An Invincible arrives

Arthur Morris: the first man to make a century in both innings of his first-class debut © PA Photos Enlarge

1922
An Invincible run-machine is born. At the age of 18 Arthur Morris was the first man to make a century in both innings of his first-class debut, and so it wasn't a great surprise that he made three hundreds in his first four Tests against England in 1946-47. He also hammered a glorious 182 when the Aussie Invincibles chased 404 for 3 to beat England at Headingley in 1948, adding 301 with Don Bradman. But he was vulnerable to Alec Bedser, who dismissed him 18 times, a Test record until Glenn McGrath went one better with Mike Atherton in 2001.

2004
The tragically premature death of David Hookes at the age of 48 occurred as a result of a scuffle outside a Melbourne hotel. The often outspoken Hookes was extremely popular, and an outpouring of grief followed the news. As a player he promised much - his Test career started with a spectacular assault on Tony Grieg that produced five successive fours during the Centenary Test in 1977 - but ultimately disappointed on the international stage, although he was a major figure at state level. A blunt-talking commentator on the game, he was just establishing himself as a coach at the time of his death.

2008
A breakthrough at the WACA. India bounced back from the aftermath of the Sydney Test with a resounding 72-run win in Perth, in the process denying Australia a consecutive 17th Test win for the second time in the decade - the first was in Kolkata in 2001. It was a collective effort: there were no centuries or five-fors. Among the highlights were captain Anil Kumble's 600th wicket - on the second day - and the mesmeric spell Ishant Sharma bowled on the final day. The lanky teenager made a seasoned run-machine, Ricky Ponting, look like an amateur. Perhaps that memory lingered when he was bought for US$950,000, the highest price for a bowler, at the first IPL auction a month later.

1930
Birth of the only South African to play 50 Tests before their isolation from international cricket. Though a fairly low-profile character, John Waite was a top-drawer wicketkeeper-batsman who made four Test centuries and averaged over 30. He batted everywhere from No. 2 to No. 9, and his first Test ton, at Old Trafford in 1955, was especially important: it came after a middle-order collapse and set up South Africa for a crucial three-wicket victory.

1977
John Lever and Derek Underwood (match figures: 31-16-44-6) bowled England to a 200-run victory over India in Madras, giving them a 3-0 lead with two to play and clinching their first series win in India for 43 years. India were skittled for 83 in their second innings, at the time the lowest score in a Test in India.

1999
A magnificent, match-winning century from Chris Cairns brought applause from everyone in Christchurch - except his Indian opponents. They were convinced he was caught behind on 51 but Cairns carried on to flay 115 off 80 balls, including seven fours and seven sixes.

1807
Alfred Mynn - the "Lion of Kent" - born this day, was to the first half of the 19th century what WG Grace was to the second half. Standing over six feet and weighing in excess of 18 stone, Mynn was a fast round-arm bowler who generated fearsome pace off a four- or five-pace run-up. In 1838 he beat James Dearman in a single-wicket competition for the unofficial Championship of England, and eight years later he defeated Fuller Pilch for the same title in what is considered to be the last of the great single-wicket matches.

1996
England's increasingly disastrous 1995-96 tour took a further twist when they failed to chase a mere 130 to beat South Africa in the sixth one-dayer in East London. They were bit unlucky, though - Graeme Hick was leading them to victory when he was sawn off, sparking a collapse from 75 to 3 to 115 all out. It was grim stuff: Jack Russell, in at No. 5, made 12 off 68 balls. England eventually lost the series 6-1, and in the World Cup that followed failed to win a single match against Test-playing opposition.

1980
Michael Vandort, born on this day, made his Test debut in 2001 but the Jayasuriya-Atapattu opening combination kept him out of the side and he got his next Test in 2002, against Bangladesh, whereupon he scored a century. He then had to wait three-and-a-half-years for another chance and impressed with a hundred at Edgbaston. He scored another hundred against England when they toured Sri Lanka in 2007. However, with Tillakaratne Dilshan establishing himself as a Test opener, along with Tharanga Paranavitana, Vandort found himself on the sidelines again.

1969
Pity poor Pakistani Mahmood Hamid, who was born today. He played just a single one-day international for his country, against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 1994-95, in which he was run out for 1. The man at the other end? That great athlete Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Other birthdays
1868 Bob McLeod (Australia)
1937 Lesley Clifford (England)
1957 Jane Powell (England)
1957 Jill Powell (England)