September 28 down the years
Majestic Majid
The birth of the man who proved footwork was overrated
Majid Khan made 3931 runs in 63 Tests • Adrian Murrell/PA Photos
1946
Birth of the regal Majid Khan, cousin of Imran, who was picked primarily as a bowler when he made his Test debut at 18 but was soon ensconced in the middle order by virtue of his scintillating strokeplay. He became the first Pakistani, and the first person for 42 years, to make a Test hundred before lunch, against New Zealand in Karachi in 1976-77. But his most celebrated knocks came at a lower level: he led Punjab University to victory over Karachi with an unbeaten double-hundred after they had been 5 for 4, and he smashed 147 in 89 minutes for Pakistan against Glamorgan - who he later represented with distinction - in 1967, an innings that included 13 sixes, five in one over from the offspinner Roger Davis. A Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1970, Majid made almost 4000 runs in 63 Tests before becoming an ICC match referee and later chief executive of the PCB.
Birth of the regal Majid Khan, cousin of Imran, who was picked primarily as a bowler when he made his Test debut at 18 but was soon ensconced in the middle order by virtue of his scintillating strokeplay. He became the first Pakistani, and the first person for 42 years, to make a Test hundred before lunch, against New Zealand in Karachi in 1976-77. But his most celebrated knocks came at a lower level: he led Punjab University to victory over Karachi with an unbeaten double-hundred after they had been 5 for 4, and he smashed 147 in 89 minutes for Pakistan against Glamorgan - who he later represented with distinction - in 1967, an innings that included 13 sixes, five in one over from the offspinner Roger Davis. A Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1970, Majid made almost 4000 runs in 63 Tests before becoming an ICC match referee and later chief executive of the PCB.
1960
Birth of the little West Indian wizard Gus Logie. A brilliant short leg and a dangerous counterattacker at No. 5 or 6, Logie specialised in the punchy, initiative-seizing cameo. In tandem with Jeff Dujon he was a regular pain in the neck for England, most notably at Lord's in 1988 (when West Indies were 54 for 5) and in Trinidad in 1989-90 (when they were 29 for 5). A glorious, impish batter of just 5 ft 4, Logie played his last Test at Edgbaston in 1991 and finished with 2470 runs at 35.79. He later took to coaching, which included stints with Canada during the 2003 World Cup, and West Indies, till the end of 2004. He was the coach of Bermuda until September 2009.
Birth of the little West Indian wizard Gus Logie. A brilliant short leg and a dangerous counterattacker at No. 5 or 6, Logie specialised in the punchy, initiative-seizing cameo. In tandem with Jeff Dujon he was a regular pain in the neck for England, most notably at Lord's in 1988 (when West Indies were 54 for 5) and in Trinidad in 1989-90 (when they were 29 for 5). A glorious, impish batter of just 5 ft 4, Logie played his last Test at Edgbaston in 1991 and finished with 2470 runs at 35.79. He later took to coaching, which included stints with Canada during the 2003 World Cup, and West Indies, till the end of 2004. He was the coach of Bermuda until September 2009.
2018
Kedar Jadhav starred in a thrilling Asia Cup title win for India, their seventh, taking two wickets, batting at No. 7 and going off with a hamstring injury before coming back in the 48th over and taking his side across the line on the last ball of the innings. Spare a thought for Bangladesh wicketkeeper and opener Liton Das, who made his first ODI century earlier in the day, and put on a partnership of 120 with makeshift opener Mehidy Hasan. Then India's spinners struck, hobbling Bangladesh and keeping them down to 222.
Kedar Jadhav starred in a thrilling Asia Cup title win for India, their seventh, taking two wickets, batting at No. 7 and going off with a hamstring injury before coming back in the 48th over and taking his side across the line on the last ball of the innings. Spare a thought for Bangladesh wicketkeeper and opener Liton Das, who made his first ODI century earlier in the day, and put on a partnership of 120 with makeshift opener Mehidy Hasan. Then India's spinners struck, hobbling Bangladesh and keeping them down to 222.
1975
Tall and lanky fast bowler Stuart Clark, born today, had a dream start to his Test career at the age of 30 in 2006, winning the Player-of-the-Series award in South Africa for 20 wickets at 15.75. An uncomfortable prospect, especially early in a spell, Clark also picked up 26 wickets at 17 in the 2006-07 Ashes, which Australia won 5-0. He became a regular in the Test XI, before injuries took their toll. He was forced to give up hopes of a longer international career - though he didn't retire - when the selectors chose to go with younger bowlers following the 2009 Ashes. Clark then redirected his energies towards New South Wales cricket, and in 2011 became the general manager of Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.
Tall and lanky fast bowler Stuart Clark, born today, had a dream start to his Test career at the age of 30 in 2006, winning the Player-of-the-Series award in South Africa for 20 wickets at 15.75. An uncomfortable prospect, especially early in a spell, Clark also picked up 26 wickets at 17 in the 2006-07 Ashes, which Australia won 5-0. He became a regular in the Test XI, before injuries took their toll. He was forced to give up hopes of a longer international career - though he didn't retire - when the selectors chose to go with younger bowlers following the 2009 Ashes. Clark then redirected his energies towards New South Wales cricket, and in 2011 became the general manager of Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.
