March 1 down the years
365 not out
Garry Sobers goes big with his maiden Test century
Garry Sobers broke a Test batting record that stood for 20 years • PA Photos
1958
A record-breaking day for 21-year-old Garry Sobers, who turned his maiden Test century into a stunning 365 not out at Sabina Park - beating by one run the previous highest score in Tests, Len Hutton's 364 against Australia in 1938. It remained a Test record until 1994, when Sobers was in Antigua to witness Brian Lara move the bar up 10 runs. Sobers batted for 10 hours and 14 minutes, and added 446 for the second wicket with Conrad Hunte, who himself made 260. West Indies ended day three on 504 for 1. With Pakistan bowlers dropping like flies - only two of them finished uninjured, and they bowled 85.2 and 54 overs apiece - West Indies went on to a mighty 790 for 3, their highest total and the fourth-highest in Test history. Unsurprisingly, they won the match by an innings.
A record-breaking day for 21-year-old Garry Sobers, who turned his maiden Test century into a stunning 365 not out at Sabina Park - beating by one run the previous highest score in Tests, Len Hutton's 364 against Australia in 1938. It remained a Test record until 1994, when Sobers was in Antigua to witness Brian Lara move the bar up 10 runs. Sobers batted for 10 hours and 14 minutes, and added 446 for the second wicket with Conrad Hunte, who himself made 260. West Indies ended day three on 504 for 1. With Pakistan bowlers dropping like flies - only two of them finished uninjured, and they bowled 85.2 and 54 overs apiece - West Indies went on to a mighty 790 for 3, their highest total and the fourth-highest in Test history. Unsurprisingly, they won the match by an innings.
2003
The first meeting of cricket's biggest rivals for the best part of three years, and it was a corker. Pakistan had never beaten India in a World Cup encounter, and after Sachin Tendulkar had flailed 98 in 75 balls, they still hadn't. Restored to the top of the order, Tendulkar reserved special treatment for Shoaib Akhtar (10-0-72-1) and Waqar Younis (8.4-0-71-2), although Shoaib eventually got his man, and a measure of revenge, with one of the deliveries of the tournament. Earlier, Saeed Anwar had scored his 20th ODI century in a total of 273 for 7.
The first meeting of cricket's biggest rivals for the best part of three years, and it was a corker. Pakistan had never beaten India in a World Cup encounter, and after Sachin Tendulkar had flailed 98 in 75 balls, they still hadn't. Restored to the top of the order, Tendulkar reserved special treatment for Shoaib Akhtar (10-0-72-1) and Waqar Younis (8.4-0-71-2), although Shoaib eventually got his man, and a measure of revenge, with one of the deliveries of the tournament. Earlier, Saeed Anwar had scored his 20th ODI century in a total of 273 for 7.
1980
A biffer is born - with good looks and a swaggering attitude to boot. Shahid Afridi played some astonishing innings - most notably an ODI-record 37-ball hundred in his first international innings, at the age of 16. Thought to be just a one-day specialist, he grabbed his Test opportunities with both hands when he was included for the series against India in 2005-06, blitzing two centuries in consecutive matches. But he chose to retire from the format in 2006. Having two strings to his bow certainly helps, and Afridi's skiddy legspin remained seriously underrated. It was in T20s that Afridi turned rock star. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2007 World Twenty20 and two years later took Pakistan to the title with fifties in the semi-final and final. After Younis Khan retired from T20 immediately after that tournament, Afridi was appointed captain, but during Pakistan's disastrous tour of Australia, he disgraced himself by biting the ball while leading the team in an ODI. He announced his return to Tests in 2010 and was named captain for the tour of England, which included a series against Australia. But after a massive defeat at Lord's he quit the captaincy and retired from Tests again. He continued playing ODIs till the end of the 2015 World Cup and T20Is till the 2016 World T20.
