Black Caps v West Indies: Is this the worst debut in Test cricket history?

Sunil Ambris of the West Indies leaves the field after being dismissed during day one of the Test match. Photo / Getty Images.

Ouch. It doesn't matter who you support, you've got to feel for this guy.

When they do up the all-time list for worst debuts in sporting history, Sunil Ambris will likely find his name alongside some of the biggest flops in memory.

The West Indies batsman approached the crease in his first match under the Maroon helmet, likely as nervous as he'll ever be before facing a delivery and gave cricket a debut to remember.

The 24-year-old was out first ball off the bowling of Black Caps seamer Neil Wagner, but it was the method of his dismissal which will see his debut consigned to the history books.

Ambris successfully turned the ball to fine leg but tripped backwards onto his stumps to be dismissed via hit-wicket making him the first man in the history of Test cricket to fall on the first ball of his innings in the humiliating manner.

Only nine other men in the history of the game have fallen for a duck via hit-wicket with the most recent behind Ambris being former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh in 2003 against India.

Sunil Ambis the first player in Test history to get out Hit Wicket for a duck on debut #stat pic.twitter.com/X4S1xLBhGw

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) December 1, 2017

Wagner took Test-best figures of 7-39 in ripping through the West Indies batting line-up to help dismiss the tourists for 134 in their first innings.

The abrasive left-arm bowler was twice on a hat-trick as he proved too lively on a green Basin Reserve deck, peppering the batsmen with his regular short balls. His 7-39 on Friday eclipsed his previous best of 6-41 at Bulawayo last year. Before the match, the West Indies had talked about attaining consistency and scoring big runs, but they had no answer to Wagner — who came to the fore despite all the pre-match talk being about swing bowler Trent Boult and the possible debut of paceman Lockie Ferguson.

The first time a batsman was out hit-wicket off the first ball they've faced in Test cricket!

Sunil Ambris hit wicket b Neil Wagner

He also became the first to be dismissed hit-wicket on debut since 2003 https://t.co/hyFX8gGxmd #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/yeus2FJ06Y

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 1, 2017

Wagner took two wickets before lunch, when the West Indies were 3-79, and was quickly back in action after the break with another four.

Bout finished with figures of 2-36, while for West Indies Kieran Powell top- scored with 42.

Earlier in the day, New Zealand won the toss and asked the visitors to bat but the first wicket didn't fall until the 90th minute.

Kraigg Brathwaite (24) and Shimron Hetmyer (13) fell to Wagner short balls while Powell was well caught at third slip after a delivery climbed on him.

For the full scorecard, wagon wheel and Manhattan/Worm click here