December 12 down the years
A prince arrives
The birth of Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh played a big role in helping India win the 2011 World Cup • AFP
1981
The birth of Yuvraj Singh, who announced his arrival on the big stage with a pulsating 84 and some electric fielding against Australia in a quarter-final match in the 2000 ICC Knockout in Nairobi. Before long he was India's next pin-up boy. The hype grew when he and Mohammad Kaif revived a dead chase with a match-winning partnership in the final of the 2002 NatWest Series. A tendency to blow hot and cold plagued Yuvraj through his international career, but when he was on song there was no stopping him. During the 2007 T20 World Cup, he became the second international batter after Herschelle Gibbs to hit six sixes in an over, carting Stuart Broad into orbit in the course of making a 12-ball half-century, which remained an T20I world record for 16 years. He took India to the 50-over World Cup in 2011, with a Player-of-the-Series performance: 362 runs and 15 wickets. However, his limitations manifested themselves in Tests - apart from three shining innings, his five-day career didn't really take off. Soon after the 2011 World Cup, he was diagnosed with cancer, for which he was treated in the USA. He returned to India's limited-overs sides after recovering, but was not able to recapture his form of old.
The birth of Yuvraj Singh, who announced his arrival on the big stage with a pulsating 84 and some electric fielding against Australia in a quarter-final match in the 2000 ICC Knockout in Nairobi. Before long he was India's next pin-up boy. The hype grew when he and Mohammad Kaif revived a dead chase with a match-winning partnership in the final of the 2002 NatWest Series. A tendency to blow hot and cold plagued Yuvraj through his international career, but when he was on song there was no stopping him. During the 2007 T20 World Cup, he became the second international batter after Herschelle Gibbs to hit six sixes in an over, carting Stuart Broad into orbit in the course of making a 12-ball half-century, which remained an T20I world record for 16 years. He took India to the 50-over World Cup in 2011, with a Player-of-the-Series performance: 362 runs and 15 wickets. However, his limitations manifested themselves in Tests - apart from three shining innings, his five-day career didn't really take off. Soon after the 2011 World Cup, he was diagnosed with cancer, for which he was treated in the USA. He returned to India's limited-overs sides after recovering, but was not able to recapture his form of old.
1987
The end of one of the most fractious matches in Test history. Pakistan and England drew the second Test in Faisalabad, but all anybody ever remembers is the ugly finger-wagging, expletive-laden face-off between England captain Mike Gatting and umpire Shakoor Rana. Rana refused to restart the match without an apology from Gatting. There was no play on the scheduled third day as a result, and the tour was almost called off.
The end of one of the most fractious matches in Test history. Pakistan and England drew the second Test in Faisalabad, but all anybody ever remembers is the ugly finger-wagging, expletive-laden face-off between England captain Mike Gatting and umpire Shakoor Rana. Rana refused to restart the match without an apology from Gatting. There was no play on the scheduled third day as a result, and the tour was almost called off.
2022
England sealed their first series win in Pakistan in 22 years, in Multan. The hosts, set 355 to win, began briskly with a 64-run stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique in 15 overs by lunch on the third day, but James Anderson and Ollie Robinson put the brakes on with the wickets of Rizwan and Babar Azam. On the fourth day, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz produced another impressive stand, of 80 for the sixth wicket, but two quick strikes by Mark Wood saw both batters off in successive overs. Shakeel under-edged it to wicketkeeper Ollie Pope, who scooped the ball up millimetres from the turf in a contentious catch. Wood finished with 4 for 65 and Robinson got the wicket of last man Mohammad Ali to seal the win by 26 runs. Harry Brook was Player of the Match for his 108, his second century of the tour after his maiden hundred in Rawalpindi.
England sealed their first series win in Pakistan in 22 years, in Multan. The hosts, set 355 to win, began briskly with a 64-run stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique in 15 overs by lunch on the third day, but James Anderson and Ollie Robinson put the brakes on with the wickets of Rizwan and Babar Azam. On the fourth day, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz produced another impressive stand, of 80 for the sixth wicket, but two quick strikes by Mark Wood saw both batters off in successive overs. Shakeel under-edged it to wicketkeeper Ollie Pope, who scooped the ball up millimetres from the turf in a contentious catch. Wood finished with 4 for 65 and Robinson got the wicket of last man Mohammad Ali to seal the win by 26 runs. Harry Brook was Player of the Match for his 108, his second century of the tour after his maiden hundred in Rawalpindi.
