February 28 down the years
New Zealand win a thriller at the Basin
A one-run win over England after following on
Neil Wagner had James Anderson caught down leg side to seal the win by one run • Getty Images
2023
New Zealand became only the fourth team in history to win a Test after following on, and the second to win by a one-run margin after they beat England on a heart-stopping final day in Wellington to draw the series 1-1. Neil Wagner, who led the short-ball assault in England's 258-run chase, fittingly took the final wicket - James Anderson was caught down the leg side (not unlike Michael Kasprowicz in the equally thrilling Edgbaston Ashes Test in 2005). In England's first innings, Harry Brook and Joe Root scored big hundreds to set up a total of 435 for 8 after which the bowlers knocked over New Zealand with a 226-run advantage. But the hosts fought back in their second innings. Kane Williamson batted over seven hours for 132 and became New Zealand's leading Test run-scorer in the process. On the final day, it looked like England would comfortably sweep the series, but once Wagner broke the stand between Root and Ben Stokes, New Zealand sniffed a chance and squeaked home by the barest of margins.
New Zealand became only the fourth team in history to win a Test after following on, and the second to win by a one-run margin after they beat England on a heart-stopping final day in Wellington to draw the series 1-1. Neil Wagner, who led the short-ball assault in England's 258-run chase, fittingly took the final wicket - James Anderson was caught down the leg side (not unlike Michael Kasprowicz in the equally thrilling Edgbaston Ashes Test in 2005). In England's first innings, Harry Brook and Joe Root scored big hundreds to set up a total of 435 for 8 after which the bowlers knocked over New Zealand with a 226-run advantage. But the hosts fought back in their second innings. Kane Williamson batted over seven hours for 132 and became New Zealand's leading Test run-scorer in the process. On the final day, it looked like England would comfortably sweep the series, but once Wagner broke the stand between Root and Ben Stokes, New Zealand sniffed a chance and squeaked home by the barest of margins.
1983
At tea on the final day of the first Test between West Indies and India in Jamaica, even Hansie Cronje wouldn't have bet against a draw: India were 164 ahead with four second-innings wickets left. And though those four were blown away for one run by Andy Roberts, West Indies still needed 172 from 26 overs - a rate of 6.62 per over - and not a fielding restriction in sight. West Indies needed some carnage. Enter Viv Richards at 65 for 2. He swatted 61 off only 36 balls - an innings that included four sixes - before Jeff Dujon, with another six, sealed an improbable win, achieved with four wickets and four balls to spare. Mohinder Amarnath ended with the figures of 2.2-0-34-2.
At tea on the final day of the first Test between West Indies and India in Jamaica, even Hansie Cronje wouldn't have bet against a draw: India were 164 ahead with four second-innings wickets left. And though those four were blown away for one run by Andy Roberts, West Indies still needed 172 from 26 overs - a rate of 6.62 per over - and not a fielding restriction in sight. West Indies needed some carnage. Enter Viv Richards at 65 for 2. He swatted 61 off only 36 balls - an innings that included four sixes - before Jeff Dujon, with another six, sealed an improbable win, achieved with four wickets and four balls to spare. Mohinder Amarnath ended with the figures of 2.2-0-34-2.
2015
A one-wicket World Cup thriller at Eden Park. The two co-hosts played out one of the best matches of the tournament, which ended with New Zealand, nine down, squeaking over the line thanks to a straight six by Kane Williamson. Australia crashed to 151 (they were 106 for 9) thanks to Trent Boult's swing, egged on by a hostile crowd. Brendon McCullum looked set to seal the game before the lights came on, and when he went, New Zealand were 78 for 2 inside eight overs. But Mitchell Starc proved to be as deadly as Boult had done, his swinging yorkers triggering a dramatic collapse. At 146 for 9 it was anybody's game but Williamson decided not to get it in singles, and his gamble worked.
