July 12 down the years
Zero sum
Goochie gets a pair of glasses
Graham Gooch's debut Test was no indication of what was to come • Getty Images
1975
Thirty-seven men have bagged a pair on their Test debut, but only one England player achieved the feat in an Ashes Test in the 20th century. Step forward Graham Gooch, who on this day was caught behind off Jeff Thomson for his second duck as England lurched towards an innings defeat at Edgbaston. Gooch was dropped after the next Test - when he made 6 and 31 - but returned after three years to restart a career that would eventually yield an England-record 8900 Test runs.
Thirty-seven men have bagged a pair on their Test debut, but only one England player achieved the feat in an Ashes Test in the 20th century. Step forward Graham Gooch, who on this day was caught behind off Jeff Thomson for his second duck as England lurched towards an innings defeat at Edgbaston. Gooch was dropped after the next Test - when he made 6 and 31 - but returned after three years to restart a career that would eventually yield an England-record 8900 Test runs.
1965
Birth of Sanjay Manjrekar, who despite a very good Test career never quite lived up to his billing as the new Sunil Gavaskar. He was certainly good enough technically, and had the ability to bat all day - his 104 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1992-93 took almost nine hours - but he ended up averaging 37 from 37, a steep fall from his first-class average of 55. But no Indian averages more in Tests in Pakistan than his 94.83. Unusually for a modern-day Indian batter, Manjrekar was more productive overseas, where he made all four of his Test hundreds and 79% of his runs. His father, the great Vijay, also played 55 Tests for India.
Birth of Sanjay Manjrekar, who despite a very good Test career never quite lived up to his billing as the new Sunil Gavaskar. He was certainly good enough technically, and had the ability to bat all day - his 104 against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1992-93 took almost nine hours - but he ended up averaging 37 from 37, a steep fall from his first-class average of 55. But no Indian averages more in Tests in Pakistan than his 94.83. Unusually for a modern-day Indian batter, Manjrekar was more productive overseas, where he made all four of his Test hundreds and 79% of his runs. His father, the great Vijay, also played 55 Tests for India.
1969
An old-style one-dimensional cricketer is born. Alan Mullally's ordinary batting and dodgy fielding did not help his attempts to establish himself in the England team. Somehow you always felt he was less than the sum of his parts: he had bounce, a left-armer's angle, swing, and a natural economy. And he bowled quite majestically in England's victory at the MCG in 1998-99, having driven Glenn McGrath to distraction by slashing 16 quick runs. The eventual margin of victory was only 12 runs. But in 19 Tests, he only once took more than three wickets, though he was briefly second in the one-day rankings, before being rumbled during the 2001 NatWest Series.
An old-style one-dimensional cricketer is born. Alan Mullally's ordinary batting and dodgy fielding did not help his attempts to establish himself in the England team. Somehow you always felt he was less than the sum of his parts: he had bounce, a left-armer's angle, swing, and a natural economy. And he bowled quite majestically in England's victory at the MCG in 1998-99, having driven Glenn McGrath to distraction by slashing 16 quick runs. The eventual margin of victory was only 12 runs. But in 19 Tests, he only once took more than three wickets, though he was briefly second in the one-day rankings, before being rumbled during the 2001 NatWest Series.
1932
The cheapest ten-for in first-class history. Hedley Verity sliced through Nottinghamshire at Headingley with extraordinary figures of 19.4-16-10-10. Even more staggeringly, it's the only ten-for to include a hat-trick. At 38 for 0 in the second innings, Nottinghamshire led by 99. Then came Verity, and appropriately enough, a ten-wicket defeat.
The cheapest ten-for in first-class history. Hedley Verity sliced through Nottinghamshire at Headingley with extraordinary figures of 19.4-16-10-10. Even more staggeringly, it's the only ten-for to include a hat-trick. At 38 for 0 in the second innings, Nottinghamshire led by 99. Then came Verity, and appropriately enough, a ten-wicket defeat.
2014
The highest tenth-wicket stand in Test history. Joe Root and James Anderson broke the back of India's bowling line-up with their 198-run partnership in the draw at Trent Bridge. With England 298 for 9, India must have fancied their chances of a rare Test victory overseas, but Anderson batted comfortably to reach his maiden half-century - in any form of the game - and his 81 is the highest score by an England No. 11. In India's first innings, the Nos. 9 and 11, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, had added 111 together. The 309 that the two tenth-wicket pairs scored was the most runs scored for the last wicket in a Test.
