August 9 down the years
Last day for a languid hero
An England legend bows out
David Gower made 8231 Test runs • Trevor Jones/Associated Press
1992
The last day of Test cricket for David Gower, bowled for 1 by Waqar Younis in the second innings as Pakistan won by ten wickets at The Oval to take the series 2-1. In the previous two Tests, Gower had scored 73 and 31 not out - so there seemed to be something personal in Graham Gooch's decision not to take him to India that winter, an omission that did England no good. Gower's languidly brilliant shot-making brought him 8231 Test runs, an England record broken shortly afterwards by... Gooch himself.
The last day of Test cricket for David Gower, bowled for 1 by Waqar Younis in the second innings as Pakistan won by ten wickets at The Oval to take the series 2-1. In the previous two Tests, Gower had scored 73 and 31 not out - so there seemed to be something personal in Graham Gooch's decision not to take him to India that winter, an omission that did England no good. Gower's languidly brilliant shot-making brought him 8231 Test runs, an England record broken shortly afterwards by... Gooch himself.
2014
One of India's more inept overseas displays concluded with them being rolled over inside three days at Old Trafford. They never quite recovered from being 8 for 4 after the first day, and though they made it to 53 before losing their second wicket in the second dig, they capitulated after tea, losing their last nine wickets for just over 100 runs. Moeen Ali, England's surprise bowling package of the series, picked up four of those with his offspin. Remarkably, England needed just ten men to finish the job, with their first-innings star Stuart Broad absent after he was hit in the face by a Varun Aaron ball while batting. To make matters worse for India, the weather turned hostile soon after they were bowled out, and nearly the whole of the scheduled fourth day was rainy.
One of India's more inept overseas displays concluded with them being rolled over inside three days at Old Trafford. They never quite recovered from being 8 for 4 after the first day, and though they made it to 53 before losing their second wicket in the second dig, they capitulated after tea, losing their last nine wickets for just over 100 runs. Moeen Ali, England's surprise bowling package of the series, picked up four of those with his offspin. Remarkably, England needed just ten men to finish the job, with their first-innings star Stuart Broad absent after he was hit in the face by a Varun Aaron ball while batting. To make matters worse for India, the weather turned hostile soon after they were bowled out, and nearly the whole of the scheduled fourth day was rainy.
1892
A remarkable game at Old Trafford, where Lancashire beat Somerset by eight wickets... in a day. On a drying pitch, batting was almost impossible and 32 wickets fell for 294 runs. Arthur Mold and Johnny Briggs took all 20 Somerset wickets, bowling the visitors out for 88 and 58.
A remarkable game at Old Trafford, where Lancashire beat Somerset by eight wickets... in a day. On a drying pitch, batting was almost impossible and 32 wickets fell for 294 runs. Arthur Mold and Johnny Briggs took all 20 Somerset wickets, bowling the visitors out for 88 and 58.
1977
As well as taking 143 Test wickets for England, Chris Old could bat a bit, as he showed in hammering a century in only 37 minutes for Yorkshire against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. He hit six sixes and 13 fours and scored his second fifty in only nine minutes.
As well as taking 143 Test wickets for England, Chris Old could bat a bit, as he showed in hammering a century in only 37 minutes for Yorkshire against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. He hit six sixes and 13 fours and scored his second fifty in only nine minutes.
1976
In a typically powerful and merciless assault, West Indies captain Clive Lloyd scored an unbeaten 201 against Glamorgan in Swansea. Wisden called it "the fastest double-century since Gilbert Jessop's days in 1903". Lloyd's side went on to win the Test series 3-0 over England.
In a typically powerful and merciless assault, West Indies captain Clive Lloyd scored an unbeaten 201 against Glamorgan in Swansea. Wisden called it "the fastest double-century since Gilbert Jessop's days in 1903". Lloyd's side went on to win the Test series 3-0 over England.
1926
Birth of Denis Atkinson, who took 47 Test wickets but is best remembered for his only Test hundred. Facing an Australian total of 668 in Bridgetown in 1954-55, West Indies were 146 for 6 when Atkinson was joined by Clairmonte Depeiaza. Their stand of 347 is still a Test record for the seventh wicket. Atkinson scored 219 and took 5 for 56 to become the first to do that double in Tests. His brother Eric also played Test cricket.
Birth of Denis Atkinson, who took 47 Test wickets but is best remembered for his only Test hundred. Facing an Australian total of 668 in Bridgetown in 1954-55, West Indies were 146 for 6 when Atkinson was joined by Clairmonte Depeiaza. Their stand of 347 is still a Test record for the seventh wicket. Atkinson scored 219 and took 5 for 56 to become the first to do that double in Tests. His brother Eric also played Test cricket.
