Becomes Middlesex's youngest debutant centurion in first-class cricket since 1862
DOHA
He has arrived on the big stage with a bang. A century on debut is a dream which most cricketers look forward to. Only few can make it happen once you are in the thick of action on the 22-yard pitch.
Goa-born Nathan Fernandes has done it in style, notching a debut ton playing for English Countryside Middlesex.
Opening the innings in the Vitality County Championship clash against Northamptonshire, Nathan’s debut century set Middlesex for dominant day's batting with the teenage opener becoming Middlesex's youngest debut centurion in first-class cricket since 1862.
The aggressive batter and left-arm spinner, who grew up training in Margao and got his first coaching lessons in the game as well as swimming in the commercial capital of Goa, went to score 103 in Middlesex total of 553 for 2.
For the records, Nathan, who has also represented England Young Lions made his first-class cricket debut for Middlesex on 12 April 2024 against Northants, while he made his T20 debut for Middlesex against Surrey on 25 May 2023.
He has played through the Middlesex County Age Group system from U-12’s through to U-19’s level, has represented the ECB in U-15’s regional sides and in the Elite Player Development programme at U-18’s level, and more recently has represented England Young Lions in both 2021 and 2022.
CENTURY ON DEBUT
Nathan, who turns 20 later this month, is the first Middlesex player to mark his first-class debut with a ton since Ted Clark in 1959 and the youngest since Isaac Walker achieved the feat against Surrey almost 100 years earlier.
Nathan’s knock came from 208 deliveries and confirmed him as Middlesex's first debut centurion in first-class cricket for 65 years. The innings contained a series of classy strokes on either side of the wicket, particularly strong outside off stump, cutting the seamers to the boundary and also delved into his bag to dab some bowlers over the slips for four during his stay at the crease.
On the first day, Nathan made his maiden first-class half-century on debut which came off 97 balls and contained seven fours.
JOURNEY INTO CRICKET
Nathan’s journey into professional cricket has a direction in which he and his parents had planned for, right from his young days in Goa, to their migration to England.
Once in England, he found his way into Middlesex age group cricket from the U10s followed by a place in the club’s academy side at fourteen years old.
As an 18-year-old academy graduate, who has been with the club since Under-12s made 16 appearances for the 2nd XI over the past two seasons before signing on the dotted line as a rookie recruit of the club.
In 2022, he featured six times in the 2nd XI Championship, scoring 171 runs and taking one wicket. In five T20 outings, he added a further 55 runs.
ROOTS IN GOA
Talking about his journey in cricket, Nathan said while talking to English media: “I was born in Goa in India, and lived there for seven years. There was a stadium not too far from where I lived and there were nets just at the back. My dad used to take me there, that’s where my journey started. He would give me throwdowns for fun.
“I used to be a really good swimmer. I used to compete in the 100m freestyle. The cricket ground was right next to the swimming pool so I would go to both. There came a point when I had to choose swimming or cricket, and I went for cricket, mainly due to the enjoyment factor.”
PRAISE FROM GOA
Former Goa Ranji Trophy player Hemant Angle vividly remembers the training sessions he had with this talented boy from South Goa.
“Nathan came to our camp in 2010 and for two years, he trained with us before leaving for the UK,” said the former off-spinner turned coach.
“Sometime in 2017, he had come to our camp during their holidays when he played for our RCC in the inter RCC tournament in Ponda where he scored a century and had a 200 run partnership with Sanath Nevgi who got 98 against Ponda RCC,” he added.
The last visit to Goa in 2023 saw him again turning to Hemant for more coaching in Margao.
“Last year he came to me for 1-to-1 coaching. He spent the full day working with me on his bowling and batting, asking for a lot of new things to sharpen his bowling.”
Hemant is not surprised with the success he attained in England given his approach to the game.
“He is a very keen learner and a dedicated and committed boy. I am not surprised that he is doing well in England as he is a very down to earth boy who takes success and failures the same way. I wish him all the success.”
