May 28 down the years
Pakistan's crisis man
Misbah-ul-Haq is born
Misbah-ul-Haq equalled Viv Richards' record for the fastest century, off 56 balls • Associated Press
1974
Though Misbah-ul-Haq, born today, made his Test debut in 2001, it was only in 2007 that he became a regular member of the Pakistan side in all three formats. He starred in the World T20 that year, after getting an unexpected call-up ahead of Mohammad Yousuf, and nearly took Pakistan to victory in the final. He did little in the series that followed, against South Africa, but made 464 runs in three Tests in India. He rescued Pakistan several times with some spirited rearguard efforts and was made the team vice-captain in 2008. In 2011, after the World Cup, Misbah replaced Shahid Afridi as captain, and led the side to Test victories over Sri Lanka and England, who were whitewashed 3-0. However, a few months before the 2012 World T20, he stepped down as captain from the format as Pakistan looked to build a younger side. In 2014 against Australia, in a series in the UAE where Pakistan whitewashed the visitors 2-0, he smashed a Test hundred off only 56 balls, equalling Viv Richards' record for the fastest century. He quit ODIs after the 2015 World Cup but remained the Test captain, leading Pakistan to a 2-2 series draw in England in 2016. But an abject defeat in Australia later in the year put pressure on his job. He retired, along with Younis Khan, at the end of Pakistan's tour of West Indies in May 2017.
Though Misbah-ul-Haq, born today, made his Test debut in 2001, it was only in 2007 that he became a regular member of the Pakistan side in all three formats. He starred in the World T20 that year, after getting an unexpected call-up ahead of Mohammad Yousuf, and nearly took Pakistan to victory in the final. He did little in the series that followed, against South Africa, but made 464 runs in three Tests in India. He rescued Pakistan several times with some spirited rearguard efforts and was made the team vice-captain in 2008. In 2011, after the World Cup, Misbah replaced Shahid Afridi as captain, and led the side to Test victories over Sri Lanka and England, who were whitewashed 3-0. However, a few months before the 2012 World T20, he stepped down as captain from the format as Pakistan looked to build a younger side. In 2014 against Australia, in a series in the UAE where Pakistan whitewashed the visitors 2-0, he smashed a Test hundred off only 56 balls, equalling Viv Richards' record for the fastest century. He quit ODIs after the 2015 World Cup but remained the Test captain, leading Pakistan to a 2-2 series draw in England in 2016. But an abject defeat in Australia later in the year put pressure on his job. He retired, along with Younis Khan, at the end of Pakistan's tour of West Indies in May 2017.
1956
In Kingston, one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters of them all is born. Jeff Dujon was a wonderfully athletic keeper, and an exhilarating sight standing back to the West Indian pace battery of the 1980s. He was good enough to play his first two Tests as a specialist batter, and to open in one Test in England in 1988, and to make 3322 Test runs in all.
In Kingston, one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters of them all is born. Jeff Dujon was a wonderfully athletic keeper, and an exhilarating sight standing back to the West Indian pace battery of the 1980s. He was good enough to play his first two Tests as a specialist batter, and to open in one Test in England in 1988, and to make 3322 Test runs in all.
1912
Two Test hat-tricks in one day for Australian legspinner Jimmy Matthews. Unsurprisingly, it's a unique feat, but what's even more amazing is that Matthews didn't need the help of any fielders: two of the six were bowled, two lbw, and two caught-and-bowled. This came in the first match of the Triangular Tournament - a nine-Test series that also involved England - as Australia routed South Africa by an innings and 88 runs at Old Trafford. Bizarrely, Matthews never played after that tournament.
Two Test hat-tricks in one day for Australian legspinner Jimmy Matthews. Unsurprisingly, it's a unique feat, but what's even more amazing is that Matthews didn't need the help of any fielders: two of the six were bowled, two lbw, and two caught-and-bowled. This came in the first match of the Triangular Tournament - a nine-Test series that also involved England - as Australia routed South Africa by an innings and 88 runs at Old Trafford. Bizarrely, Matthews never played after that tournament.
1988
Graeme Hick rumbled along to seemingly inexorable greatness, as he became only the second man since the war (New Zealand's Glenn Turner was the other) to make 1000 first-class runs in England by the end of May. And he did it against West Indies too, punishing his future torturers Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh in a blistering 172. The milestone came up when he reached 153. It's richly ironic that Ambrose was the bowler, such was the devastating impact he would later have on Hick's career.
Graeme Hick rumbled along to seemingly inexorable greatness, as he became only the second man since the war (New Zealand's Glenn Turner was the other) to make 1000 first-class runs in England by the end of May. And he did it against West Indies too, punishing his future torturers Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh in a blistering 172. The milestone came up when he reached 153. It's richly ironic that Ambrose was the bowler, such was the devastating impact he would later have on Hick's career.
1934
Nobody, not even Hick, has scored more than the great Jack Hobbs' 199 first-class centuries, and on this day at Old Trafford he made his last, for Surrey against Lancashire, at the age of 51 years and 163 days.
Nobody, not even Hick, has scored more than the great Jack Hobbs' 199 first-class centuries, and on this day at Old Trafford he made his last, for Surrey against Lancashire, at the age of 51 years and 163 days.
1977
Birth of Ashwell Prince, who made it to the South African squad because of the controversial quota system, but quickly justified his place with a fighting 49 against Australia in 2001-02. In 2005, he made his first century, against Zimbabwe in Centurion, and a month later he got an overseas hundred in the West Indies. In early 2006, Prince got his first hundred in Australia but struggled against Shane Warne during the series. In July 2006 he was named South Africa's first black captain in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith. Though South Africa lost the series, Prince remained in excellent form through the year - two half-centuries in Sri Lanka and 97 and 121 against India. His 149 at Headingley in 2008 came in a ten-wicket win for South Africa and his 150 against Australia in Cape Town in 2009 came in an innings win. Prince played his last Test in 2011 and announced his retirement from international cricket three years later.
Birth of Ashwell Prince, who made it to the South African squad because of the controversial quota system, but quickly justified his place with a fighting 49 against Australia in 2001-02. In 2005, he made his first century, against Zimbabwe in Centurion, and a month later he got an overseas hundred in the West Indies. In early 2006, Prince got his first hundred in Australia but struggled against Shane Warne during the series. In July 2006 he was named South Africa's first black captain in the absence of the injured Graeme Smith. Though South Africa lost the series, Prince remained in excellent form through the year - two half-centuries in Sri Lanka and 97 and 121 against India. His 149 at Headingley in 2008 came in a ten-wicket win for South Africa and his 150 against Australia in Cape Town in 2009 came in an innings win. Prince played his last Test in 2011 and announced his retirement from international cricket three years later.
2011
A lot had changed in the IPL's fourth season - the number of teams, the players, the format - but the name remained the same on the winner's trophy. This time, Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore - who were making their second appearance in the final - in a one-sided match in front of their home crowd. M Vijay's blistering 95 set up the game, and he and Michael Hussey scored more than two-thirds of Chennai's 205. With Chris Gayle, the tournament's top run-getter, in their side, Bangalore's fans might have expected a thrilling chase, but their title hopes ended when he was dismissed for a duck in the first over.
A lot had changed in the IPL's fourth season - the number of teams, the players, the format - but the name remained the same on the winner's trophy. This time, Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore - who were making their second appearance in the final - in a one-sided match in front of their home crowd. M Vijay's blistering 95 set up the game, and he and Michael Hussey scored more than two-thirds of Chennai's 205. With Chris Gayle, the tournament's top run-getter, in their side, Bangalore's fans might have expected a thrilling chase, but their title hopes ended when he was dismissed for a duck in the first over.
1880
A record 39 wickets fell on the first day of the match between Oxford University and MCC at the Old Magdalen ground in Oxford. Alfred Shaw took 12 for 53 for MCC and then contributed to a last-wicket stand of 18 as MCC crawled past their target of 40 with one wicket to spare.
A record 39 wickets fell on the first day of the match between Oxford University and MCC at the Old Magdalen ground in Oxford. Alfred Shaw took 12 for 53 for MCC and then contributed to a last-wicket stand of 18 as MCC crawled past their target of 40 with one wicket to spare.
1908
George Hirst was the destroyer as Yorkshire bowled Nottinghamshire out twice in a day for 17 and 15. Hirst took 12 for 19 as Yorkshire won by an innings and 341 runs.
George Hirst was the destroyer as Yorkshire bowled Nottinghamshire out twice in a day for 17 and 15. Hirst took 12 for 19 as Yorkshire won by an innings and 341 runs.
1965
A drinks break with a difference. It was so cold in the first Test between England and New Zealand at Edgbaston that hot coffee was twice served to the batters on this, the second day. The caffeine didn't do much for Ken Barrington, who was stuck on 85 for 20 overs, made 137 in over seven hours, and was dropped for the next Test for slow batting, even though his innings anchored England's nine-wicket win. Wisden noted that "seldom in England has a Test been contested in such cold, cheerless weather".
A drinks break with a difference. It was so cold in the first Test between England and New Zealand at Edgbaston that hot coffee was twice served to the batters on this, the second day. The caffeine didn't do much for Ken Barrington, who was stuck on 85 for 20 overs, made 137 in over seven hours, and was dropped for the next Test for slow batting, even though his innings anchored England's nine-wicket win. Wisden noted that "seldom in England has a Test been contested in such cold, cheerless weather".
1911
Birth of the South African quickie Bob Crisp, who played nine Tests in the 1930s - and is the only man to twice take four wickets in four balls in first-class cricket - but was better known for his off-field exploits. He climbed Kilimanjaro twice in two weeks, was wounded five times as a tank commander in the Western Desert, was awarded the MC, and also wrote for the Daily Express, and founded the magazine Drum. Crisp died in Colchester in 1994.
Birth of the South African quickie Bob Crisp, who played nine Tests in the 1930s - and is the only man to twice take four wickets in four balls in first-class cricket - but was better known for his off-field exploits. He climbed Kilimanjaro twice in two weeks, was wounded five times as a tank commander in the Western Desert, was awarded the MC, and also wrote for the Daily Express, and founded the magazine Drum. Crisp died in Colchester in 1994.
Other birthdays
1853 Hamilton Hamilton (England)
1864 Basil Grieve (England)
1929 Leslie Wight (West Indies)
1949 Jacqueline Wainwright (England)
1966 Gavin Robertson (Australia)
1968 Shakeel Khan (Pakistan)
1969 Rajani Venugopal (India)
1972 Barbara McDonald (Ireland)
1972 Jacob-Jan Esmeijer (Netherlands)
1853 Hamilton Hamilton (England)
1864 Basil Grieve (England)
1929 Leslie Wight (West Indies)
1949 Jacqueline Wainwright (England)
1966 Gavin Robertson (Australia)
1968 Shakeel Khan (Pakistan)
1969 Rajani Venugopal (India)
1972 Barbara McDonald (Ireland)
1972 Jacob-Jan Esmeijer (Netherlands)