January 5 down the years
Birth of a one-eyed Tiger
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi makes his entrance
Tiger Pataudi played 46 Tests for India • PA Photos
1941
Birth of Mansur Ali Khan, aka the Nawab of Pataudi junior. The Nawab of Pataudi senior had scored a Test century for England, but his son "Tiger" played exclusively for India, 40 times as captain (in 46 Tests), scoring 2793 runs and six centuries. Not bad for someone whose Test career didn't begin until a car crash had cost him the sight in one eye. Pataudi Jr was credited with the strategy that saw India play a spin-heavy attack for much of the 1970s, and it was under him that they won their first Test overseas, against New Zealand in 1968. Pataudi, arguably India's finest captain, first took charge in 1962, at 21, becoming the youngest captain in Tests, a record that stood for over 40 years. He retired in 1975, and served as a match referee between 1993 and 1996. He died of a lung infection in 2011.
Birth of Mansur Ali Khan, aka the Nawab of Pataudi junior. The Nawab of Pataudi senior had scored a Test century for England, but his son "Tiger" played exclusively for India, 40 times as captain (in 46 Tests), scoring 2793 runs and six centuries. Not bad for someone whose Test career didn't begin until a car crash had cost him the sight in one eye. Pataudi Jr was credited with the strategy that saw India play a spin-heavy attack for much of the 1970s, and it was under him that they won their first Test overseas, against New Zealand in 1968. Pataudi, arguably India's finest captain, first took charge in 1962, at 21, becoming the youngest captain in Tests, a record that stood for over 40 years. He retired in 1975, and served as a match referee between 1993 and 1996. He died of a lung infection in 2011.
2022
Bangladesh pulled off one of the all-time-great upsets when they beat world Test champions New Zealand by eight wickets in Mount Maunganui. Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain was the hero, ripping through the home side in their second innings to take six wickets, bowling them out for 169. Earlier in the game, Mominul Haque and Liton Das set the platform with a fifth-wicket stand of 158 that took their team 130 runs ahead on first innings. For Bangladesh, who were coming off a wretched run, having won just three Tests of their 15 over a three-year period, it was only the sixth win in Tests away from home. It was also their first win in New Zealand in any format, and it brought to an end a 17-match unbeaten streak at home for New Zealand.
Bangladesh pulled off one of the all-time-great upsets when they beat world Test champions New Zealand by eight wickets in Mount Maunganui. Fast bowler Ebadot Hossain was the hero, ripping through the home side in their second innings to take six wickets, bowling them out for 169. Earlier in the game, Mominul Haque and Liton Das set the platform with a fifth-wicket stand of 158 that took their team 130 runs ahead on first innings. For Bangladesh, who were coming off a wretched run, having won just three Tests of their 15 over a three-year period, it was only the sixth win in Tests away from home. It was also their first win in New Zealand in any format, and it brought to an end a 17-match unbeaten streak at home for New Zealand.
1971
In the first ever one-day international, in Melbourne, John Edrich was Man of the Match for his top score of 82, but England's bowlers were too expensive to stop Australia winning by five wickets. The match was played only because the third Test had been washed out. To the astonishment of the Australian board, 46,000 turned up - it was then they realised that this one-day malarkey might be a good, money-spinning idea.
In the first ever one-day international, in Melbourne, John Edrich was Man of the Match for his top score of 82, but England's bowlers were too expensive to stop Australia winning by five wickets. The match was played only because the third Test had been washed out. To the astonishment of the Australian board, 46,000 turned up - it was then they realised that this one-day malarkey might be a good, money-spinning idea.
2007
Australia drubbed England 5-0 in the Ashes - only the second whitewash in the bilateral contest - with a win in the final Test in Sydney. It was a fitting way to get over the loss in 2005, and also a fitting farewell for Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer - the Test careers of all three came to a close with the series.
Australia drubbed England 5-0 in the Ashes - only the second whitewash in the bilateral contest - with a win in the final Test in Sydney. It was a fitting way to get over the loss in 2005, and also a fitting farewell for Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer - the Test careers of all three came to a close with the series.
2014
Seven years later, they whitewashed England again. They did it in style, wiping the floor with the old enemy to the tune of 281 runs on day three of the fifth Test, in Sydney. It brought to a close a one-sided series that gave the lie to the 3-0 scoreline in England's favour the previous summer. Mitchell Johnson was head and shoulders a deserving Man of the Series for his 37 wickets at an eye-popping 13.97 each. In Sydney, as at points earlier in the tour, England flattered to deceive when they had Australia on the mat at 97 for 5 in the first innings, only for Steve Smith to come to the rescue with his second century of the series. In the fourth Test, in Melbourne, Chris Rogers, another of Australia's finds of the series, swung the deal with a fifty and a hundred, and Nathan Lyon chipped in with five wickets in England's second innings. The lone bright spot in the visitors' ill-starred campaign (which featured the retirement of Graeme Swann after the series was lost 3-0 in Perth) was debutant allrounder Ben Stokes, who took 15 wickets and made 279 runs in the four matches he played.
