October 5 down the years
The tiger king
Imran Khan is born
Imran Khan: monstrously talented • PA Photos
1952
Few would dispute that Imran Khan, who was born today, was the finest cricketer Pakistan has produced, or the biggest heartthrob. Thousands, if not millions, who had never dreamt of bowling fast on heartless baked mud suddenly wanted to emulate Imran and his lithe, bounding run, his leap, and his reverse-swinging yorker. His averages (37.69 with the bat, 22.81 with the ball) put him at the top of the quartet of allrounders (Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev being the others) who dominated Test cricket in the 1980s: in his last ten years of international cricket he played 51 Tests, averaging a sensational 50 with the bat and 19 with the ball. His one-day exploits also drew envy - over 3700 runs at 33.41 and 182 wickets at 22.61. He captained Pakistan as well as anyone, rounding off his career with the 1992 World Cup. He played hardly any domestic cricket in Pakistan: instead he just flew in for home series from Worcestershire or Sussex, or rather, from the more fashionable London salons. After retirement, he embarked on a career in politics.
Few would dispute that Imran Khan, who was born today, was the finest cricketer Pakistan has produced, or the biggest heartthrob. Thousands, if not millions, who had never dreamt of bowling fast on heartless baked mud suddenly wanted to emulate Imran and his lithe, bounding run, his leap, and his reverse-swinging yorker. His averages (37.69 with the bat, 22.81 with the ball) put him at the top of the quartet of allrounders (Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev being the others) who dominated Test cricket in the 1980s: in his last ten years of international cricket he played 51 Tests, averaging a sensational 50 with the bat and 19 with the ball. His one-day exploits also drew envy - over 3700 runs at 33.41 and 182 wickets at 22.61. He captained Pakistan as well as anyone, rounding off his career with the 1992 World Cup. He played hardly any domestic cricket in Pakistan: instead he just flew in for home series from Worcestershire or Sussex, or rather, from the more fashionable London salons. After retirement, he embarked on a career in politics.
2010
It was no Kolkata 2001 - the most memorable Test India and Australia played - but Mohali 2010 came close. India had one day and 17 overs in which to chase 216. It looked easy at the start of those 17 overs on day four, but by stumps India were 55 for 4. By lunch the following day they were another four wickets down and a hundred-odd runs closer, with VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma at the wicket. Laxman, struggling with a back spasm, had batted at No. 10 in the first innings, and had come in at No. 7 with a runner in the second. With only 11 needed, Ishant fell. Australia sensed an improbable win and Laxman screamed and shouted instructions as the last man, Pragyan Ojha, and his runner, Suresh Raina, scrambled singles. India won by a wicket and went on to successfully chase 207 in the second Test, in Bangalore, to take the series 2-0.
It was no Kolkata 2001 - the most memorable Test India and Australia played - but Mohali 2010 came close. India had one day and 17 overs in which to chase 216. It looked easy at the start of those 17 overs on day four, but by stumps India were 55 for 4. By lunch the following day they were another four wickets down and a hundred-odd runs closer, with VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma at the wicket. Laxman, struggling with a back spasm, had batted at No. 10 in the first innings, and had come in at No. 7 with a runner in the second. With only 11 needed, Ishant fell. Australia sensed an improbable win and Laxman screamed and shouted instructions as the last man, Pragyan Ojha, and his runner, Suresh Raina, scrambled singles. India won by a wicket and went on to successfully chase 207 in the second Test, in Bangalore, to take the series 2-0.
1940
Birth of the first man to make a triple-century in a Test in Australia. Bob Cowper took 307 off England in Melbourne in 1965-66. He had made his name the previous winter with some sterling work in the Caribbean, where he scored two of his five Test hundreds and stood up to all Charlie Griffith and Wes Hall could throw at him. Chuck in his skiddy offspinners, flexibility (he batted everywhere from No. 2 to 6 in Tests) and brilliant fielding, and Cowper was a very fine allrounder. But he retired at 30 and moved to Monte Carlo, where he became a wealthy banker; later, he became one of the first ICC match referees.
Birth of the first man to make a triple-century in a Test in Australia. Bob Cowper took 307 off England in Melbourne in 1965-66. He had made his name the previous winter with some sterling work in the Caribbean, where he scored two of his five Test hundreds and stood up to all Charlie Griffith and Wes Hall could throw at him. Chuck in his skiddy offspinners, flexibility (he batted everywhere from No. 2 to 6 in Tests) and brilliant fielding, and Cowper was a very fine allrounder. But he retired at 30 and moved to Monte Carlo, where he became a wealthy banker; later, he became one of the first ICC match referees.
1983
Birth of Bangladesh's most successful ODI captain, and their only fast-bowling superstar. Injury-prone Mashrafe Mortaza spearheaded the team's bowling attack for much of its first decade in Tests. It was in one-dayers, though, that he shone brightest: his 6 for 26 against Kenya in 2006 broke the national record, and he engineered one of Bangladesh's most famous wins with four wickets against India in the 2007 World Cup. After Bangladesh's disappointing campaign in the 2009 World T20, Mortaza was named captain for the tours of West Indies and Zimbabwe - though he didn't fill the post for long, thanks to injury. He played what turned out to be his last Test that year, but found second wind when he was handed the white-ball captaincy in 2014. By the time he stepped down from the role in 2020, he had led Bangladesh to 50 ODI wins, and turned them into white-ball opponents to reckon with.
