
Mitchell Owen etched his name in the history books with a memorable debut |Courtesy - Cricket Australia
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Mitchell Owen set a world record on T20I debut
- Owen helped Australia beat West Indies by three wickets
- Owen broke a 16-year-old records
Mitchell Owen made his T20I debut for Australia a memorable one as he put in a match-winning performance against West Indies in the series opener on Sunday (July 20) at the Kingston Stadium in Jamaica, as the visitors won a thrilling clash by three wickets with seven balls to spare.
Owen, a right-arm medium pacer, was handed one over by Australian captain Mitchell Marsh during the West Indies' innings in which he conceded 14 runs but took the wicket of the home team's captain Shai Hope, who was also their second-highest run-getter in the innings with a knock of 55 in 39 balls.
Later, Owen walked out to bat at number six for Australia with the team in big trouble at 78-4 in 8.2 overs and joined Cameron Green in the middle. The duo changed the course of the game with a fifth-wicket partnership of 80 runs in just 40 balls.
Owen made a 27-ball 50 before being dismissed by Alzarri Joseph, while Green hit 51 runs in just 26 balls before losing his wicket to Gudakesh Motie.
Mitchell Owen Creates History
With his incredible all-round display, Owen has become the first player to score a half-century and take a wicket on T20I debut against a full-member side. The 23-year-old broke a 16-year-old record of South African star Rassie van der Merwe for the most runs in an innings by a debutant, who also took a wicket while playing against a Test-playing nation in the shortest format of the game.
Most Runs By A Player On T20I Debut While Not Taking A Wicket (VS Full Member Nations)
Player |
Runs |
Wickets |
Team |
Opponent |
Year |
Venue |
Mitchell Owen |
50 |
1 |
Australia |
West Indies |
2025 |
Kingston |
Rassie van der Merwe |
48 |
1 |
South Africa |
Australia |
2009 |
Centurion |
Paul Collingwood |
46 |
2 |
England |
Australia |
2005 |
Southampton |
Hussain Talat |
41 |
1 |
Pakistan |
West Indies |
2018 |
Karachi |
Sanath Jayasuriya |
41 |
2 |
Sri Lanka |
England |
2006 |
Southampton |
Meanwhile, Owen is the second player from a full member nation to achieve the rare double on T20I debut after Ireland's Simi Singh, who scored 57 runs and took three wickets against the Netherlands in 2018 at Rotterdam. Overall, 20 players have hit a fifty and a wicket on T20I debut if association nation players are counted..
Meanwhile, Owen is only the second player after Phil Salt to score a half-century from number six or below against a full member side on his T20I debut. Salt (57 of 24) also achieved the feat against the West Indies in 2022 at Barbados.
Owen is the third Australian to score a half-century on T20I debut after David Warner and Ricky Ponting.
The Australian batter made his name after a stunning display in the 2024-25 Big Bash League, where he helped Hobert Hurricanes win their title with 452 runs and six wickets in 11 matches including a century in the final.
He was signed by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2025 IPL as a mid-season injury replacement for Glenn Maxwell during their memorable campaign. Owen featured in one match.
Source - EspnCricinfo
Full Member Nations- Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Afica, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe