October 8 down the years
Zak attack
An Indian spearhead is born
Zaheer Khan: second on India's fast-bowling charts • Getty Images
1978
Second only to Kapil Dev on the list of Indian fast bowlers, Zaheer Khan was born on this day. He announced his arrival at the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy with two full, inswinging deliveries that did for Steve Waugh and Daryll Cullinan, and was immediately thrust into Test cricket as partner and understudy to Javagal Srinath. Zaheer struggled during his first 20 Tests but came into his own in 2002-03, reversing the old and new balls skilfully. He took consecutive five-wicket hauls in New Zealand and followed that up with a fine 2003 World Cup - bar the final. A hamstring injury saw him relegated to bit-part performer as Indian cricket scripted some of its finest moments away, but he forced his way back after a successful season for Worcestershire in 2006, and the following year he helped India win their fifth Test on English soil. On the 2011 tour of England, Zaheer pulled a hamstring on the first day of the series and India failed to win a single international match on the trip. He returned to Test cricket later that year in Australia, but fitness remained a concern and he was dropped after the tour of New Zealand in 2014, where he took a five-for in what proved to be his last Test.
Second only to Kapil Dev on the list of Indian fast bowlers, Zaheer Khan was born on this day. He announced his arrival at the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy with two full, inswinging deliveries that did for Steve Waugh and Daryll Cullinan, and was immediately thrust into Test cricket as partner and understudy to Javagal Srinath. Zaheer struggled during his first 20 Tests but came into his own in 2002-03, reversing the old and new balls skilfully. He took consecutive five-wicket hauls in New Zealand and followed that up with a fine 2003 World Cup - bar the final. A hamstring injury saw him relegated to bit-part performer as Indian cricket scripted some of its finest moments away, but he forced his way back after a successful season for Worcestershire in 2006, and the following year he helped India win their fifth Test on English soil. On the 2011 tour of England, Zaheer pulled a hamstring on the first day of the series and India failed to win a single international match on the trip. He returned to Test cricket later that year in Australia, but fitness remained a concern and he was dropped after the tour of New Zealand in 2014, where he took a five-for in what proved to be his last Test.
1928
One of Australia's greatest batters is born. Neil Harvey was a gloriously elegant left-hander who remains his country's youngest centurion - he was 19 years and 121 days old when he stroked 153 against India in Melbourne in 1947-48. He followed up with 112 in his next Test innings, at Headingley the following summer, when the Wisden Almanack said he and Keith Miller "scattered England's attack in a hurricane assault". It was a taste of things to come. In his first 13 Test innings, before he had turned 22, Harvey hit a remarkable six centuries. Another left-hander, Neil Harvey Fairbrother, was named after him. The original Neil Harvey went on to become a Test selector, and was awarded the MBE for his services to cricket.
One of Australia's greatest batters is born. Neil Harvey was a gloriously elegant left-hander who remains his country's youngest centurion - he was 19 years and 121 days old when he stroked 153 against India in Melbourne in 1947-48. He followed up with 112 in his next Test innings, at Headingley the following summer, when the Wisden Almanack said he and Keith Miller "scattered England's attack in a hurricane assault". It was a taste of things to come. In his first 13 Test innings, before he had turned 22, Harvey hit a remarkable six centuries. Another left-hander, Neil Harvey Fairbrother, was named after him. The original Neil Harvey went on to become a Test selector, and was awarded the MBE for his services to cricket.
1985
Birth of left-hand Pakistan batter Fawad Alam, who started his international career with a first-ball duck in an ODI against Sri Lanka, but more than made up for it with 168 on Test debut two years later in 2009 against the same side. The selectors then went on to look at him mostly as a limited-overs option, but he was dropped from the one-day side after the home series against South Africa in UAE in 2010, and waited nearly four years for a comeback, which came with a century in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. The wait in Tests was longer - Alam returned to the national side in 2020 after ten years, and he racked up four hundreds in nine Tests in the year that followed.
Birth of left-hand Pakistan batter Fawad Alam, who started his international career with a first-ball duck in an ODI against Sri Lanka, but more than made up for it with 168 on Test debut two years later in 2009 against the same side. The selectors then went on to look at him mostly as a limited-overs option, but he was dropped from the one-day side after the home series against South Africa in UAE in 2010, and waited nearly four years for a comeback, which came with a century in the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka. The wait in Tests was longer - Alam returned to the national side in 2020 after ten years, and he racked up four hundreds in nine Tests in the year that followed.
1997
A couple of notable Test firsts on a frustrating day for South Africa in Rawalpindi. Ali Naqvi and Azhar Mahmood became the first pair of debutants to score centuries in the same innings, and Azhar added 151 for the last wicket with Mushtaq Ahmed, equalling the Test record set by Brian Hastings and Richard Collinge for New Zealand against Pakistan in Auckland in 1972-73.
