First-touch artists

8226; It was Shane Warne8217;s first Ashes delivery 8212; one that left Mike Gatting as baffled as Adam on Mothers8217; Day. No wonder the delivery was after dubbed as 8216;Ball of the century8217;. It drifted down the leg stump with the ease of an Aussie summer, then spat back like a rattle snake would to disturb the off bail. The Wisden Almanac then said, 8216;8216;Never, perhaps, has one delivery cast so long a shadow over a game, or a series8217;8217;. Gatting would later admit, 8216;8216;As it pitched outside leg, I lost sight of the ball only to hear a bail being dislodged8217;8217;.

8226; Doug Howlett has now established himself as one of the best All Blacks winger ever. But on June 16, 2000 he came in as a substitute to Christian Cullen to make his debut. He made an immediate impact, taking only 22 seconds to latch on to a Tana Umaga pass which resulted as Umaga8217;s burst through the middle. Coming from Auckland, the 26-year old Howlett8217;s trademark is his speed, and holds the record for most number of tries in a Kiwi domestic season.

8226; November 14, 1998. A debut whole of Leeds United expected a lot from. Three weeks from his 18th birthday, Alan Smith scored with his first touch on the ball, his first in senior football, to stun a packed Anfield. Leeds beat Liverpool 3-1. Though short tempered, he is a darling of Leeds8217; fans. Smith had joined Leeds United Football Club LUFC center of excellence at 10.

8226; In a high scoring game against Pakistan in the 2001 Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup, Australia8217;s Michael McCann provided a first golden touch of his own. Culminating from a series of passes from Matthew Smith and Troy Elder, McCann got a dream start to his international career. Known as Stiffler, Michael is one of Kookaburas8217; most prolific scorers. 8212; Sidharth Monga

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