What unique feat does Dave Houghton share with Charles Bannerman and Aminul Islam? (15 February 2002)

Zimbabwe played their first Test in October 1992 when they took on India at the Harare Sports Club for a one-off Test; the result of that match was not unflattering to the newly baptised, for the hosts drew honourably with a formidable Indian side.

In fact, to look at Zimbabwe's first-innings professionalism, an unknowing bystander may even have pointed to India as the greenhorns. The first-wicket partnership was not broken until the openers had put on 100, and the consistent performances continued down the line-up. The sixth-wicket partnership between skipper Dave Houghton and Andy Flower, in particular, formed the bedrock of a 456-run total. Houghton made a stolid 121 off 322 balls, completely blunting the Indian attack.

A five-wicket haul from John Traicos could not prevent India from making 307 in reply, Sanjay Manjrekar out-crawling Houghton to 104 off 422 balls. The two centuries effectively sealed the fate of the Test as a draw, but Houghton achieved statistical fame by becoming the second player at the time to score a century on his country's debut in Test cricket.

The first such instance occurred in the first ever Test, between Australia and England, when Charles Bannerman hit a century. In 2000, Aminul Islam scored a hundred to join the elite club even as Bangladesh became the 10th Test-playing nation.