A biffer is born - with good looks and a swaggering attitude to boot. Shahid Afridi played some astonishing innings - most notably an ODI-record 37-ball hundred in his first international innings, at the age of 16. Thought to be just a one-day specialist, he grabbed his Test opportunities with both hands when he was included for the series against India in 2005-06, blitzing two centuries in consecutive matches. But he chose to retire from the format in 2006. Having two strings to his bow certainly helps, and Afridi's skiddy legspin remained seriously underrated. It was in T20s that Afridi turned rock star. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2007 World Twenty20 and two years later took Pakistan to the title with fifties in the semi-final and final. After Younis Khan retired from T20 immediately after that tournament, Afridi was appointed captain, but during Pakistan's disastrous tour of Australia, he disgraced himself by biting the ball while leading the team in an ODI. He announced his return to Tests in 2010 and was named captain for the tour of England, which included a series against Australia. But after a massive defeat at Lord's he quit the captaincy and retired from Tests again. He continued playing ODIs till the end of the 2015 World Cup and T20Is till the 2016 World T20.
1990
In August 1989 you could have chosen your own odds on Wayne Larkins hitting the winning runs in a Test in Jamaica, but today it really happened, and there wasn't a dodgy bookmaker in sight. England took a first-innings lead of exactly 200 after a classic 132 from Allan Lamb, his first overseas century, and when Viv Richards briefly threatened a fightback, Devon Malcolm knocked back his leg stump. Larkins then sealed a nine-wicket win, England's first against West Indies in 16 years and 24 matches. Twenty days after Buster Douglas had knocked Mike Tyson out, sport had seen another truly astonishing upset.
In August 1989 you could have chosen your own odds on Wayne Larkins hitting the winning runs in a Test in Jamaica, but today it really happened, and there wasn't a dodgy bookmaker in sight. England took a first-innings lead of exactly 200 after a classic 132 from Allan Lamb, his first overseas century, and when Viv Richards briefly threatened a fightback, Devon Malcolm knocked back his leg stump. Larkins then sealed a nine-wicket win, England's first against West Indies in 16 years and 24 matches. Twenty days after Buster Douglas had knocked Mike Tyson out, sport had seen another truly astonishing upset.
1958
Birth of the Australian batter Wayne Phillips. Not the Geelong one-cap wonder but the dashing left-hander who is best remembered for an Ashes-turning incident at Edgbaston in 1985, when he was controversially caught by David Gower at silly mid-off via the boot of Allan Lamb. Phillips, whose middle name is Bentley, was certainly a lovely batter to watch, most notably when he slammed an outstanding 159 on debut, against Pakistan in Perth in 1983-84. But he suffered from Alec Stewart Syndrome - he kept wicket in two-thirds of his 27 Tests, even though he didn't always do so for South Australia - and his batting fell away as he kept getting in and getting out (27 of his 48 Test innings were between 10 and 37).
Birth of the Australian batter Wayne Phillips. Not the Geelong one-cap wonder but the dashing left-hander who is best remembered for an Ashes-turning incident at Edgbaston in 1985, when he was controversially caught by David Gower at silly mid-off via the boot of Allan Lamb. Phillips, whose middle name is Bentley, was certainly a lovely batter to watch, most notably when he slammed an outstanding 159 on debut, against Pakistan in Perth in 1983-84. But he suffered from Alec Stewart Syndrome - he kept wicket in two-thirds of his 27 Tests, even though he didn't always do so for South Australia - and his batting fell away as he kept getting in and getting out (27 of his 48 Test innings were between 10 and 37).
1999
Daryll Cullinan made 275 against New Zealand in Auckland today - the highest score in South Africa's Test history, until Graeme Smith overhauled it at Edgbaston in 2003. Cullinan's masterclass came after New Zealand won the toss as well - South Africa hammered 621 for 5 declared, but couldn't force victory, thanks mainly to the longest duck in Test history: 101 minutes of stoic resistance from Geoff Allott. Though New Zealand still had to follow on, Allott's innings drew plenty of sting out of South Africa, and they did not have time to bowl the Kiwis out a second time.
Daryll Cullinan made 275 against New Zealand in Auckland today - the highest score in South Africa's Test history, until Graeme Smith overhauled it at Edgbaston in 2003. Cullinan's masterclass came after New Zealand won the toss as well - South Africa hammered 621 for 5 declared, but couldn't force victory, thanks mainly to the longest duck in Test history: 101 minutes of stoic resistance from Geoff Allott. Though New Zealand still had to follow on, Allott's innings drew plenty of sting out of South Africa, and they did not have time to bowl the Kiwis out a second time.
