ENG vs SL: Sri Lanka debutant Milan Rathnayake breaks 41-year-old record of India's 1983 World Cup hero

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In a debut which would be remembered for a long time, Sri Lanka's Milan Rathnayake broke former India pacer Balwinder Sandhu's long-standing 41-year-old record on Day 1 of the first Test against England at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

Milan Rathnayake, who is primarily a fast bowler, ended up scoring 72 runs off 135 balls to break Balwinder Sandhu's record for most runs while batting at number nine on Test debut.

Balwinder Singh, who played 8 Test matches in his career - all in 1983 - scored 71 runs off 88 balls in his debut Test match against Pakistan in Hyderabad (Sind). The knock came at a time when India were reduced to 72/7 in reply to Pakistan's 581/3d in first innings. India managed to score 189 after Balwinder's valiant effort but ended up losing by an innings and 119 runs.

Likewise, Sri Lanka were left reeling at 113/7 when the 28-year-old left-hander took charge. His innings which consisted of six fours and two sixes helped Sri Lanka post 236 in the first innings.

Highest score on Test debut while batting at No.9

• Milan Rathnayake (Sri Lanka): 72 vs England in 2024
• Balwinder Sandhu (India): 71 vs Pakistan in 1983
• Darren Gough (England): 65 vs New Zealand in1994
• Monde Zondeki (South Africa): 59 vs England in 2003
• Wilf Ferguson (West Indies): 56 not out vs England in1948

Kurunegala-born Milan Rathnayake played a total of 40 first-class matches before his Sri Lanka debut on Wednesday (August 21). He had two first-class fifties and a highest score of 59. The 40 red-ball matches ahead of the debut saw him score 660 runs at an average of 16.09. The pacer has 81 first-class wickets to his name.

Sri Lanka would be hoping for an equally impressive performance with the ball from the Rathnayake to make a comeback in the Test match. England scored 22 runs in four overs without losing any wicket before the end of Day 1 play.