Hat-trick hero

Heroism in a lost cause © Topdraw (Marketing) Ltd Enlarge

1988
An outstanding display from Merv Hughes could not stop a crushing West Indian victory in the second Test in Perth. Hughes took 13 for 217 in the match, including the most convoluted hat-trick in Test history. He dismissed Curtly Ambrose with the last ball of his 36th over, Patrick Patterson with the first ball of his 37th (the last of West Indies' first innings) and Gordon Greenidge with the first ball of the second innings. It was an almost indecently brave performance, but West Indies were always in control after Viv Richards lashed 146 off 150 balls, and they clinched a 169-run victory on the final day.

1928
England wins in Australia aren't common, making their victory at Brisbane's Exhibition Ground in the first Test of the 1928-29 series even more remarkable. Australia started the last day on 17 for 1 chasing 742 and showed they had no stomach for the fight, being bowled out for 66. Don Bradman, on his debut, made 18 and 1, and as a result was dropped for the only time in his international career.

1964
A great day for Ken Barrington, who became the first man to score hundreds against six different Test-playing countries (the ones available to him at the time - Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh had not yet joined the big boys) with 148 not out against South Africa in Durban. That set England up for an innings victory, with their spinners, Fred Titmus, David Allen and Bob Barber, sharing 15 wickets.

1994
Jimmy Adams continued a remarkable run of form in the drawn second Test between West Indies and India in Nagpur. Adams, whose canny use of his legs earned him the nickname "Padams" on this tour, made 125 not out and 23, to add to 39 and 81 in the first Test. He would make 174 and 78, both not out, in the third match. Adams and Carl Hooper helped West Indies negotiate a tricky final day on a slow turner. It gave them the chance to keep their 15-year unbeaten series run alive - a chance they grabbed with a crushing victory in the third Test to square the series.

1958
On paper, England's 1958-59 Ashes squad was one of the strongest ever assembled, but on the field they fell apart at the seams. It all started to go wrong on the first day of the series when they were bowled out for 134 in Brisbane, after Peter May, leading England for a record 26th time, won the toss and batted despite the pitch having a distinctly green tinge. They went on the lose the series 0-4.

1996
England's wretched tour of Zimbabwe - poor results on the field and a series of PR gaffes off it - continued with a seven-wicket loss against Mashonaland, a result made worse by the fact that James Kirtley, who went on to play for England against Zimbabwe, had match figures of 7 for 87. In a sign of things to come, a pitch incursion from a single semi-clad streaker prompted a baton charge from something like 50 helmeted security guards.

1990
A good day for 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar as India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Poona. He made his first ODI half-century and also chipped in with two wickets, two catches and a run-out. Despite a 27-ball 58 from Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka were only able to set a modest target of 228. India got there with almost four overs to spare.

1969
Mark Dekker, who was born today, was a solid top-order batsman and an excellent cover fielder for Zimbabwe. He had a dramatic entry to Test cricket when, in Pakistan in 1992-93, he carried his bat in Rawalpindi in only his second match. He made a brace of 68s and featured in century partnership in each innings, but was left stranded when Zimbabwe, chasing 240, crashed from 135 for 1 to 187.

1984
Mike Gatting started off a very good tour of India for both him and England with a match-winning 115 not out in the first ODI in Pune. England went on to win 2-1 in the Tests and 4-1 in the one-dayers, and Gatting scored a belated maiden Test hundred in his 54th innings. For good measure, he added 207 three Tests later in England's victory in Madras.

Other birthdays
1940 Tony Crafter (Australia)