1884
Adelaide's first Test almost didn't happen. An unseemly dispute between Billy Murdoch's Australia side and the ground authorities over money (even though the Australians were all supposedly amateurs), and then Murdoch's objection to James Lillywhite as umpire, threatened to cause the match to be scrapped. But the disagreements were settled, although Lillywhite's replacement reportedly knew little about cricket. England won by eight wickets.
Adelaide's first Test almost didn't happen. An unseemly dispute between Billy Murdoch's Australia side and the ground authorities over money (even though the Australians were all supposedly amateurs), and then Murdoch's objection to James Lillywhite as umpire, threatened to cause the match to be scrapped. But the disagreements were settled, although Lillywhite's replacement reportedly knew little about cricket. England won by eight wickets.
1981
A day for insomniacs. Sunil Gavaskar began what was to be then the longest innings by any Indian batter in first-class cricket when he made 172 in 708 minutes against England in the second Test, in Bangalore. The record he beat was his own (593 minutes making 166 against Pakistan in 1980). Gavaskar was on the field for all but four balls of the match. Some would say it served him right.
A day for insomniacs. Sunil Gavaskar began what was to be then the longest innings by any Indian batter in first-class cricket when he made 172 in 708 minutes against England in the second Test, in Bangalore. The record he beat was his own (593 minutes making 166 against Pakistan in 1980). Gavaskar was on the field for all but four balls of the match. Some would say it served him right.
2017
Most sixes in a T20 innings: Chris Gayle broke his own record by one, hitting 18 in a title-clinching innings of 146 not out for Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League final in Dhaka. Four Dhaka Dynamites bowlers went for more than ten runs an over in the 57-run defeat.
Most sixes in a T20 innings: Chris Gayle broke his own record by one, hitting 18 in a title-clinching innings of 146 not out for Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League final in Dhaka. Four Dhaka Dynamites bowlers went for more than ten runs an over in the 57-run defeat.
1984
A wrong-footed left-armer is born. Sohail Tanvir caused batters many problems with his unusual bowling style when he first came on. His domestic one-day form prompted the selectors to pick him as Shoaib Akhtar's replacement in the World T20 2007 squad. Tanvir took six wickets in six games and landed himself an IPL contract with the eventual champions Rajasthan Royals. He ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker (22 wickets), taking the best figures in a T20 at the time - 6 for 14 - in the process.
A wrong-footed left-armer is born. Sohail Tanvir caused batters many problems with his unusual bowling style when he first came on. His domestic one-day form prompted the selectors to pick him as Shoaib Akhtar's replacement in the World T20 2007 squad. Tanvir took six wickets in six games and landed himself an IPL contract with the eventual champions Rajasthan Royals. He ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker (22 wickets), taking the best figures in a T20 at the time - 6 for 14 - in the process.
1964
Matthew Fleming, who was born today, might have felt he was a little hard done by in missing the 1999 World Cup. He played 11 matches in the lead-up, and did extremely well: he was central to England's shock Sharjah triumph in 1997-98 and performed heroically in the Caribbean a couple of months later. In one of those ODIs, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, he had a hand in five consecutive dismissals, with three wickets, a catch, and a brilliant run-out.
Matthew Fleming, who was born today, might have felt he was a little hard done by in missing the 1999 World Cup. He played 11 matches in the lead-up, and did extremely well: he was central to England's shock Sharjah triumph in 1997-98 and performed heroically in the Caribbean a couple of months later. In one of those ODIs, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, he had a hand in five consecutive dismissals, with three wickets, a catch, and a brilliant run-out.
1996
India clinched a 2-1 victory over South Africa with a big win in the deciding third Test in Kanpur. On a grossly undercooked pitch, the match-winning hand came from Mohammad Azharuddin: a scintillating, unbeaten 163. Left chasing 461 to win, South Africa were hustled to a 280-run defeat. It was their first series defeat (they lost a one-off Test in the West Indies in 1991-92) since returning to Test cricket.
India clinched a 2-1 victory over South Africa with a big win in the deciding third Test in Kanpur. On a grossly undercooked pitch, the match-winning hand came from Mohammad Azharuddin: a scintillating, unbeaten 163. Left chasing 461 to win, South Africa were hustled to a 280-run defeat. It was their first series defeat (they lost a one-off Test in the West Indies in 1991-92) since returning to Test cricket.
