August 16 down the years
The limpet
A clingy crab is born
The immovable Shivnarine Chanderpaul • WICB
1974
Birth of Shivnarine Chanderpaul. When he made his debut against England in Georgetown in 1993-94, he was the first teenager to play in a Test for West Indies since Elquemedo Willett in 1972-73. Chanderpaul's slim frame encases the ideal temperament for a Test batter. He scored only two hundreds in his first 53 Tests, but improved that ratio significantly after that. His career run graph took a turn upwards from India's tour in 2006 - he scored seven hundreds, 14 half-centuries and averaged 73.09 from 23 Tests in the next three years. In 2005 he had been appointed captain and celebrated with a double-hundred in his home ground in Guyana. But he quit the next year to concentrate on his batting. From then on Chanderpaul became a run machine, reaching 10,000 Test runs in his 140th Test, in 2012 against Australia - in characteristic fashion, while trying to save the match. He averaged 98.7 in 2012, scoring three hundreds, including his second double. He hung at the crease like a limpet during the many times the side was in trouble, and churned out hundreds, seemingly at will. But three years later the unthinkable happened - Chanderpaul, at the age of 40, was dropped from the West Indies side after scoring only one half-century in ten innings. And after he was overlooked for a contract in December, Chanderpaul announced his retirement from international cricket.
Birth of Shivnarine Chanderpaul. When he made his debut against England in Georgetown in 1993-94, he was the first teenager to play in a Test for West Indies since Elquemedo Willett in 1972-73. Chanderpaul's slim frame encases the ideal temperament for a Test batter. He scored only two hundreds in his first 53 Tests, but improved that ratio significantly after that. His career run graph took a turn upwards from India's tour in 2006 - he scored seven hundreds, 14 half-centuries and averaged 73.09 from 23 Tests in the next three years. In 2005 he had been appointed captain and celebrated with a double-hundred in his home ground in Guyana. But he quit the next year to concentrate on his batting. From then on Chanderpaul became a run machine, reaching 10,000 Test runs in his 140th Test, in 2012 against Australia - in characteristic fashion, while trying to save the match. He averaged 98.7 in 2012, scoring three hundreds, including his second double. He hung at the crease like a limpet during the many times the side was in trouble, and churned out hundreds, seemingly at will. But three years later the unthinkable happened - Chanderpaul, at the age of 40, was dropped from the West Indies side after scoring only one half-century in ten innings. And after he was overlooked for a contract in December, Chanderpaul announced his retirement from international cricket.
1950
Birth of perhaps the fastest bowler of all time. When Jeff Thomson took 0 for 110 on his Test debut in 1972-73, no one knew he had a broken toe - nor could they have suspected the havoc he would wreak on his recall against England in 1974-75. He generated terrifying pace and steep bounce from a slingshot action, and took 33 cheap wickets to help Dennis Lillee destroy England 4-1 and regain the Ashes. The following season he and Lillee had a similarly traumatic effect on the touring West Indians. Held back by assorted major injuries, Thommo nevertheless took exactly 200 Test wickets (100 of them against England) and left behind memories of one of the great fast-bowling partnerships.
Birth of perhaps the fastest bowler of all time. When Jeff Thomson took 0 for 110 on his Test debut in 1972-73, no one knew he had a broken toe - nor could they have suspected the havoc he would wreak on his recall against England in 1974-75. He generated terrifying pace and steep bounce from a slingshot action, and took 33 cheap wickets to help Dennis Lillee destroy England 4-1 and regain the Ashes. The following season he and Lillee had a similarly traumatic effect on the touring West Indians. Held back by assorted major injuries, Thommo nevertheless took exactly 200 Test wickets (100 of them against England) and left behind memories of one of the great fast-bowling partnerships.
