April 23 down the years
Greenidge's final frenzy
Australia are put in their place in Barbados
Greenidge pasted Australia and set up a series win • Getty Images
1991
A bewildering and brutal innings from Gordon Greenidge in Barbados took care of Australia's hopes of becoming the world's best side. When he strode to the wicket in the second innings of the fourth Test in Barbados, Greenidge had made only one fifty in his previous 24 innings, and 20 wickets had fallen for only 283 runs in the match. Greenidge's violent 226, his fourth Test double-hundred, was a display that rolled back the years. It took West Indies to 536 for 9 declared, and Australia were eventually well beaten by 343 runs. Two down with one to play, their hopes of usurping West Indies were shattered.
A bewildering and brutal innings from Gordon Greenidge in Barbados took care of Australia's hopes of becoming the world's best side. When he strode to the wicket in the second innings of the fourth Test in Barbados, Greenidge had made only one fifty in his previous 24 innings, and 20 wickets had fallen for only 283 runs in the match. Greenidge's violent 226, his fourth Test double-hundred, was a display that rolled back the years. It took West Indies to 536 for 9 declared, and Australia were eventually well beaten by 343 runs. Two down with one to play, their hopes of usurping West Indies were shattered.
2013
Another brutal innings from another West Indian. Chris Gayle sent record books flying out of the park when he hit the highest T20 score, 175 not out, which included the fastest T20 century (off 30 balls) and the most sixes in an innings (17 - a record he broke later, in the BPL). His innings helped Royal Challengers Bangalore get to a record total of 263. Gayle's utter domination of the match was evident from his 167-run opening stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan, who contributed only 33 to the partnership. The hapless victims were Pune Warriors, who could only manage 133 for 9 in reply, losing their last two wickets to Gayle in one over.
Another brutal innings from another West Indian. Chris Gayle sent record books flying out of the park when he hit the highest T20 score, 175 not out, which included the fastest T20 century (off 30 balls) and the most sixes in an innings (17 - a record he broke later, in the BPL). His innings helped Royal Challengers Bangalore get to a record total of 263. Gayle's utter domination of the match was evident from his 167-run opening stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan, who contributed only 33 to the partnership. The hapless victims were Pune Warriors, who could only manage 133 for 9 in reply, losing their last two wickets to Gayle in one over.
1937
Birth of the hard-hitting Australian left-hander Barry Shepherd. He played nine Tests in the 1960s, and started off with a crucial 71 not out on debut, in the victory over England in Sydney in 1962-63. Shepherd averaged 41 from his nine Tests but never managed a century. The closest he came was when he made 96 against South Africa at the MCG in 1963-64.
Birth of the hard-hitting Australian left-hander Barry Shepherd. He played nine Tests in the 1960s, and started off with a crucial 71 not out on debut, in the victory over England in Sydney in 1962-63. Shepherd averaged 41 from his nine Tests but never managed a century. The closest he came was when he made 96 against South Africa at the MCG in 1963-64.
2003
A maiden Test century on his home ground for Brian Lara, but not a landmark that came easy: he had played nine Tests and 19 innings in Trinidad before finally reaching the three-figure mark a full ten years after he first played a Test here. That didn't change West Indies' fortunes, though, as they went down by 118 runs to Australia.
A maiden Test century on his home ground for Brian Lara, but not a landmark that came easy: he had played nine Tests and 19 innings in Trinidad before finally reaching the three-figure mark a full ten years after he first played a Test here. That didn't change West Indies' fortunes, though, as they went down by 118 runs to Australia.
1981
Birth of a wicketkeeper-batter who, like Kepler Wessels, played for two major teams. Luke Ronchi first represented Australia as an injury replacement for Brad Haddin in a T20 against West Indies in 2008. His glovework was up to the mark and he impressed with a 22-ball fifty in an ODI on the same tour. But his form fell away drastically and by the end of 2008-09 he was out of his state side, Western Australia, as well. At the end of 2011-12, he moved to New Zealand, the country of his birth, where his performances were strong enough for a call-up to the ODI squad in 2013 once he had qualified to play for the country. He scored back-to-back half-centuries against South Africa in January 2014 and a maiden one-day hundred - a massive 170 in a record stand of 267 with Grant Elliott - a month before the 2015 World Cup.
Birth of a wicketkeeper-batter who, like Kepler Wessels, played for two major teams. Luke Ronchi first represented Australia as an injury replacement for Brad Haddin in a T20 against West Indies in 2008. His glovework was up to the mark and he impressed with a 22-ball fifty in an ODI on the same tour. But his form fell away drastically and by the end of 2008-09 he was out of his state side, Western Australia, as well. At the end of 2011-12, he moved to New Zealand, the country of his birth, where his performances were strong enough for a call-up to the ODI squad in 2013 once he had qualified to play for the country. He scored back-to-back half-centuries against South Africa in January 2014 and a maiden one-day hundred - a massive 170 in a record stand of 267 with Grant Elliott - a month before the 2015 World Cup.