1992
A lucky escape for Pakistan - and a World Cup-winning one too. They were routed for 74 by England on a sweaty track in Adelaide, with Derek Pringle returning figures of 8.2-5-8-3 and Dermot Reeve 5-3-2-1. But rain washed out the match, and gave Pakistan a point that was the difference between qualification for the semi-finals and an early exit. There was more to this game than meets the eye, though: the farcical "highest-scoring overs" rain-regulation rules meant England's target was revised to 64 off 16 overs. When rain stopped play, they were 24 for 1 after eight, and Ian Botham was struggling to locate the edge, let alone the middle.
A lucky escape for Pakistan - and a World Cup-winning one too. They were routed for 74 by England on a sweaty track in Adelaide, with Derek Pringle returning figures of 8.2-5-8-3 and Dermot Reeve 5-3-2-1. But rain washed out the match, and gave Pakistan a point that was the difference between qualification for the semi-finals and an early exit. There was more to this game than meets the eye, though: the farcical "highest-scoring overs" rain-regulation rules meant England's target was revised to 64 off 16 overs. When rain stopped play, they were 24 for 1 after eight, and Ian Botham was struggling to locate the edge, let alone the middle.
1992
On the same day, a Brisbane classic. After two losses in their first two matches, Australia were drinking in the last-chance saloon against India, but a charming 93 from Mohammad Azharuddin threatened to make them sip no longer. Enter those rain rules, which lopped three overs off India's innings but only two runs off their target. In the end they needed four off the last ball, but Venkatapathy Raju was run out and Australia breathed again, victorious by just one run.
On the same day, a Brisbane classic. After two losses in their first two matches, Australia were drinking in the last-chance saloon against India, but a charming 93 from Mohammad Azharuddin threatened to make them sip no longer. Enter those rain rules, which lopped three overs off India's innings but only two runs off their target. In the end they needed four off the last ball, but Venkatapathy Raju was run out and Australia breathed again, victorious by just one run.
1921
An Ashes whitewash, the first ever. Australia put the seal on it in Sydney today with another comprehensive victory, this one by nine wickets. That great legspinner Arthur Mailey took another seven wickets to take his total to 36, once a record for Australia in a five-match series against the old enemy. Eighty-six years later Australia completed their second whitewash of England, again at home.
An Ashes whitewash, the first ever. Australia put the seal on it in Sydney today with another comprehensive victory, this one by nine wickets. That great legspinner Arthur Mailey took another seven wickets to take his total to 36, once a record for Australia in a five-match series against the old enemy. Eighty-six years later Australia completed their second whitewash of England, again at home.
2024
Four-time title-holders and defending champions Comilla Victorians came a cropper against Fortune Barishal, who beat them decisively in the BPL final in Mirpur. Barishal's bowlers worked as a unit, Kyle Mayers and James Fuller taking incisive wickets early and Taijul Islam and Obed McCoy bowling tight lines to restrict Comilla to 154. Tamim Iqbal set the pace with a quick 39, and Myers also starred with the bat: his 46 brought Barishal to the brink and David Miller and Mahmadullah took them to an easy win. It was the side's maiden BPL trophy.
Four-time title-holders and defending champions Comilla Victorians came a cropper against Fortune Barishal, who beat them decisively in the BPL final in Mirpur. Barishal's bowlers worked as a unit, Kyle Mayers and James Fuller taking incisive wickets early and Taijul Islam and Obed McCoy bowling tight lines to restrict Comilla to 154. Tamim Iqbal set the pace with a quick 39, and Myers also starred with the bat: his 46 brought Barishal to the brink and David Miller and Mahmadullah took them to an easy win. It was the side's maiden BPL trophy.
1955
From the sublime to the ridiculous. Pakistan and India finished off the first five-Test series to be drawn 0-0 with a rain-affected stalemate in Karachi. Insomniacs thought it couldn't get any better than this, but it did: it was the start of a chilling 35-year run in which 33 out of 41 Tests between these two sides were drawn.
From the sublime to the ridiculous. Pakistan and India finished off the first five-Test series to be drawn 0-0 with a rain-affected stalemate in Karachi. Insomniacs thought it couldn't get any better than this, but it did: it was the start of a chilling 35-year run in which 33 out of 41 Tests between these two sides were drawn.
