Test match debut for England against New Zealand at Lancaster Park in Christchurch, the four-day match starting on Saturday, 17 March. Statham bowled first change after Alec Bedser and Trevor Bailey had shared the new ball. His first Test wicket was that of New Zealand opener Bert Sutcliffe, who had scored 116. It was a high-scoring match that ended in a draw. 1951 to 1954 1951 season There were few Test opportunities for Statham from 1951 to 1953 but he continued to improve at county level. As he developed greater strength, he increased his pace from fast-medium to genuine fast. He took 97 wickets at the good low average of 15.11 in 1951 and played in two of the Tests against South Africa, taking four wickets in all. England won the series by three Tests to one, the bowling honours being shared by Alec Bedser and the spinners Jim Laker and Roy Tattersall. Lancashire, with eight victories in their 28 matches, finished third but a long way behind winners Warwickshire. There was a key fixture for Lancashire at Old Trafford in May when they met their co-champions Surrey. Statham was outstanding in the match and began by dismissing both the opening batsmen, one of them clean bowled by a yorker, and took five for 33 as Surrey were all out for only 114. Surrey had to follow on and Statham again dismissed the openers cheaply en route to four for 29. Lancashire need just 39 to win. Soon afterwards, Statham made his first appearance at Lord's against Middlesex and his four for fourteen was instrumental in forcing another follow on, Lancashire again winning. In the Test series, he was chosen for the second match at Lord's but had little to do as it was a spinner's wicket and his Lancashire colleague Roy Tattersall took twelve for 101, England winning to level the series one-all. He kept his place in the third Test at Old Trafford but, while his opening partner Bedser took twelve, he was only needed for a total of 24 overs. In the last two Tests, the selectors decided to pair first Trevor Bailey and then Derek Shackleton with Bedser, but Statham was content as he was certainly in the Test picture and his potential was recognised. 1951–52 in India, Pakistan and Ceylon Statham was selected by MCC for the winter tour of India, Pakistan and Ceylon from