Birth of Bangladesh's most successful ODI captain, and their only fast-bowling superstar. Injury-prone Mashrafe Mortaza spearheaded the team's bowling attack for much of its first decade in Tests. It was in one-dayers, though, that he shone brightest: his 6 for 26 against Kenya in 2006 broke the national record, and he engineered one of Bangladesh's most famous wins with four wickets against India in the 2007 World Cup. After Bangladesh's disappointing campaign in the 2009 World T20, Mortaza was named captain for the tours of West Indies and Zimbabwe - though he didn't fill the post for long, thanks to injury. He played what turned out to be his last Test that year, but found second wind when he was handed the white-ball captaincy in 2014. By the time he stepped down from the role in 2020, he had led Bangladesh to 50 ODI wins, and turned them into white-ball opponents to reckon with.
1963
That nerveless debutant Tony Dodemaide was born in Victoria on this day. His was a fairly unspectacular career, but Dodemaide certainly had his moments. He became the first person to take a five-for on ODI debut, against Sri Lanka in Perth in 1987-88. And he made 50 (batting at No. 9) and took 6 for 58 on his Test debut, against New Zealand in Melbourne the same winter. But those were the only instances of Dodemaide taking five wickets or reaching 50 in his ten Tests and 24 ODIs. Uniquely, he played his first four Tests against four different countries: New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He also had three seasons at Sussex, was the MCC's head of cricket at Lord's, served as Western Australia's CEO, and then took the chief executive role at Victoria.
That nerveless debutant Tony Dodemaide was born in Victoria on this day. His was a fairly unspectacular career, but Dodemaide certainly had his moments. He became the first person to take a five-for on ODI debut, against Sri Lanka in Perth in 1987-88. And he made 50 (batting at No. 9) and took 6 for 58 on his Test debut, against New Zealand in Melbourne the same winter. But those were the only instances of Dodemaide taking five wickets or reaching 50 in his ten Tests and 24 ODIs. Uniquely, he played his first four Tests against four different countries: New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. He also had three seasons at Sussex, was the MCC's head of cricket at Lord's, served as Western Australia's CEO, and then took the chief executive role at Victoria.
2009
After losing the Ashes, Australia bounced back in the one-day format by first beating England 6-1 in the bilateral series and then taking their second Champions Trophy in a row. In an underwhelming final in Centurion, the only time Australia's opponents, New Zealand, seemed to be in the game - defending 200 - was when their opening bowlers, Kyle Mills and Shane Bond, picked up a wicket each in the first three overs. But Shane Watson scored a calm unbeaten century and added 128 with Cameron White. The chase was completed with six wickets and more than four overs to spare.
After losing the Ashes, Australia bounced back in the one-day format by first beating England 6-1 in the bilateral series and then taking their second Champions Trophy in a row. In an underwhelming final in Centurion, the only time Australia's opponents, New Zealand, seemed to be in the game - defending 200 - was when their opening bowlers, Kyle Mills and Shane Bond, picked up a wicket each in the first three overs. But Shane Watson scored a calm unbeaten century and added 128 with Cameron White. The chase was completed with six wickets and more than four overs to spare.
2023
Rest of India pummelled Saurashtra in the Irani Cup final in Rajkot to win by 175 runs, as spinners ran riot and 21 wickets fell on the third and final day. Saurashtra started the day conceding a 94-run lead - to which Rest of India openers B Sai Sudarshan and Mayank Agarwal added another 85 runs. Then slow left-armer Parth Bhut triggered a middle-order collapse in which RoI lost nine wickets for 43 runs; he finished with seven wickets to add to his five in the first innings. Saurashtra were set 255 to win but were spun out for 79: another left-arm spinner, Saurabh Kumar, ran through the top and tail to finish with match figures of 10 for 108. Saurashtra's 79 was the
Rest of India pummelled Saurashtra in the Irani Cup final in Rajkot to win by 175 runs, as spinners ran riot and 21 wickets fell on the third and final day. Saurashtra started the day conceding a 94-run lead - to which Rest of India openers B Sai Sudarshan and Mayank Agarwal added another 85 runs. Then slow left-armer Parth Bhut triggered a middle-order collapse in which RoI lost nine wickets for 43 runs; he finished with seven wickets to add to his five in the first innings. Saurashtra were set 255 to win but were spun out for 79: another left-arm spinner, Saurabh Kumar, ran through the top and tail to finish with match figures of 10 for 108. Saurashtra's 79 was the
1935
Birth of the underrated wicketkeeper Jimmy Binks, who set a new record when he played 412 consecutive County Championship matches for Yorkshire between 1955 and 1969. But even in those days batting was a fundamental consideration for a keeper (Binks averaged only 14.73 and never made a hundred), and he played only two Tests, both in India in 1963-64. Ironically, he opened in three of his four Test innings there, and made 55 on debut in Bombay. Binks also made 107 dismissals in 1960. He was one of three men to achieve the feat that season, along with Roy Booth and John Murray, and it has not been done since. His 96 catches in that season remain a record too.