2015
A crushing defeat for West Indies in the first Test of the 2015-16 series in Hobart. They came into the series against a backdrop of the now-usual dysfunction and controversy back home - a review panel had recommended the dissolution of the WICB - and their innings-and-212-run defeat was their second heaviest against Australia. The home side batted for the first four sessions of the match and lost only four wickets; in the same amount of time, West Indies lost all 20. Adam Voges (269 not out) and Shaun Marsh (182) took Australia to 583 for 4 and West Indies, in reply, managed only 223 before they were asked to follow-on. James Pattinson marked his Test return with 5 for 27, and by tea on the third day West Indies had plummeted to 148 all out.
A crushing defeat for West Indies in the first Test of the 2015-16 series in Hobart. They came into the series against a backdrop of the now-usual dysfunction and controversy back home - a review panel had recommended the dissolution of the WICB - and their innings-and-212-run defeat was their second heaviest against Australia. The home side batted for the first four sessions of the match and lost only four wickets; in the same amount of time, West Indies lost all 20. Adam Voges (269 not out) and Shaun Marsh (182) took Australia to 583 for 4 and West Indies, in reply, managed only 223 before they were asked to follow-on. James Pattinson marked his Test return with 5 for 27, and by tea on the third day West Indies had plummeted to 148 all out.
1954
Birth of the tragic Wilf Slack, who died suddenly of a heart attack while playing on a tour in the Gambia in 1989. He was only 34. Slack, a left-handed opener who was very successful with Middlesex, played two of his three Tests, and made his only fifty, in the West Indies - where he was born - in 1985-86, having been called up as a replacement when Mike Gatting had his face rearranged by Malcolm Marshall.
Birth of the tragic Wilf Slack, who died suddenly of a heart attack while playing on a tour in the Gambia in 1989. He was only 34. Slack, a left-handed opener who was very successful with Middlesex, played two of his three Tests, and made his only fifty, in the West Indies - where he was born - in 1985-86, having been called up as a replacement when Mike Gatting had his face rearranged by Malcolm Marshall.
1968
Laurie Williams, born today, represented West Indies in 15 ODIs in a five-year span from 1996 to 2001. A medium-pace bowler suited to the 50-over format, Williams took 3 for 16 against New Zealand in his second appearance, and ten wickets at 32.40 apiece during the 2000-01 Carlton Series in Australia. He didn't do justice to his batting - he had three first-class centuries - at the international level, averaging just above 11 with a best of 41. He died tragically in a road accident at the age of 33.
Laurie Williams, born today, represented West Indies in 15 ODIs in a five-year span from 1996 to 2001. A medium-pace bowler suited to the 50-over format, Williams took 3 for 16 against New Zealand in his second appearance, and ten wickets at 32.40 apiece during the 2000-01 Carlton Series in Australia. He didn't do justice to his batting - he had three first-class centuries - at the international level, averaging just above 11 with a best of 41. He died tragically in a road accident at the age of 33.
1995
Pakistan overcame a typically farcical first-day collapse to crush New Zealand by 161 runs in the one-off Test in Christchurch. They slipped from 135 for 0 to 208 all out as a flurry of batters tossed their wickets away, but they showed greater application second time round, batting for 145 overs in making 434. That gave them a lead of 366, enough leeway for Mushtaq Ahmed (7 for 56) to wreak havoc and spin the Kiwis to defeat.
Pakistan overcame a typically farcical first-day collapse to crush New Zealand by 161 runs in the one-off Test in Christchurch. They slipped from 135 for 0 to 208 all out as a flurry of batters tossed their wickets away, but they showed greater application second time round, batting for 145 overs in making 434. That gave them a lead of 366, enough leeway for Mushtaq Ahmed (7 for 56) to wreak havoc and spin the Kiwis to defeat.
1925
A workhorse is born. Dattu Phadkar gave unstinting service to India in the 1940s and 50s as an attacking lower-middle-order batter and indefatigable swing bowler. His trademark figures were 1 for 40 off 20, but he did manage three five-fors, including 7 for 159 against West Indies in Madras in 1948-49. He died in Madras in 1985.
A workhorse is born. Dattu Phadkar gave unstinting service to India in the 1940s and 50s as an attacking lower-middle-order batter and indefatigable swing bowler. His trademark figures were 1 for 40 off 20, but he did manage three five-fors, including 7 for 159 against West Indies in Madras in 1948-49. He died in Madras in 1985.