A one-wicket World Cup thriller at Eden Park. The two co-hosts played out one of the best matches of the tournament, which ended with New Zealand, nine down, squeaking over the line thanks to a straight six by Kane Williamson. Australia crashed to 151 (they were 106 for 9) thanks to Trent Boult's swing, egged on by a hostile crowd. Brendon McCullum looked set to seal the game before the lights came on, and when he went, New Zealand were 78 for 2 inside eight overs. But Mitchell Starc proved to be as deadly as Boult had done, his swinging yorkers triggering a dramatic collapse. At 146 for 9 it was anybody's game but Williamson decided not to get it in singles, and his gamble worked.
1981
The Test that never was. England's tour of West Indies lurched towards cancellation after the Guyanese government revoked Robin Jackman's visa on the grounds that he had played and coached in South Africa. Jackman was deported, the England team followed, and the second Test, in Georgetown, was called off. Jackman made his debut in the next Test, in Bridgetown.
The Test that never was. England's tour of West Indies lurched towards cancellation after the Guyanese government revoked Robin Jackman's visa on the grounds that he had played and coached in South Africa. Jackman was deported, the England team followed, and the second Test, in Georgetown, was called off. Jackman made his debut in the next Test, in Bridgetown.
1957
Birth of New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith, who played with the same effervescence and warmth he now demonstrates in the commentary box. Smith could give the ball a real belt, and he was a very competent gloveman for New Zealand throughout most of the 1980s. His signature performance, however, came in February 1990: a fearsome pummelling of India in Auckland. New Zealand were 131 for 7 on the first afternoon when Smith biffed 173 off 136 balls, including 24 off one over from Atul Wassan. It remains the highest score by a Test No. 9.
Birth of New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith, who played with the same effervescence and warmth he now demonstrates in the commentary box. Smith could give the ball a real belt, and he was a very competent gloveman for New Zealand throughout most of the 1980s. His signature performance, however, came in February 1990: a fearsome pummelling of India in Auckland. New Zealand were 131 for 7 on the first afternoon when Smith biffed 173 off 136 balls, including 24 off one over from Atul Wassan. It remains the highest score by a Test No. 9.
1951
Kapil Dev's right-hand man is born. Left-arm swing bowler Karsan Ghavri spent much of his career getting the shine off the ball for the spinners, but he was a skilled performer. His strike rate was a very acceptable 64 balls per wicket, but none of his four five-fors came in victory.
Kapil Dev's right-hand man is born. Left-arm swing bowler Karsan Ghavri spent much of his career getting the shine off the ball for the spinners, but he was a skilled performer. His strike rate was a very acceptable 64 balls per wicket, but none of his four five-fors came in victory.
1912
The end of the road for Victor Trumper, who finished his luminous Test career today when he was out, caught by Frank Woolley off Sydney Barnes for 50 in Sydney. The match was also the last of Clem Hill's career: between them, the two great Australians made almost 7000 Test runs.
The end of the road for Victor Trumper, who finished his luminous Test career today when he was out, caught by Frank Woolley off Sydney Barnes for 50 in Sydney. The match was also the last of Clem Hill's career: between them, the two great Australians made almost 7000 Test runs.
2012
To have any chance of qualifying for the CB Series final, India needed to chase down Sri Lanka's total in 40 overs in Hobart. Sri Lanka scored 320. India got past it in 36.4 overs. Virat Kohli made 133 of them (off 86 balls) in an innings of controlled aggression that obliterated the hundreds scored by Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara earlier in the day.
To have any chance of qualifying for the CB Series final, India needed to chase down Sri Lanka's total in 40 overs in Hobart. Sri Lanka scored 320. India got past it in 36.4 overs. Virat Kohli made 133 of them (off 86 balls) in an innings of controlled aggression that obliterated the hundreds scored by Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara earlier in the day.
1965
Debut nerves are understandable, but this was ridiculous. New Zealand opener Terry Jarvis took 125 minutes to make 9 against India in Madras. He snapped out of it in the second innings, scoring at ten times his first-innings rate to make 40 not out in exactly an hour, and went on to forge a decent Test career, playing 13 Tests over an eight-year period. He added a monstrous 387 for the first wicket with Glenn Turner against West Indies in Georgetown in 1971-72, now the fourth-highest opening partnership in Test history.