Birth of the underrated wicketkeeper Jimmy Binks, who set a new record when he played 412 consecutive County Championship matches for Yorkshire between 1955 and 1969. But even in those days batting was a fundamental consideration for a keeper (Binks averaged only 14.73 and never made a hundred), and he played only two Tests, both in India in 1963-64. Ironically, he opened in three of his four Test innings there, and made 55 on debut in Bombay. Binks also made 107 dismissals in 1960. He was one of three men to achieve the feat that season, along with Roy Booth and John Murray, and it has not been done since. His 96 catches in that season remain a record too.
1999
Offspinner Washington Sundar, born this day, got his first name from his godfather, who bought bats for him and paid his school fees. Sundar represented India at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. Starting out as a batter, he switched to bowling, like fellow Tamil Nadu offie R Ashwin, whom he replaced at the Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2017 IPL, when his side made the final. Sundar made his India ODI and T20I debuts against Sri Lanka later that year, and in 2018 he moved to the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, for whom he plays as a middle-order allrounder.
Offspinner Washington Sundar, born this day, got his first name from his godfather, who bought bats for him and paid his school fees. Sundar represented India at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. Starting out as a batter, he switched to bowling, like fellow Tamil Nadu offie R Ashwin, whom he replaced at the Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2017 IPL, when his side made the final. Sundar made his India ODI and T20I debuts against Sri Lanka later that year, and in 2018 he moved to the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, for whom he plays as a middle-order allrounder.
1963
Hugh Morris, who was born today, played his three Tests in 1991, and certainly didn't disgrace himself, making a brave 44 in a famous victory over West Indies at The Oval. He continued to be prolific at county level - in 1990, the summer when England surely picked the wrong Morris, he made 2276 runs, a Glamorgan record - but his unfussy batting was never quite eye-catching enough for the style-over-substance selectorial policy of the time. After England's 5-0 Ashes defeat in 2006-07, Morris was appointed as the first managing director of the national team.
Hugh Morris, who was born today, played his three Tests in 1991, and certainly didn't disgrace himself, making a brave 44 in a famous victory over West Indies at The Oval. He continued to be prolific at county level - in 1990, the summer when England surely picked the wrong Morris, he made 2276 runs, a Glamorgan record - but his unfussy batting was never quite eye-catching enough for the style-over-substance selectorial policy of the time. After England's 5-0 Ashes defeat in 2006-07, Morris was appointed as the first managing director of the national team.
1982
Australia were Qadir-ed in Faisalabad. Needing to bat out the final day with only six wickets intact, Australia were dismissed for 330 to give Pakistan an innings victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The inimitable Abdul Qadir took 7 for 142, giving him 11 wickets in the match and rendering fruitless the brave resistance of Greg Ritchie, who made 104 not out, his first Test century.
Australia were Qadir-ed in Faisalabad. Needing to bat out the final day with only six wickets intact, Australia were dismissed for 330 to give Pakistan an innings victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The inimitable Abdul Qadir took 7 for 142, giving him 11 wickets in the match and rendering fruitless the brave resistance of Greg Ritchie, who made 104 not out, his first Test century.
1932
If you average just shy of 50 in your first seven Tests, you might expect a decent run in the side. But not if you're Indian opener Madhav Apte, who was born today. Apte came in against Pakistan and then West Indies in 1952-53, and made an unbeaten 163 in Port-of-Spain. He averaged 49.27 in all, but to widespread astonishment was dropped. Despite consistent heavy scoring for Bombay, he was not selected again.
If you average just shy of 50 in your first seven Tests, you might expect a decent run in the side. But not if you're Indian opener Madhav Apte, who was born today. Apte came in against Pakistan and then West Indies in 1952-53, and made an unbeaten 163 in Port-of-Spain. He averaged 49.27 in all, but to widespread astonishment was dropped. Despite consistent heavy scoring for Bombay, he was not selected again.
2015
Crowd trouble marred the India-South Africa T20 in Cuttack. After India were bowled out for 92, their lowest T20I total at home at the time, spectators began throwing plastic bottles onto the field during the innings break. Play was interrupted twice in the second innings as the police dealt with the problem. South Africa eventually completed the chase in the 18th over and won the series 2-0 with a match to spare.
Crowd trouble marred the India-South Africa T20 in Cuttack. After India were bowled out for 92, their lowest T20I total at home at the time, spectators began throwing plastic bottles onto the field during the innings break. Play was interrupted twice in the second innings as the police dealt with the problem. South Africa eventually completed the chase in the 18th over and won the series 2-0 with a match to spare.
Other birthdays
1934 David Smith (England)
1961 Derek Stirling (New Zealand)
1964 Saradindu Mukherjee (India)
1968 Wayne Holdsworth (Australia)
1971 Ian Stanger (Scotland)
1934 David Smith (England)
1961 Derek Stirling (New Zealand)
1964 Saradindu Mukherjee (India)
1968 Wayne Holdsworth (Australia)
1971 Ian Stanger (Scotland)