A strokemaker in glasses

All Today's Yesterdays - July 24 down the years

July 23| July 25

1947
That classical strokemaker Zaheer Abbas was born. Playing in glasses for much of his career, he scored 5062 Test runs for Pakistan (1969-70 to 1985-86) and is the only batsman to hit two separate hundreds in a first-class match eight times. He twice made a Test double hundred in England: 274 at Edgbaston in 1971 and 240 at The Oval in 1974.

1958
A distinguished trio made their Test debuts for England against New Zealand at Old Trafford: Ted Dexter hit 52 and Ray Illingworth took three wickets in 45 economical overs. The third newcomer, Raman Subba Row, made only 9, but it scarcely mattered: England won by an innings and 13 runs, and became the first side to win the opening four Tests of a series in England.

1931
Brilliant little George Gunn was 52 years old when he completed an innings of 183 for Notts against Warwickshire. His son George Vernon Gunn scored 100 not out in the same innings.

1902
A typically dazzling hundred before lunch by Victor Trumper helped Australia beat England by 3 runs at Old Trafford (see Fred Tate below).

1867
The immortal Fred Tate was born. In contrast with his son Maurice, who took 155 wickets for England, poor Fred played in only one Test, but he put his name on it - and not just because it began on his birthday. After dropping a vital catch at Old Trafford in 1902, he was the last man out at the end of the match, which Australia won by just three runs. By winning 'Tate's Match', Australia retained the Ashes.

1917
Australian opening batsman Jack Moroney was born. After making a duck in his first Test knock, against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1949-50, he returned to the same ground later in the series to score a hundred in each innings.

1996
Death of Alphonso (Alfie) Roberts. When he appeared in his only Test, against New Zealand at Auckland in 1955-56, he became the first cricketer from the `small islands' (in his case St Vincent) to play for West Indies.

Other birthdays
1888 Arthur Richardson (Australia)
1929 Alfred Binns (West Indies)
1935 George Varnals (South Africa)
1938 John Sparling (New Zealand)
1974 Andrew Penn (New Zealand)