Debut nerves are understandable, but this was ridiculous. New Zealand opener Terry Jarvis took 125 minutes to make 9 against India in Madras. He snapped out of it in the second innings, scoring at ten times his first-innings rate to make 40 not out in exactly an hour, and went on to forge a decent Test career, playing 13 Tests over an eight-year period. He added a monstrous 387 for the first wicket with Glenn Turner against West Indies in Georgetown in 1971-72, now the fourth-highest opening partnership in Test history.
1978
Given that he kept non-strikers rooted to the crease with his fidgety brilliance, it's ironic that Derek Randall was run out controversially, while backing up, against New Zealand in Christchurch today. The bowler, Ewen Chatfield, gave no warning as he broke the stumps before completing his delivery stride. Randall was only the third man to be dismissed in such circumstances in a Test.
Given that he kept non-strikers rooted to the crease with his fidgety brilliance, it's ironic that Derek Randall was run out controversially, while backing up, against New Zealand in Christchurch today. The bowler, Ewen Chatfield, gave no warning as he broke the stumps before completing his delivery stride. Randall was only the third man to be dismissed in such circumstances in a Test.
1975
A fast starter is born. Pakistani allrounder Azhar Mahmood cracked a century in his first Test (when he made 178 runs without being dismissed), another in his seventh, and a third in his eighth, all off a very good South African attack. The last of the three, 132 on a dog of a Durban pitch, took Pakistan from 153 for 8 to 259 and to an eventual 29-run victory. But Azhar didn't manage a fifty after that and his last Test was in 2001. During a one-month stint as a Surrey overseas player in 2002 he took 8 for 61 against Lancashire, then turned out for them for two seasons full-time. He signed with Surrey again for 2005, and later applied for British citizenship after marrying his British wife. He signed for Kent in late 2007 on a two-year deal. He went on to profit from the mushrooming of T20 leagues, playing for over a dozen teams across the globe.
A fast starter is born. Pakistani allrounder Azhar Mahmood cracked a century in his first Test (when he made 178 runs without being dismissed), another in his seventh, and a third in his eighth, all off a very good South African attack. The last of the three, 132 on a dog of a Durban pitch, took Pakistan from 153 for 8 to 259 and to an eventual 29-run victory. But Azhar didn't manage a fifty after that and his last Test was in 2001. During a one-month stint as a Surrey overseas player in 2002 he took 8 for 61 against Lancashire, then turned out for them for two seasons full-time. He signed with Surrey again for 2005, and later applied for British citizenship after marrying his British wife. He signed for Kent in late 2007 on a two-year deal. He went on to profit from the mushrooming of T20 leagues, playing for over a dozen teams across the globe.
1985
Birth of England allrounder Tim Bresnan, who rose to prominence in 2010-11 after taking 11 wickets in two Ashes Tests, having been called up as an injury replacement and told to keep the runs down. He had already showed his class with his useful death bowling in the 2010 World T20, and he was tight and accurate in the 2011 World Cup as well. His nine wickets in the tournament included a five-for in the tie against India in Bangalore. In the 4-0 whitewash of India that followed the World Cup, Bresnan starred with 16 wickets and two half-centuries from three Tests.
Birth of England allrounder Tim Bresnan, who rose to prominence in 2010-11 after taking 11 wickets in two Ashes Tests, having been called up as an injury replacement and told to keep the runs down. He had already showed his class with his useful death bowling in the 2010 World T20, and he was tight and accurate in the 2011 World Cup as well. His nine wickets in the tournament included a five-for in the tie against India in Bangalore. In the 4-0 whitewash of India that followed the World Cup, Bresnan starred with 16 wickets and two half-centuries from three Tests.
1978
Naved-ul-Hasan, born today, made his one-day debut in Sharjah, and injuries to other fast bowlers, as well as ambiguity over Shoaib Akhtar's part in the team, allowed him to cement his position. Pakistan's early exit from the 2007 World Cup had many casualties and Naved was one of them: he was not given a central contract in July that year and joined the ICL in protest. In 2009 he was given a Pakistan contract and picked for the World T20, and included on Pakistan's eventually disastrous tour of Australia in 2009-10 (ending up among the seven players banned on their return). His one-year ban was overturned in 2010, after which he played county cricket and in T20 leagues in Australia and Bangladesh.