1950
When Alf Valentine took his sixth wicket of the innings, his tenth of the match and 33rd of the series, West Indies had dismissed England for 103 to take the Oval Test by an innings and complete a 3-1 win, their first in a series in England. The Three Ws in their batting line-up (Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott) were as famous as the two young spinners who were commemorated in a special calypso, "those two little pals of mine" Sonny Ramadhin and Valentine.
When Alf Valentine took his sixth wicket of the innings, his tenth of the match and 33rd of the series, West Indies had dismissed England for 103 to take the Oval Test by an innings and complete a 3-1 win, their first in a series in England. The Three Ws in their batting line-up (Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott) were as famous as the two young spinners who were commemorated in a special calypso, "those two little pals of mine" Sonny Ramadhin and Valentine.
2009
Charles Coventry equalled the then-highest score in ODIs. Against Bangladesh, with Zimbabwe playing to save the series, Coventry played a superbly paced innings to reach an unbeaten 194 (off 154 balls), his maiden ODI hundred. But despite equalling Saeed Anwar's record, and single-handedly taking Zimbabwe past 300 - a total larger than any Bangladesh had successfully chased before - he ended on the losing side. Tamim Iqbal's match-winning 154 stole Coventry's thunder, and six months later Sachin Tendulkar took the record, with the format's first double-hundred.
Charles Coventry equalled the then-highest score in ODIs. Against Bangladesh, with Zimbabwe playing to save the series, Coventry played a superbly paced innings to reach an unbeaten 194 (off 154 balls), his maiden ODI hundred. But despite equalling Saeed Anwar's record, and single-handedly taking Zimbabwe past 300 - a total larger than any Bangladesh had successfully chased before - he ended on the losing side. Tamim Iqbal's match-winning 154 stole Coventry's thunder, and six months later Sachin Tendulkar took the record, with the format's first double-hundred.
2021
India pulled off a final-day heist to beat England by 151 runs at Lord's, thanks largely to the batting of their lead bowlers. At the first drinks break on day five, India were eight down and led England by just 193. Cue some merry mayhem from Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, who added 89 for the ninth wicket. The two then winded England as they chased 272 to win, dismissing their openers for ducks, after which Mohammed Siraj broke through the lower order, finishing with eight wickets in the match. How rosy it had all looked for England on day three, when Joe Root, in the form of his life, made 180 - his fifth hundred of the year.
India pulled off a final-day heist to beat England by 151 runs at Lord's, thanks largely to the batting of their lead bowlers. At the first drinks break on day five, India were eight down and led England by just 193. Cue some merry mayhem from Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, who added 89 for the ninth wicket. The two then winded England as they chased 272 to win, dismissing their openers for ducks, after which Mohammed Siraj broke through the lower order, finishing with eight wickets in the match. How rosy it had all looked for England on day three, when Joe Root, in the form of his life, made 180 - his fifth hundred of the year.
2000
Steve Waugh and the man he once called the best one-day batter in the world, Michael Bevan (106), put on 222 to help beat South Africa in an ODI at the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne, the first international match to be played indoors.
Steve Waugh and the man he once called the best one-day batter in the world, Michael Bevan (106), put on 222 to help beat South Africa in an ODI at the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne, the first international match to be played indoors.
1860
One of the most influential cricketing figures of all time was born. Martin, Lord Hawke, averaged only 7.85 with the bat in his five Tests - but he was better known as a leader of men. He captained England in four of those matches and set an all-time record by leading Yorkshire to the County Championship eight times from 1893 to 1908. He introduced winter pay for professionals and - with the exception of John Wisden himself - was the oldest Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
One of the most influential cricketing figures of all time was born. Martin, Lord Hawke, averaged only 7.85 with the bat in his five Tests - but he was better known as a leader of men. He captained England in four of those matches and set an all-time record by leading Yorkshire to the County Championship eight times from 1893 to 1908. He introduced winter pay for professionals and - with the exception of John Wisden himself - was the oldest Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
1985
Unsung medium-pace swing bowler Richard Ellison completed figures of 6 for 77 on his way to ten wickets in the Edgbaston Test against Australia, which England won by an innings to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Unsung medium-pace swing bowler Richard Ellison completed figures of 6 for 77 on his way to ten wickets in the Edgbaston Test against Australia, which England won by an innings to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
1989
Birth of muscular Australia allrounder Marcus Stoinis, who made headlines when he scored a thrilling unbeaten 146 in only his second ODI, against New Zealand in Auckland in January 2017. Having already taken three wickets in the match, Stoinis then revived a faltering chase from No. 7, only to be thwarted towards the end when the No. 11 was run out with seven to win. He went on to score four half-centuries in his next 11 innings. He is a particularly dangerous T20 batter and holds the record for the fastest fifty by an Australian, getting it off 17 balls in the 2022 World Cup.
