How to Build Your Own Career in Cricket (Beginner Guide)

Here we take a look at the top 5 longest careers in International Cricket. Every player dreams to play for his country. While some end up with very long careers others end up on satisfactory note. The Shortest international cricketing career’s span is of just 3 hours, almost 1/6th of a day.

Jelte Schoonheim (Netherlands)

The Shortest Careers in International Cricket (Top 5)

The unluckiest international player of all, the one with the shortest career is the Dutch player Jelte Schoonheim. When he made his Twenty20 international debut against Ireland in Belfast in August 2008, the match was canceled. Schoonheim's international career lasted about three hours, between the toss and the decision to call off the match. Since the captains managed to toss up, the match is recorded in the records.

Roy Park (Australia)

A local man, Dr. Roy Park, replaced Charles Macartney in the second Ashes Test in Melbourne in 1920-21. His no. 3 position was bowled first ball, so Park did not bat again and in fact never won another cap afterward, as his medical career took up more of his time. Australia won by an innings, so Park did not bat again. In one humorous incident, Park's wife dropped her knitting at the crucial moment while watching him go out to bat at the MCG and missed his entire international career while picking it up.

Greg Loveridge (New Zealand)

As a promising leg spinner with the Central Districts of New Zealand, Loveridge played in a Test against Zimbabwe in Hamilton on his 21st birthday in January 1996. His big day ended with a four off Henry Olonga, but the next delivery broke his knuckle, forcing him out. Unlike other Test players, Loveridge never got to bowl or field, so his active career lasted for just 22 balls.

Jack MacBryan (England)

After winning a gold medal in hockey at the 1920 Olympics, MacBryan became a Test player when Sir Jack Hobbs was rested for the fourth Test of the home series against South Africa in 1924. Unfortunately, foul weather forced MacBryan to miss the match and his Test career, and he didn't bat, bowl or catch. Hobbs returned for his final Test in front of a adoring Oval crowd, and MacBryan never received another chance.

Joseph McMaster (England)

The Irish-born Old Harrovian McMaster had the shortest first-class career of any Test player. In 1888-89, he played just one test match in South Africa, which was later designated as a Test. As South Africa were bundled out for 47 and 43, McMaster made a duck, didn't bowl, and didn't have to do too much fielding either.

The Shortest Careers in International Cricket (Top 5)