Naved-ul-Hasan, born today, made his one-day debut in Sharjah, and injuries to other fast bowlers, as well as ambiguity over Shoaib Akhtar's part in the team, allowed him to cement his position. Pakistan's early exit from the 2007 World Cup had many casualties and Naved was one of them: he was not given a central contract in July that year and joined the ICL in protest. In 2009 he was given a Pakistan contract and picked for the World T20, and included on Pakistan's eventually disastrous tour of Australia in 2009-10 (ending up among the seven players banned on their return). His one-year ban was overturned in 2010, after which he played county cricket and in T20 leagues in Australia and Bangladesh.
1978
Naved's Pakistan team-mate Yasir Hameed, also born today, stamped his presence in international cricket with two Test centuries on debut - against Bangladesh in Karachi in August 2003 - becoming only the second player to achieve that feat. Hameed's game was built on timing and an easy elegance. The early signs were promising, but he developed a worrying tendency to waste his starts, often by flailing at wide ones outside off. He lost his place in the side in 2007 and returned briefly in 2010 - on the tour of England that was marred by spot-fixing - and was subject to an undercover tabloid investigation himself, for which the Pakistan board banned him from domestic cricket for a season.
Naved's Pakistan team-mate Yasir Hameed, also born today, stamped his presence in international cricket with two Test centuries on debut - against Bangladesh in Karachi in August 2003 - becoming only the second player to achieve that feat. Hameed's game was built on timing and an easy elegance. The early signs were promising, but he developed a worrying tendency to waste his starts, often by flailing at wide ones outside off. He lost his place in the side in 2007 and returned briefly in 2010 - on the tour of England that was marred by spot-fixing - and was subject to an undercover tabloid investigation himself, for which the Pakistan board banned him from domestic cricket for a season.
1991
Birth of Zimbabwe fast bowler Tendai Chatara, who first made headlines for starring in a famous Test win over Pakistan in Harare in 2013. Pakistan were chasing 264 and Chatara took 5 for 61 to dismiss them 25 short. He played in the 2015 World Cup, but a fractured shin forced him out for a year after that, during which he had to cut down on his pace. In 2018 he took three key wickets cheaply in another notable Test win for Zimbabwe, against Bangladesh away. Four years later, In the 2022 T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe's first major ICC tournament in six years, Chatara was instrumental in taking the side to the Super 12s.
Birth of Zimbabwe fast bowler Tendai Chatara, who first made headlines for starring in a famous Test win over Pakistan in Harare in 2013. Pakistan were chasing 264 and Chatara took 5 for 61 to dismiss them 25 short. He played in the 2015 World Cup, but a fractured shin forced him out for a year after that, during which he had to cut down on his pace. In 2018 he took three key wickets cheaply in another notable Test win for Zimbabwe, against Bangladesh away. Four years later, In the 2022 T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe's first major ICC tournament in six years, Chatara was instrumental in taking the side to the Super 12s.
1946
Graham Vivian, the New Zealand allrounder who made his first-class debut in a Test match, was born today. That debut was in Calcutta in 1964-65, when Vivian was 19, and he made a useful 43 from No. 9 in the second innings. Bowling proved a bit more problematic: he took only one wicket in five Tests.
Graham Vivian, the New Zealand allrounder who made his first-class debut in a Test match, was born today. That debut was in Calcutta in 1964-65, when Vivian was 19, and he made a useful 43 from No. 9 in the second innings. Bowling proved a bit more problematic: he took only one wicket in five Tests.
Other birthdays
1862 Edward Bastard (England)
1916 Ross Gregory (Australia)
1935 Clive Halse (South Africa)
1862 Edward Bastard (England)
1916 Ross Gregory (Australia)
1935 Clive Halse (South Africa)