2016
India stormed to an innings win over England in Mumbai, with R Ashwin taking the last four wickets half an hour into play on day five - for his seventh ten-wicket match haul. The Man of the Match, though, was the captain, Virat Kohli, who made 235. He and newbie offspinner Jayant Yadav, who made a maiden century from No. 9, steered India to a commanding 231-run first-innings lead after Keaton Jennings produced a fine century on debut for England. The win gave India the series, their fifth on the trot, and their first win over England in eight years. It also took their unbeaten streak in Tests to 17, equalling their longest ever.
India stormed to an innings win over England in Mumbai, with R Ashwin taking the last four wickets half an hour into play on day five - for his seventh ten-wicket match haul. The Man of the Match, though, was the captain, Virat Kohli, who made 235. He and newbie offspinner Jayant Yadav, who made a maiden century from No. 9, steered India to a commanding 231-run first-innings lead after Keaton Jennings produced a fine century on debut for England. The win gave India the series, their fifth on the trot, and their first win over England in eight years. It also took their unbeaten streak in Tests to 17, equalling their longest ever.
1980
West Indies sent Pakistan to their first defeat in a Faisalabad Test, a match notable for a sadistic assault from Sylvester Clarke. Batting at No. 11, he smeared 35 off 18 balls, including four sixes - three of which came off successive deliveries from Mohammad Nazir. A low-scoring dogfight, the match also featured a couple of masterclasses from Viv Richards. He cracked 72 and 67 in a game where no other West Indian reached 50.
West Indies sent Pakistan to their first defeat in a Faisalabad Test, a match notable for a sadistic assault from Sylvester Clarke. Batting at No. 11, he smeared 35 off 18 balls, including four sixes - three of which came off successive deliveries from Mohammad Nazir. A low-scoring dogfight, the match also featured a couple of masterclasses from Viv Richards. He cracked 72 and 67 in a game where no other West Indian reached 50.
1978
Kenya's Jimmy Kamande, born today, made his way into the national side through the Under-19 ranks in time for the 1999 World Cup, where he was reported for a suspect action. He reinvented himself as an offspinner and eventually showed he was worth his place in that role. Not a big man, he got considerable bounce and turn and possessed a good quicker ball, with not a hint of the action that got him into trouble.
Kenya's Jimmy Kamande, born today, made his way into the national side through the Under-19 ranks in time for the 1999 World Cup, where he was reported for a suspect action. He reinvented himself as an offspinner and eventually showed he was worth his place in that role. Not a big man, he got considerable bounce and turn and possessed a good quicker ball, with not a hint of the action that got him into trouble.
1983
Birth of Bangladesh fast bowler Mohammad Sharif. He forced his way into the national side in 2001 as a 17-year-old during the tour of Zimbabwe. He lost his place in 2002 and shortly after the 2003 World Cup broke down with a niggling groin injury shortly that required a series of operations in India and Australia to sort out. He finally returned to the Test side in 2007, but his comeback wasn't successful.
Birth of Bangladesh fast bowler Mohammad Sharif. He forced his way into the national side in 2001 as a 17-year-old during the tour of Zimbabwe. He lost his place in 2002 and shortly after the 2003 World Cup broke down with a niggling groin injury shortly that required a series of operations in India and Australia to sort out. He finally returned to the Test side in 2007, but his comeback wasn't successful.
Other birthdays
1860 Billy Newham (England)
1879 Roger Hartigan (Australia)
1887 Nigel Haig (England)
1904 Jim Christy (South Africa)
1914 Denis Begbie (South Africa)
1925 Ghulam Guard (India)
1952 Ajit de Silva (Sri Lanka)
1960 Amal Silva (Sri Lanka)
1967 Masood Anwar (Pakistan)
1971 Afzaal Haider (Pakistan)
1973 Michael di Venuto (Australia)
1986 Jahurul Islam (Bangladesh)
1860 Billy Newham (England)
1879 Roger Hartigan (Australia)
1887 Nigel Haig (England)
1904 Jim Christy (South Africa)
1914 Denis Begbie (South Africa)
1925 Ghulam Guard (India)
1952 Ajit de Silva (Sri Lanka)
1960 Amal Silva (Sri Lanka)
1967 Masood Anwar (Pakistan)
1971 Afzaal Haider (Pakistan)
1973 Michael di Venuto (Australia)
1986 Jahurul Islam (Bangladesh)