1986
Though he made his international debut in 2007, in a T20 for Pakistan Zulqarnain Haider really arrived in 2010, when he replaced the struggling Kamran Akmal behind the stumps in the Edgbaston Test and made a determined 88 in the second innings. In November that year, after helping his side level an ODI series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Zulqarnain disappeared from the team hotel, only to appear in London, claiming to have received death threats from bookmakers. He then announced his retirement from international cricket and applied for asylum in the UK before withdrawing the application the following April after receiving assurances from the Pakistan government about his security at home. On his return, he was fined by the PCB for violating the code of conduct and put on probation from the national team for a year but allowed to play domestic cricket.
Though he made his international debut in 2007, in a T20 for Pakistan Zulqarnain Haider really arrived in 2010, when he replaced the struggling Kamran Akmal behind the stumps in the Edgbaston Test and made a determined 88 in the second innings. In November that year, after helping his side level an ODI series against South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Zulqarnain disappeared from the team hotel, only to appear in London, claiming to have received death threats from bookmakers. He then announced his retirement from international cricket and applied for asylum in the UK before withdrawing the application the following April after receiving assurances from the Pakistan government about his security at home. On his return, he was fined by the PCB for violating the code of conduct and put on probation from the national team for a year but allowed to play domestic cricket.
1997
As the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan petered out in Colombo on the final day, Aravinda de Silva cracked a princely 168. Nothing unusual in that, but it was a real turning point for de Silva: in his previous 15 Test innings he had failed to reach 40, but this was the first of a spellbinding six consecutive centuries in Test innings at the various Colombo grounds.
As the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan petered out in Colombo on the final day, Aravinda de Silva cracked a princely 168. Nothing unusual in that, but it was a real turning point for de Silva: in his previous 15 Test innings he had failed to reach 40, but this was the first of a spellbinding six consecutive centuries in Test innings at the various Colombo grounds.
1881
Birth of Claude Carter, the South African left-arm spinner who played ten Tests between 1912 and 1924. South Africa were a poor side in those days, and Carter was never on a winning team in a Test. But he was particularly effective on matting, and he did take a couple of six-fors: against England in Durban in 1913-14, and against Australia in Johannesburg eight years later. Carter also played for Cornwall for a number of years. He died in his native Durban in 1952.
Birth of Claude Carter, the South African left-arm spinner who played ten Tests between 1912 and 1924. South Africa were a poor side in those days, and Carter was never on a winning team in a Test. But he was particularly effective on matting, and he did take a couple of six-fors: against England in Durban in 1913-14, and against Australia in Johannesburg eight years later. Carter also played for Cornwall for a number of years. He died in his native Durban in 1952.
1988
Graham Gooch got the county season - the first to include four-day games - off to a barnstorming start with a massive 275 against Kent at Chelmsford. It was Gooch's highest first-class score... for a couple of years at least, until he belted 333 against India at Lord's. He took his good form into the Test arena too, and made 73 and 146 in the first Test at Trent Bridge, without which, it ultimately transpired, England would have been whitewashed by West Indies for the third series in a row.
Graham Gooch got the county season - the first to include four-day games - off to a barnstorming start with a massive 275 against Kent at Chelmsford. It was Gooch's highest first-class score... for a couple of years at least, until he belted 333 against India at Lord's. He took his good form into the Test arena too, and made 73 and 146 in the first Test at Trent Bridge, without which, it ultimately transpired, England would have been whitewashed by West Indies for the third series in a row.
1978
Al Sahariar Rokon, born today, played 15 Tests and 29 ODIs for Bangladesh between 1999 and 2003. A natural strokemaker, at his best he was a wonderful timer of the ball, and at his worst he reached for it with flat-footed uncertainty. His cause was not helped by the Bangladesh selectors, who insisted on playing him as an opener. He attempted to curb his natural aggression, and played some gutsy cameos, but a highest score of 71 in 15 Tests led to his exclusion from the squad after Bangladesh's 2003-04 tour of Australia.
Al Sahariar Rokon, born today, played 15 Tests and 29 ODIs for Bangladesh between 1999 and 2003. A natural strokemaker, at his best he was a wonderful timer of the ball, and at his worst he reached for it with flat-footed uncertainty. His cause was not helped by the Bangladesh selectors, who insisted on playing him as an opener. He attempted to curb his natural aggression, and played some gutsy cameos, but a highest score of 71 in 15 Tests led to his exclusion from the squad after Bangladesh's 2003-04 tour of Australia.
Other birthdays
1872 William Solomon (South Africa)
1936 John D'Arcy (New Zealand)
1979 Graham Manou (Australia)
1990 Pikky Ya France (Namibia)
1872 William Solomon (South Africa)
1936 John D'Arcy (New Zealand)
1979 Graham Manou (Australia)
1990 Pikky Ya France (Namibia)