In the group-stage match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Namibia took on Australia at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, and captain Gerhard Erasmus set an unwanted record by taking the most balls to start the scoring in T20 Internationals.

Mitchell Marsh, the captain of Australia, won the toss and asked Namibia to bat first. He then went on to dominate the Namibians, bringing them down to 15/2 at the 3.4 over mark.

The 29-year-old did not score his first run until he faced his 16th delivery, which came on the third ball of the 9th over, when he swiped a low full toss from Adam Zampa for a single. The skipper's face lit up with a dazzling smile after the single.

This was the highest number of balls that a batter needed to get off the mark in T20 International Cricket since ball-by-ball data began to be accessible in 2005.  

Tanmay Mishra of Kenya set the previous record when he needed 15 balls to hit his maiden run in a quadrangular series against Pakistan in September 2007.

In the end, Erasmus was dismissed for 36 off 43 balls as the Namibian squad collapsed for a pitiful 72 and lost the match to Australia by 9 wickets.