1971
When he was the top scorer on either side in the 1997 Ashes series with 556 runs, the tall, long-nosed Matthew Elliott looked a class act who was there to stay. But within a year of becoming a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1998, he was out of the Australian set-up. Poor form certainly contributed to his demise - he made three ducks in six innings in the West Indies in 1998-99 - but he did himself few favours by getting on the wrong side of Steve Waugh during that tour. He also played for Glamorgan in 2000, 2004 and 2005, and for Yorkshire as a replacement in 2002.
When he was the top scorer on either side in the 1997 Ashes series with 556 runs, the tall, long-nosed Matthew Elliott looked a class act who was there to stay. But within a year of becoming a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1998, he was out of the Australian set-up. Poor form certainly contributed to his demise - he made three ducks in six innings in the West Indies in 1998-99 - but he did himself few favours by getting on the wrong side of Steve Waugh during that tour. He also played for Glamorgan in 2000, 2004 and 2005, and for Yorkshire as a replacement in 2002.
1996
In Nairobi, Muthiah Muralidaran and Romesh Kaluwitharana rained on Kenya's parade. In the first official one-day international there, Murali took 4 for 18 and Kalu thrashed an 89-ball ton as Sri Lanka eased home by seven wickets, with almost 20 overs to spare, in the first match of the Kenya Centenary Cup.
In Nairobi, Muthiah Muralidaran and Romesh Kaluwitharana rained on Kenya's parade. In the first official one-day international there, Murali took 4 for 18 and Kalu thrashed an 89-ball ton as Sri Lanka eased home by seven wickets, with almost 20 overs to spare, in the first match of the Kenya Centenary Cup.
2023
A second County Championship title in a row for mighty Surrey, though their last game of the season, against Hampshire ended in defeat. That made Hampshire only the second team, after Lancashire, to register a win against Surrey in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Surrey's only potential rivals for the title, Essex, needed to win their match against Northamptonshire and pick up bonus points, but that didn't come to pass. In all, Surrey won eight of their 14 games, but their first entrant on the list of top run-scorers for the season was Dom Sibley, at No. 16; on the bowling side, Jordan Clark finished just outside the top ten for the season, with 48 wickets.
A second County Championship title in a row for mighty Surrey, though their last game of the season, against Hampshire ended in defeat. That made Hampshire only the second team, after Lancashire, to register a win against Surrey in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Surrey's only potential rivals for the title, Essex, needed to win their match against Northamptonshire and pick up bonus points, but that didn't come to pass. In all, Surrey won eight of their 14 games, but their first entrant on the list of top run-scorers for the season was Dom Sibley, at No. 16; on the bowling side, Jordan Clark finished just outside the top ten for the season, with 48 wickets.
2018
D'Arcy Short made 257, the third highest List A score ever at the time, for Western Australia against Queensland in the JLT One-Day Cup. In the process he hit 23 sixes, the most in a List A innings: he got to 100, 150, 200 and 250 with maximums.
D'Arcy Short made 257, the third highest List A score ever at the time, for Western Australia against Queensland in the JLT One-Day Cup. In the process he hit 23 sixes, the most in a List A innings: he got to 100, 150, 200 and 250 with maximums.
1973
England's leading female legspinner was born. At the age of six Kathryn Leng informed her primary-school teacher that she would play cricket for England, and she was true to her word. Also a fine middle-order bat, Leng made history in 1999 when she became the first woman to play in the men's Bradford League. She also became the first woman to play in a university match, for Leeds/Bradford UCCE.
England's leading female legspinner was born. At the age of six Kathryn Leng informed her primary-school teacher that she would play cricket for England, and she was true to her word. Also a fine middle-order bat, Leng made history in 1999 when she became the first woman to play in the men's Bradford League. She also became the first woman to play in a university match, for Leeds/Bradford UCCE.
1984
The first floodlit one-day international outside Australia took place in New Delhi, and Kepler Wessels broke the habit of a lifetime by playing some shots. His 107 - the only ODI hundred of his career - led Australia to a comfortable 48-run victory over India in the first of a five-match series.
The first floodlit one-day international outside Australia took place in New Delhi, and Kepler Wessels broke the habit of a lifetime by playing some shots. His 107 - the only ODI hundred of his career - led Australia to a comfortable 48-run victory over India in the first of a five-match series.
1988
In the second Test, in Faisalabad, Javed Miandad was given out lbw for only the fourth time in 63 Test innings on home soil. But by then he had made 107, his 19th Test hundred, and denied Australia's attempts to square the series. In all, Miandad was given out leg-before only eight times in Tests in Pakistan and 25 times overseas.
In the second Test, in Faisalabad, Javed Miandad was given out lbw for only the fourth time in 63 Test innings on home soil. But by then he had made 107, his 19th Test hundred, and denied Australia's attempts to square the series. In all, Miandad was given out leg-before only eight times in Tests in Pakistan and 25 times overseas.
Other birthdays
1964 Irfan Bhatti (Pakistan)
1973 Colin Stuart (West Indies)
1984 Malcolm Waller (Zimbabwe)
1984 Luke Pomersbach (Australia)
1964 Irfan Bhatti (Pakistan)
1973 Colin Stuart (West Indies)
1984 Malcolm Waller (Zimbabwe)
1984 Luke Pomersbach (Australia)