1991
The day Ian Botham "just, just couldn't quite get his leg over". Botham's hit-wicket dismissal against West Indies at The Oval sparked that comment from Jonathan Agnew, and a fit of hysterics in the Test Match Special box as Agnew and Brian Johnston fought an irresistible attack of the giggles. Johnston was still fighting for composure long after Agnew had given up the ghost, and the exchange has been replayed time and time again since.
The day Ian Botham "just, just couldn't quite get his leg over". Botham's hit-wicket dismissal against West Indies at The Oval sparked that comment from Jonathan Agnew, and a fit of hysterics in the Test Match Special box as Agnew and Brian Johnston fought an irresistible attack of the giggles. Johnston was still fighting for composure long after Agnew had given up the ghost, and the exchange has been replayed time and time again since.
1946
Death of Ernie Vogler, one of the quartet of South African googly bowlers who toured England in 1907. The following winter he took all 10 wickets in an innings for Eastern Province - and his 36 wickets helped win the 1909-10 series against England. As far as Wisden can discover, he was the first batter to be dismissed for a king pair in Test cricket, in Sydney in 1910-11. Some modern sources call him Bert - but one of his contemporaries, BJT Bosanquet, the inventor of the googly, referred to him as Ernest.
Death of Ernie Vogler, one of the quartet of South African googly bowlers who toured England in 1907. The following winter he took all 10 wickets in an innings for Eastern Province - and his 36 wickets helped win the 1909-10 series against England. As far as Wisden can discover, he was the first batter to be dismissed for a king pair in Test cricket, in Sydney in 1910-11. Some modern sources call him Bert - but one of his contemporaries, BJT Bosanquet, the inventor of the googly, referred to him as Ernest.
1983
Birth of Hamilton Masakadza, who became the youngest player to score a century on Test debut, in 2001 - but held the record for just over a month before Mohammad Ashraful claimed it. A year later, Masakadza put his career on hold to study, but the players' strike in 2004 prompted the selectors to recall him. In 2009 he scored over 1000 runs in ODIs in the calendar year at an average of 43.48 and a strike rate of 88.08, including scores of 156 and 178 not out in the home series against Kenya, the first time a batter has made 150 or more twice in the same one-day series. He marked Zimbabwe's return from Test exile in 2011 with a century against Bangladesh. Three years later, his highest Test score - 158 - also came against the same team. Masakadza was named Zimbabwe captain in January 2016, but his first tenure only lasted four months, the board deciding to sack him after a poor World T20. Although he remained in and out of the limited-overs sides, Masakadza was reappointed as captain in 2018. He retired a year later and took on the role of director of cricket for Zimbabwe.
Birth of Hamilton Masakadza, who became the youngest player to score a century on Test debut, in 2001 - but held the record for just over a month before Mohammad Ashraful claimed it. A year later, Masakadza put his career on hold to study, but the players' strike in 2004 prompted the selectors to recall him. In 2009 he scored over 1000 runs in ODIs in the calendar year at an average of 43.48 and a strike rate of 88.08, including scores of 156 and 178 not out in the home series against Kenya, the first time a batter has made 150 or more twice in the same one-day series. He marked Zimbabwe's return from Test exile in 2011 with a century against Bangladesh. Three years later, his highest Test score - 158 - also came against the same team. Masakadza was named Zimbabwe captain in January 2016, but his first tenure only lasted four months, the board deciding to sack him after a poor World T20. Although he remained in and out of the limited-overs sides, Masakadza was reappointed as captain in 2018. He retired a year later and took on the role of director of cricket for Zimbabwe.
1989
Sri Lanka middle-order batter Lahiru Thirimanne, born today, impressed with a quick half-century in a tricky chase in an ODI in Johannesburg in January 2012. He got two more in the next couple of months in the CB Series in Australia. Thirimanne made his Test debut in 2011 in England as a replacement for the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, and made his first Test hundred - 155 not out, against Bangladesh in Galle - in 2013. Thirimanne looked to occupy the crease for long - he dug in for over three hours in drawing the Abu Dhabi Test in 2011; another three hours for an unbeaten 62 in Wellington in 2015; and for nearly four and a half hours for 62 against India at the P Sara later that year.
Sri Lanka middle-order batter Lahiru Thirimanne, born today, impressed with a quick half-century in a tricky chase in an ODI in Johannesburg in January 2012. He got two more in the next couple of months in the CB Series in Australia. Thirimanne made his Test debut in 2011 in England as a replacement for the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, and made his first Test hundred - 155 not out, against Bangladesh in Galle - in 2013. Thirimanne looked to occupy the crease for long - he dug in for over three hours in drawing the Abu Dhabi Test in 2011; another three hours for an unbeaten 62 in Wellington in 2015; and for nearly four and a half hours for 62 against India at the P Sara later that year.
Other birthdays
1897 Ted Badcock (New Zealand)
1902 Edward Clark (England)
1911 Khershed Meherhomji (India)
1897 Ted Badcock (New Zealand)
1902 Edward Clark (England)
1911 Khershed Meherhomji (India)