1953
Sri Lanka's first captain is born. Bandula Warnapura led them against England in 1981-82, and in their first four Tests, before he joined a rebel tour to South Africa a year later and was banned for life.
Sri Lanka's first captain is born. Bandula Warnapura led them against England in 1981-82, and in their first four Tests, before he joined a rebel tour to South Africa a year later and was banned for life.
1981
Left-arm fast-medium bowler Thilan Thushara made his first-class debut in 1998-99 and after a few years of steady improvement caught the eye of the selectors and made his Test debut against West Indies in 2003. Six years later his ODI debut came against the same side. On the 2008 West Indies tour Thushara played three Tests and one ODI, but it was his limited-overs career that took off. He took 10 wickets in the ODI series against India that year, including 5 for 47 in Colombo. In 2009 he returned to the Test side and took 12 wickets in three Tests against Pakistan and eight in two Tests against New Zealand.
Left-arm fast-medium bowler Thilan Thushara made his first-class debut in 1998-99 and after a few years of steady improvement caught the eye of the selectors and made his Test debut against West Indies in 2003. Six years later his ODI debut came against the same side. On the 2008 West Indies tour Thushara played three Tests and one ODI, but it was his limited-overs career that took off. He took 10 wickets in the ODI series against India that year, including 5 for 47 in Colombo. In 2009 he returned to the Test side and took 12 wickets in three Tests against Pakistan and eight in two Tests against New Zealand.
1980
The birth of Abdur Rehman, a left-arm spinner who made his debut for Pakistan at the age of 26. Rehman took eight wickets at home against South Africa in his Test debut in 2007 - but played only one more Test before being dropped for three years. Upon his return in 2010, he had success for a more sustained period. In 2012 he helped terrorise England, then the No. 1 Test team, in the UAE with 19 wickets at 16.73. The same year he became Somerset's overseas player, but then picked up a 12-week ban for smoking cannabis.
The birth of Abdur Rehman, a left-arm spinner who made his debut for Pakistan at the age of 26. Rehman took eight wickets at home against South Africa in his Test debut in 2007 - but played only one more Test before being dropped for three years. Upon his return in 2010, he had success for a more sustained period. In 2012 he helped terrorise England, then the No. 1 Test team, in the UAE with 19 wickets at 16.73. The same year he became Somerset's overseas player, but then picked up a 12-week ban for smoking cannabis.
2014
The day South Africa broke their Under-19 World Cup jinx to beat crowd favourites Pakistan by six wickets in a one-sided final in Dubai. This was South Africa's third appearance in the final of the U-19 World Cup and first since 2008. A bowler's tournament culminated in a final where Corbin Bosch and Co bundled out Pakistan for 131. South Africa's captain Aiden Markram then soaked up the pressure with an unbeaten fifty to steer his team to a memorable win.
The day South Africa broke their Under-19 World Cup jinx to beat crowd favourites Pakistan by six wickets in a one-sided final in Dubai. This was South Africa's third appearance in the final of the U-19 World Cup and first since 2008. A bowler's tournament culminated in a final where Corbin Bosch and Co bundled out Pakistan for 131. South Africa's captain Aiden Markram then soaked up the pressure with an unbeaten fifty to steer his team to a memorable win.
Other birthdays
1888 Ewart Astill (England)
1930 Coimbatarao Gopinath (India)
1950 Shahid Israr (Pakistan)
1961 Sajjad Akbar (Pakistan)
1968 Salil Ankola (India)
1968 Sanjeewa Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka)
1969 Azam Khan (Pakistan)
1971 Zahoor Elahi (Pakistan)
1971 Anisur Rahman (Bangladesh)
1974 Shane Harwood (Australia)
1980 Abdur Rehman (Pakistan)
1990 Liam Dawson (England)
1888 Ewart Astill (England)
1930 Coimbatarao Gopinath (India)
1950 Shahid Israr (Pakistan)
1961 Sajjad Akbar (Pakistan)
1968 Salil Ankola (India)
1968 Sanjeewa Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka)
1969 Azam Khan (Pakistan)
1971 Zahoor Elahi (Pakistan)
1971 Anisur Rahman (Bangladesh)
1974 Shane Harwood (Australia)
1980 Abdur Rehman (Pakistan)
1990 Liam Dawson (England)