Seven years later, they whitewashed England again. They did it in style, wiping the floor with the old enemy to the tune of 281 runs on day three of the fifth Test, in Sydney. It brought to a close a one-sided series that gave the lie to the 3-0 scoreline in England's favour the previous summer. Mitchell Johnson was head and shoulders a deserving Man of the Series for his 37 wickets at an eye-popping 13.97 each. In Sydney, as at points earlier in the tour, England flattered to deceive when they had Australia on the mat at 97 for 5 in the first innings, only for Steve Smith to come to the rescue with his second century of the series. In the fourth Test, in Melbourne, Chris Rogers, another of Australia's finds of the series, swung the deal with a fifty and a hundred, and Nathan Lyon chipped in with five wickets in England's second innings. The lone bright spot in the visitors' ill-starred campaign (which featured the retirement of Graeme Swann after the series was lost 3-0 in Perth) was debutant allrounder Ben Stokes, who took 15 wickets and made 279 runs in the four matches he played.
1993
A maiden, and epic, Test century for Brian Lara turned into a crucial and commanding one, the first of nine against Australia. Wisden described his 277 in Sydney as an innings of "breathtaking quality" which turned a series that was slipping from West Indies. Richie Richardson, who scored a century of his own, later said: "I can hardly remember my hundred. It was difficult playing and being a spectator at the same time." At the close on the third day Lara had made 124.
A maiden, and epic, Test century for Brian Lara turned into a crucial and commanding one, the first of nine against Australia. Wisden described his 277 in Sydney as an innings of "breathtaking quality" which turned a series that was slipping from West Indies. Richie Richardson, who scored a century of his own, later said: "I can hardly remember my hundred. It was difficult playing and being a spectator at the same time." At the close on the third day Lara had made 124.
2016
The day a Mumbai schoolboy scored over 1000 runs, in one innings. Pranav Dhanawade, 15, smashed an unbeaten 1009 not out off 327 deliveries to notch up the highest individual score in minor cricket, breaking a 117-year-old record, going past Albert Collins' 628 not out, scored in 1899. Representing Smt KC Gandhi School, Dhanwade hit 129 fours and 59 sixes against Arya Gurukul. He ended the opening day of the two-day game on 652 and went past 1000 in the second session on the final day before his team declared their innings at 1465 for 3.
The day a Mumbai schoolboy scored over 1000 runs, in one innings. Pranav Dhanawade, 15, smashed an unbeaten 1009 not out off 327 deliveries to notch up the highest individual score in minor cricket, breaking a 117-year-old record, going past Albert Collins' 628 not out, scored in 1899. Representing Smt KC Gandhi School, Dhanwade hit 129 fours and 59 sixes against Arya Gurukul. He ended the opening day of the two-day game on 652 and went past 1000 in the second session on the final day before his team declared their innings at 1465 for 3.
1904
England won by 185 runs in Melbourne thanks to the slow left-arm of Wilfred Rhodes, who took 7 for 56 and 8 for 68. Australia's totals would have been much lower if eight catches hadn't been dropped off Rhodes' bowling.
England won by 185 runs in Melbourne thanks to the slow left-arm of Wilfred Rhodes, who took 7 for 56 and 8 for 68. Australia's totals would have been much lower if eight catches hadn't been dropped off Rhodes' bowling.
2021
South Africa put paid to Sri Lanka in two days and a bit to sweep the Test series 2-0 with a ten-wicket win in Johannesburg. Sri Lanka, with their injury list nearly in the double digits, were not expected to make waves, but in the event, Dimuth Karunaratne notched up his first Test hundred in South Africa. For the home side, Anrich Nortje, bowling fast and short, had a six-for; and Dean Elgar made a century in his team's first innings, and led the small fourth-innings chase at breakneck speed.
South Africa put paid to Sri Lanka in two days and a bit to sweep the Test series 2-0 with a ten-wicket win in Johannesburg. Sri Lanka, with their injury list nearly in the double digits, were not expected to make waves, but in the event, Dimuth Karunaratne notched up his first Test hundred in South Africa. For the home side, Anrich Nortje, bowling fast and short, had a six-for; and Dean Elgar made a century in his team's first innings, and led the small fourth-innings chase at breakneck speed.