Birth of muscular Australia allrounder Marcus Stoinis, who made headlines when he scored a thrilling unbeaten 146 in only his second ODI, against New Zealand in Auckland in January 2017. Having already taken three wickets in the match, Stoinis then revived a faltering chase from No. 7, only to be thwarted towards the end when the No. 11 was run out with seven to win. He went on to score four half-centuries in his next 11 innings. He is a particularly dangerous T20 batter and holds the record for the fastest fifty by an Australian, getting it off 17 balls in the 2022 World Cup.
1905
At The Oval, against Australia, on his 33rd birthday, Arthur Jones became the first substitute to keep wicket in a Test, catching Warwick Armstrong off George Hirst. Jones' Test averages were nothing to write home about (13.85 with the bat, 44.33 with the ball) but he was better known as a fielder. Sensational in the slips, he was credited with inventing the gully position. He captained Nottinghamshire from 1900 until just before his death from tuberculosis in 1914.
At The Oval, against Australia, on his 33rd birthday, Arthur Jones became the first substitute to keep wicket in a Test, catching Warwick Armstrong off George Hirst. Jones' Test averages were nothing to write home about (13.85 with the bat, 44.33 with the ball) but he was better known as a fielder. Sensational in the slips, he was credited with inventing the gully position. He captained Nottinghamshire from 1900 until just before his death from tuberculosis in 1914.
2014
After being starved of Test cricket for eight years, India Women returned to the country of their previous Test win, England, and upset the hosts in Wormsley. A team with eight debutants rolled England over for 92 on the opening day, and took a slender lead. Jhulan Goswami took four in England's second innings before half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj got India home by six wickets. Raj, who also featured in the 2006 win, was there at the end.
After being starved of Test cricket for eight years, India Women returned to the country of their previous Test win, England, and upset the hosts in Wormsley. A team with eight debutants rolled England over for 92 on the opening day, and took a slender lead. Jhulan Goswami took four in England's second innings before half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj got India home by six wickets. Raj, who also featured in the 2006 win, was there at the end.
1983
Middle-order batter Narsingh Deonarine was drafted into the West Indies squad during the contracts dispute of 2005 and had a start-stop career in which he made Test and ODI half-centuries against South Africa and Australia. Despite a gutsy 52 against New Zealand in Dunedin, Deonarine was dropped from the Test squad in 2013.
Middle-order batter Narsingh Deonarine was drafted into the West Indies squad during the contracts dispute of 2005 and had a start-stop career in which he made Test and ODI half-centuries against South Africa and Australia. Despite a gutsy 52 against New Zealand in Dunedin, Deonarine was dropped from the Test squad in 2013.
Other birthdays
1934 Sam Trimble (Australia)
1944 Mufasir-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
1952 Mahes Goonatilleke (Sri Lanka)
1957 Randhir Singh (India)
1964 Howard Johnson (USA)
1965 Joe Harris (Canada)
1934 Sam Trimble (Australia)
1944 Mufasir-ul-Haq (Pakistan)
1952 Mahes Goonatilleke (Sri Lanka)
1957 Randhir Singh (India)
1964 Howard Johnson (USA)
1965 Joe Harris (Canada)