings of a Test match in 113 years. This achievement was made on January 17, 2025, in the first Test against Pakistan at Multan, after the game started following a fog delay, with Pakistan winning the toss and choosing to bat first.
West Indies changed their XI with the inclusion of Tevin Imlach, who was made wicketkeeper in place of Joshua da Silva. The visitors also had to make an addition as they drafted debutant Mohammad Huraira for injured Saim Ayub. Both teams came to bat at a spin-friendly pitch in Multan, which Pakistan fielded with four spinners and one pacer. Similarly, West Indies relied heavily on their spinners, of which Motie led the charge.
A Historic First for West Indies Cricket as Spinner Gudakesh Motie Registers Record
When Gudakesh Motie bowled the first ball to Pakistan captain Shan Masood, he made history as the first spinner to open the bowling in a Test match’s first innings for West Indies. For Caribbean cricket, fast bowlers have always ruled the roost, so it is a very rare occasion indeed. Prior to today, only four other West Indies spinners had opened the innings of a Test, but none of them ever did it in the first or the second innings.
Motie’s success marked a crucial milestone for cricket since it marked a shift in strategy from the West Indies in terms of using spinners in a predominantly pace team.
Breaking a 113-Year-Old Record
Globally, Motie broke a 113-year-old record as the first non-Asian spinner since South Africa’s Aubrey Faulkner in 1912 to bowl the first ball of a Test match. Historically, it has been a more common affair among Asian teams, as conditions are more suitable for spin bowling. It is only the 30th occasion in Test cricket history when the opening ball was bowled by a spinner in the first innings. Nine of these have been recent affairs by India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh bowlers.
Motie adds another chapter in the evolution of Test cricket. And in his 12.1 over, which read 1 for 34, the importance symbolized in Motie’s pioneering role in introducing spin in Caribbean cricketing tradition shall endure for generations.
The great achievement of Gudakesh Motie in opening the bowling as the first West Indies spinner in the first innings of a Test match and the record-breaking feat after 113 years mark a significant moment in cricket history. His effort highlights the changing dynamics of the sport and emphasizes the growing importance of spin bowling in modern Test cricket.
Also, see: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh gets engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj