Trouble in paradise

Bob Simpson: maiden century tripled © PA Photos Enlarge

1974
When Bernard Julien played the last ball of the second day of the first Test between England and West Indies gently down the pitch, the non-striker, Alvin Kallicharran (142 not out), strode off for a well-earned rest. But Tony Greig threw down the stumps and appealed, and the umpire Douglas Sang Hue had little choice but to give Kallicharran run-out. It caused a huge furore, and eventually, after lengthy off-field discussions, Greig retracted his appeal.

1936
Birth of one of Australia's finest. Bob Simpson was a true allrounder: a dashing, fleet-footed strokeplayer with a penchant for big hundreds (he turned his maiden Test century into a mighty 311 against England at Old Trafford in 1964) a handy legspinner, a brilliant slip fielder, and later, a World Cup-winning coach in 1987 and an Ashes-regaining one in 1989. His Test career seemed to be over when he retired in 1967-68, but he came back 10 years later to lead a young side gutted by defections to Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket.

1998
South Africa's hatred of all things Australian grew even more intense today when they failed to force the victory they needed to square the series, in Adelaide. But they only had themselves to blame: they dropped 10 catches in the match, and picked a shockingly defensive side that had six batsmen plus Lance Klusener, Brian McMillan, Shaun Pollock and Pat Symcox. The tail wagged all right, but that wasn't South Africa's priority. Mark Waugh's 404-minute, unbeaten 115 was the match-saver, though the South Africans thought they had him on 105 when Waugh took one on the elbow and, disorientated, hit his own wicket. Because he was not playing at the ball, he was given not out.

1978
Winner takes all in the fifth Test, in Adelaide, where India gave Australia a real fright before surrendering the series 3-2. India needed an improbable 493 to win and fell just short on 445, the second-highest fourth-innings total in history at the time. At 323 for 4 it looked on, but Australia had the last laugh, with their 41-year-old captain Bob Simpson taking the final wicket.

1966
Danny Morrison, born today, was a genuine strike bowler, who as a result often went for a few runs, Morrison's ability to swing the ball made him a difficult proposition in his pomp. New Zealand won only two of his last 35 Tests, but each time Morrison was the catalyst, with 6 for 37 against Australia in Auckland in 1992-93, and eight wickets against Pakistan in Christchurch a year later. Ironically enough for such an incompetent batsman, Morrison's last act in Tests was a match-saving stand with Nathan Astle against England in Auckland in 1996-97.

1851
The birth of the man who bestrode English - and world - cricket for five decades, first as a player and then as an administrator - Lord Harris. A staunch defender of the spirit of the game, he took firm stands against many perceived vulgarities, especially throwing, and had the ability to make or break a career.

1997
Australia were slaughtered by West Indies in the fifth Test on an extraordinary pitch in Perth, the cracks in which were almost farcically wide; it didn't affect the series result, though: Australia won 3-2. With their 16th and 13th five-fors respectively, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh were the fissure kings. This was also the match in which Brian Lara, deputising for Walsh, first used his bowlers in single-over spells. Ambrose (whose ninth over in the second innings included nine no-balls) and Ian Bishop were given one on, one off.

1995
Not much brotherly love in the fifth Ashes Test in Perth, where Steve Waugh was left stranded on 99 not out... by his brother Mark, who, acting as a runner for the injured Craig McDermott, was run out after a comic mix-up. Waugh became only the second man after Geoff Boycott to be stranded on 99.

Other birthdays
1928 Chandrasekhar Gadkari (India)
1932 "Pom-Pom" Fellows-Smith (South Africa)
1941 Gary Bartlett (New Zealand)
1979 Paul Franks (England)
1985 Mandy Kornet (Netherlands)