The highest tenth-wicket stand in Test history. Joe Root and James Anderson broke the back of India's bowling line-up with their 198-run partnership in the draw at Trent Bridge. With England 298 for 9, India must have fancied their chances of a rare Test victory overseas, but Anderson batted comfortably to reach his maiden half-century - in any form of the game - and his 81 is the highest score by an England No. 11. In India's first innings, the Nos. 9 and 11, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, had added 111 together. The 309 that the two tenth-wicket pairs scored was the most runs scored for the last wicket in a Test.
2020
A remarkable return for cricket after a forced four-month hiatus on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. After weeks of quarantine, a newly bonded West Indies worked as a unit to take down England, who were missing Joe Root, in the first Test, at Southampton. On the final day with 200 needed to win, Jermaine Blackwood bludgeoned a magnificent 95, helped by a series of fumbles from the hosts. Debuting stand-in captain Ben Stokes top-scored for England in the first innings and took a combined six wickets but couldn't pull his team back from the edge on the last day. West Indies prevailed with four wickets to spare.
A remarkable return for cricket after a forced four-month hiatus on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. After weeks of quarantine, a newly bonded West Indies worked as a unit to take down England, who were missing Joe Root, in the first Test, at Southampton. On the final day with 200 needed to win, Jermaine Blackwood bludgeoned a magnificent 95, helped by a series of fumbles from the hosts. Debuting stand-in captain Ben Stokes top-scored for England in the first innings and took a combined six wickets but couldn't pull his team back from the edge on the last day. West Indies prevailed with four wickets to spare.
1943
Whatever he did in 30 Tests, New Zealand allrounder Bruce Taylor, who was born today, will always be remembered for his startling debut. In Calcutta in 1964-65, Taylor belted a meaty 105 from No. 8 - his maiden first-class century - and then took 5 for 86 in India's first innings. He's still the only man to make a century and take a five-for on Test debut. And in seven Tests against West Indies, he had all-round figures to die for: an average of 53 with the bat, and 23 with the ball.
Whatever he did in 30 Tests, New Zealand allrounder Bruce Taylor, who was born today, will always be remembered for his startling debut. In Calcutta in 1964-65, Taylor belted a meaty 105 from No. 8 - his maiden first-class century - and then took 5 for 86 in India's first innings. He's still the only man to make a century and take a five-for on Test debut. And in seven Tests against West Indies, he had all-round figures to die for: an average of 53 with the bat, and 23 with the ball.
1946
The Surrey batter Graham Roope, who was born today, was picked by England as much for his fielding as his batting. A fine amateur goalkeeper and outstanding in the slips, he took 35 catches in 21 Tests. He also made seven fifties, but never reached three figures. The corkscrew-curled Roope was also a bit of a lucky charm - England only lost twice when he played. He was also the man at the other end when both Geoff Boycott and John Edrich completed their 100th first-class hundreds.
The Surrey batter Graham Roope, who was born today, was picked by England as much for his fielding as his batting. A fine amateur goalkeeper and outstanding in the slips, he took 35 catches in 21 Tests. He also made seven fifties, but never reached three figures. The corkscrew-curled Roope was also a bit of a lucky charm - England only lost twice when he played. He was also the man at the other end when both Geoff Boycott and John Edrich completed their 100th first-class hundreds.
1983
An injury-prone Indian fast bowler is born. Munaf Patel was hyped as the fastest man in Indian cricket even before he played any first-class matches. He took seven wickets on debut in 2006 against England in Mohali and 14 in four Tests in the West Indies. Munaf was picked for India's tour of New Zealand in early 2009 and took five wickets in the first Test in Hamilton. He was also part of India's World Cup-winning squad in 2011, where he was India's third-highest wicket-taker. However, he went off the radar following the tour of England later that year and in 2014, he wasn't wanted in the IPL either.
An injury-prone Indian fast bowler is born. Munaf Patel was hyped as the fastest man in Indian cricket even before he played any first-class matches. He took seven wickets on debut in 2006 against England in Mohali and 14 in four Tests in the West Indies. Munaf was picked for India's tour of New Zealand in early 2009 and took five wickets in the first Test in Hamilton. He was also part of India's World Cup-winning squad in 2011, where he was India's third-highest wicket-taker. However, he went off the radar following the tour of England later that year and in 2014, he wasn't wanted in the IPL either.
1986
A classic Benson & Hedges Cup final - a low-scoring thriller in which Middlesex beat Kent by just two runs. The match finished after 7.30pm, with the ground enveloped in darkness. The Man of the Match was John Emburey, who rushed through 11 overs for just 16 runs, biffed a useful 28, and took a cracking catch at slip to get rid of Chris Cowdrey, Kent's captain.