A couple of notable Test firsts on a frustrating day for South Africa in Rawalpindi. Ali Naqvi and Azhar Mahmood became the first pair of debutants to score centuries in the same innings, and Azhar added 151 for the last wicket with Mushtaq Ahmed, equalling the Test record set by Brian Hastings and Richard Collinge for New Zealand against Pakistan in Auckland in 1972-73.
1872
Albert Knight, who was born today, would pray before going in to bat - and even at the wicket on occasion. He was a Methodist whose predilection for prayer once apparently made Walter Brearley consider reporting him to the MCC. Knight only played three Tests, but he was an outstanding hard-wicket batter, who made almost 20,000 first-class runs with Leicestershire. He died in Edmonton, London in 1946.
Albert Knight, who was born today, would pray before going in to bat - and even at the wicket on occasion. He was a Methodist whose predilection for prayer once apparently made Walter Brearley consider reporting him to the MCC. Knight only played three Tests, but he was an outstanding hard-wicket batter, who made almost 20,000 first-class runs with Leicestershire. He died in Edmonton, London in 1946.
1987
The fourth World Cup got underway in Hyderabad. Co-hosts Pakistan began with a tight victory over Sri Lanka. Javed Miandad's 103 took him past 4000 one-day runs. Despite 89 from Roshan Mahanama and a rapid 42 from Aravinda de Silva (batting at No. 7), Sri Lanka fell 15 runs short of Pakistan's 267 for 6.
The fourth World Cup got underway in Hyderabad. Co-hosts Pakistan began with a tight victory over Sri Lanka. Javed Miandad's 103 took him past 4000 one-day runs. Despite 89 from Roshan Mahanama and a rapid 42 from Aravinda de Silva (batting at No. 7), Sri Lanka fell 15 runs short of Pakistan's 267 for 6.
1964
A series of niggling injuries meant that Kent's lively seamer Alan Igglesden, who was born today, played only three Tests. In 1993, Igglesden was picked for the first Test against Australia but a groin injury and a side strain ruled him out for the summer. He played twice in the Caribbean the following winter but took only three wickets and was not picked again. Igglesden suffered an epileptic fit while playing for Berkshire in 1999. Doctors found a non-cancerous brain tumour that was successfully treated by medication.
A series of niggling injuries meant that Kent's lively seamer Alan Igglesden, who was born today, played only three Tests. In 1993, Igglesden was picked for the first Test against Australia but a groin injury and a side strain ruled him out for the summer. He played twice in the Caribbean the following winter but took only three wickets and was not picked again. Igglesden suffered an epileptic fit while playing for Berkshire in 1999. Doctors found a non-cancerous brain tumour that was successfully treated by medication.
1987
The birth of Raqibul Hasan, who bizarrely announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 22 in 2010, presumably in a fit of pique after being excluded from the one-day and T20 squads, only to reverse his decision a week later - for which he was handed a three-month suspension. Raqibul took the Under-19 route to the Bangladesh national side, and his 65 in Grenada in 2009 helped them win their first Test, against a second-string West Indies side.
The birth of Raqibul Hasan, who bizarrely announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 22 in 2010, presumably in a fit of pique after being excluded from the one-day and T20 squads, only to reverse his decision a week later - for which he was handed a three-month suspension. Raqibul took the Under-19 route to the Bangladesh national side, and his 65 in Grenada in 2009 helped them win their first Test, against a second-string West Indies side.
1969
India got a dose of their own medicine in Nagpur. New Zealand took just 40 minutes on the final morning to wrap up a 167-run victory, their first on the subcontinent. It was the spinners who did the damage on a raging turner: Hedley Howarth took 5 for 34 and Vic Pollard 3 for 21 as India collapsed for 109.
India got a dose of their own medicine in Nagpur. New Zealand took just 40 minutes on the final morning to wrap up a 167-run victory, their first on the subcontinent. It was the spinners who did the damage on a raging turner: Hedley Howarth took 5 for 34 and Vic Pollard 3 for 21 as India collapsed for 109.
Other birthdays
1890 Cyril Browne (West Indies)
1919 Mac Anderson (New Zealand)
1958 Shona Gilchrist (New Zealand)
1968 Sameer Dighe (India)
1972 Justine Fryer (New Zealand)
1976 Mohammad Hussain (Pakistan)
1977 Heather Whelan (Ireland)
1979 Dave Mohammed (West Indies)
1890 Cyril Browne (West Indies)
1919 Mac Anderson (New Zealand)
1958 Shona Gilchrist (New Zealand)
1968 Sameer Dighe (India)
1972 Justine Fryer (New Zealand)
1976 Mohammad Hussain (Pakistan)
1977 Heather Whelan (Ireland)
1979 Dave Mohammed (West Indies)