1928
One of Pakistan's early stalwarts was born. Wicketkeeper, batter and captain, Imtiaz Ahmed played in 41 Tests from 1952-53 to 1962, making 93 dismissals, including seven catches, all off Fazal Mahmood, in Pakistan's first Test win against England, at The Oval in 1954. The highest of his three Test centuries was 209, at No. 8, against New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56.
One of Pakistan's early stalwarts was born. Wicketkeeper, batter and captain, Imtiaz Ahmed played in 41 Tests from 1952-53 to 1962, making 93 dismissals, including seven catches, all off Fazal Mahmood, in Pakistan's first Test win against England, at The Oval in 1954. The highest of his three Test centuries was 209, at No. 8, against New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56.
1937
You can't keep Don Bradman off these pages. At the MCG he shared another huge stand against England, adding 346 with Jack Fingleton, then the highest stand for the sixth wicket.
You can't keep Don Bradman off these pages. At the MCG he shared another huge stand against England, adding 346 with Jack Fingleton, then the highest stand for the sixth wicket.
1962
Birth of Brendon Kuruppu, who set two Test records while making his debut for Sri Lanka, against New Zealand at the Colombo Cricket Club. His 201 was at the time the highest not-out score by a batter playing in his first Test, let alone his first Test innings and it was the slowest Test double-ton of all time. Kuruppu's innings lasted 777 minutes, which must be some kind of devil's number as it is three minutes short of 13 hours. He kept wicket too, so he had his pads on for the entire match.
Birth of Brendon Kuruppu, who set two Test records while making his debut for Sri Lanka, against New Zealand at the Colombo Cricket Club. His 201 was at the time the highest not-out score by a batter playing in his first Test, let alone his first Test innings and it was the slowest Test double-ton of all time. Kuruppu's innings lasted 777 minutes, which must be some kind of devil's number as it is three minutes short of 13 hours. He kept wicket too, so he had his pads on for the entire match.
1984
In his final Test innings, against Pakistan in Sydney, Greg Chappell signed off a great career with an innings of 182. Against West Indies eight years earlier, he'd made the same score on the same ground on the same day.
In his final Test innings, against Pakistan in Sydney, Greg Chappell signed off a great career with an innings of 182. Against West Indies eight years earlier, he'd made the same score on the same ground on the same day.
1941
Bob Cunis, an honest seamer and lower-order scrapper, played 20 Tests for New Zealand between 1964 and 1972 with limited success. He made only one fifty and took only one five-for, the latter against England in Auckland in 1970-71, when he bowled Alan Knott four runs short of a second hundred in the match. Cunis went on to coach New Zealand for a time, and in his playing days was also a very handy rugby three-quarter.
Bob Cunis, an honest seamer and lower-order scrapper, played 20 Tests for New Zealand between 1964 and 1972 with limited success. He made only one fifty and took only one five-for, the latter against England in Auckland in 1970-71, when he bowled Alan Knott four runs short of a second hundred in the match. Cunis went on to coach New Zealand for a time, and in his playing days was also a very handy rugby three-quarter.
1996
After being called for throwing in a Test match (see December 26), Muthiah Muralidaran had to suffer the same humiliation in a one-day international, against West Indies in Brisbane.
After being called for throwing in a Test match (see December 26), Muthiah Muralidaran had to suffer the same humiliation in a one-day international, against West Indies in Brisbane.
2017
South Africa marched to an unassailable 2-0 series lead, crushing Sri Lanka by 282 runs in the New Year Test at Newlands. Kagiso Rabada was the standout performer, with match figures of 10 for 92, while Vernon Philander kept his record at the venue intact with 7 for 75, taking his ground figures to 57 wickets at 18.73. The platform had been laid by Dean Elgar's solid top-order hundred in the first innings. Sri Lanka's batters could not follow his lead, and looked out of their depth in seamer-friendly conditions.
South Africa marched to an unassailable 2-0 series lead, crushing Sri Lanka by 282 runs in the New Year Test at Newlands. Kagiso Rabada was the standout performer, with match figures of 10 for 92, while Vernon Philander kept his record at the venue intact with 7 for 75, taking his ground figures to 57 wickets at 18.73. The platform had been laid by Dean Elgar's solid top-order hundred in the first innings. Sri Lanka's batters could not follow his lead, and looked out of their depth in seamer-friendly conditions.
Other birthdays
1920 Mohammad Aslam (Pakistan)
1948 Parthasarthi Sharma (India)
1958 Ezra Moseley (West Indies)
1977 Jamaluddin Ahmed (Bangladesh)
1977 Garnett Kruger South Africa
1920 Mohammad Aslam (Pakistan)
1948 Parthasarthi Sharma (India)
1958 Ezra Moseley (West Indies)
1977 Jamaluddin Ahmed (Bangladesh)
1977 Garnett Kruger South Africa