A classic Benson & Hedges Cup final - a low-scoring thriller in which Middlesex beat Kent by just two runs. The match finished after 7.30pm, with the ground enveloped in darkness. The Man of the Match was John Emburey, who rushed through 11 overs for just 16 runs, biffed a useful 28, and took a cracking catch at slip to get rid of Chris Cowdrey, Kent's captain.
1996
The day cricket showed a bit of leg. The first Super 8s tournament began in Kuala Lumpur. In short, it involved eight-a-side matches of 14 overs, in which a six was rewarded with eight runs, and batters had to retire upon reaching 50. Australia A, led by Darren Lehmann and including Adam Gilchrist, won it, and Australia and India ended without points. India even lost to a Malaysian Invitation XI. Mind you, the Malaysian side did include Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva, who had done pretty well in a slightly bigger one-day tournament earlier that year.
The day cricket showed a bit of leg. The first Super 8s tournament began in Kuala Lumpur. In short, it involved eight-a-side matches of 14 overs, in which a six was rewarded with eight runs, and batters had to retire upon reaching 50. Australia A, led by Darren Lehmann and including Adam Gilchrist, won it, and Australia and India ended without points. India even lost to a Malaysian Invitation XI. Mind you, the Malaysian side did include Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva, who had done pretty well in a slightly bigger one-day tournament earlier that year.
2009
England pull off a great escape. James Anderson and Monty Panesar played the most important innings of their lives as they survived 11.3 overs to save the first Ashes Test, in Cardiff. When England lost their ninth second-innings wicket - Paul Collingwood batted for more than five and a half hours for 74 - they were trailing by six runs (Australia had declared on 674). But the last pair, and some delaying tactics that angered Ricky Ponting, denied Australia a series lead.
England pull off a great escape. James Anderson and Monty Panesar played the most important innings of their lives as they survived 11.3 overs to save the first Ashes Test, in Cardiff. When England lost their ninth second-innings wicket - Paul Collingwood batted for more than five and a half hours for 74 - they were trailing by six runs (Australia had declared on 674). But the last pair, and some delaying tactics that angered Ricky Ponting, denied Australia a series lead.
2012
Sri Lanka won their first Test series after Muttiah Muralitharan's retirement in 2010, and it came in a three-match rubber at home that, unsurprisingly, featured plenty of both rain and runs. Kumar Sangakkara was stranded on 199 in the first Test, in Galle and dismissed for 192 in the second in Colombo. In Galle, Pakistan collapsed much like they did on the 2009 tour, bowled out for 100 to lose massively. Sri Lanka had the chance to make it 2-0 in the third Test, where they needed 270 from 71 overs, but chose to push for a draw once Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed after giving them an aggressive start.
Sri Lanka won their first Test series after Muttiah Muralitharan's retirement in 2010, and it came in a three-match rubber at home that, unsurprisingly, featured plenty of both rain and runs. Kumar Sangakkara was stranded on 199 in the first Test, in Galle and dismissed for 192 in the second in Colombo. In Galle, Pakistan collapsed much like they did on the 2009 tour, bowled out for 100 to lose massively. Sri Lanka had the chance to make it 2-0 in the third Test, where they needed 270 from 71 overs, but chose to push for a draw once Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed after giving them an aggressive start.
1975
Adam Sanford, born today, made history as the first indigenous Carib to play for West Indies, in 2002. Born in Dominica, but working as a policeman in Antigua, Sanford picked up 15 wickets in five Tests against India, and was picked for the home series against New Zealand and the tour of South Africa. But while Sanford could make the odd delivery explode, he was not fast enough, and was dropped in the middle of England's tour in 2003-04.
Adam Sanford, born today, made history as the first indigenous Carib to play for West Indies, in 2002. Born in Dominica, but working as a policeman in Antigua, Sanford picked up 15 wickets in five Tests against India, and was picked for the home series against New Zealand and the tour of South Africa. But while Sanford could make the odd delivery explode, he was not fast enough, and was dropped in the middle of England's tour in 2003-04.
Other birthdays
1930 Ruth Westbrook (England)
1935 Chris Burger (South Africa)
1947 Pochiah Krishnamurthy (India)
1972 Neil McGarrell (West Indies)
1977 Morne Karg (Namibia)
1930 Ruth Westbrook (England)
1935 Chris Burger (South Africa)
1947 Pochiah Krishnamurthy (India)
1972 Neil McGarrell (West Indies)
1977 Morne Karg (Namibia)