January 10 down the years
Trumper's solo onslaught
An Australian legend makes a classic double-century in Adelaide
Victor Trumper's 214 came in a losing cause • Getty Images
1911
In many people's view, Victor Trumper was the greatest batter of all time. When you look at his Test average of 39.04, remember the appalling minefields he had to bat on - and believe the brilliance with which he did it. On this day in Adelaide he reached his double-century against South Africa, who won the match partly because no one else scored more than 54 in this Australian innings. Trumper's 214 is one of the highest Test scores in a losing cause.
In many people's view, Victor Trumper was the greatest batter of all time. When you look at his Test average of 39.04, remember the appalling minefields he had to bat on - and believe the brilliance with which he did it. On this day in Adelaide he reached his double-century against South Africa, who won the match partly because no one else scored more than 54 in this Australian innings. Trumper's 214 is one of the highest Test scores in a losing cause.
2005
Bangladesh achieved their first Test victory, in their 35th Test, more than four years after their debut. And as in the rest of their successes of the time, left-arm spinners played a big role in the win, over Zimbabwe by 226 runs in Chittagong. Habibul Bashar scored 94, and Mohammad Rafique made 69 and took five wickets to give Bangladesh a first-innings lead of 176. Bashar scored another half-century in the second innings and then Enamul Haque Jr took 6 for 45 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 154. Bangladesh's next Test win came four years later, against a depleted West Indies side that was missing its key players because of a strike.
Bangladesh achieved their first Test victory, in their 35th Test, more than four years after their debut. And as in the rest of their successes of the time, left-arm spinners played a big role in the win, over Zimbabwe by 226 runs in Chittagong. Habibul Bashar scored 94, and Mohammad Rafique made 69 and took five wickets to give Bangladesh a first-innings lead of 176. Bashar scored another half-century in the second innings and then Enamul Haque Jr took 6 for 45 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 154. Bangladesh's next Test win came four years later, against a depleted West Indies side that was missing its key players because of a strike.
1985
Indian allrounder Ravi Shastri smashed the fastest first-class double-century - a record that stood for over 30 years - for Bombay in their Ranji Trophy zonal match against Baroda, taking just 113 minutes to reach 200 not out. In the course of his innings he became only the second batter to hit six sixes in an over (after Garry Sobers in 1968), Tilak Raj being the unfortunate bowler. A week earlier Shastri had crawled to a seven-hour hundred against England in Calcutta.
Indian allrounder Ravi Shastri smashed the fastest first-class double-century - a record that stood for over 30 years - for Bombay in their Ranji Trophy zonal match against Baroda, taking just 113 minutes to reach 200 not out. In the course of his innings he became only the second batter to hit six sixes in an over (after Garry Sobers in 1968), Tilak Raj being the unfortunate bowler. A week earlier Shastri had crawled to a seven-hour hundred against England in Calcutta.
2015
Playing a four-Test series against India shortly after the death of Phillip Hughes was hard on several Australian players, but their grief didn't show on the result margin - 2-0 in their favour when they drew in Sydney on this day. A win for Australia looked probable when India fell to 217 for 7 on a wearing fifth-day pitch, but Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar hung in to see them through. It was among the fastest-scoring Tests of all (Australia clattered along at 6.27 in the second innings to set up the declaration), and featured hundreds from David Warner and Steven Smith, who had been prolific through the series, and for India by KL Rahul and their captain, Virat Kohli.
Playing a four-Test series against India shortly after the death of Phillip Hughes was hard on several Australian players, but their grief didn't show on the result margin - 2-0 in their favour when they drew in Sydney on this day. A win for Australia looked probable when India fell to 217 for 7 on a wearing fifth-day pitch, but Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar hung in to see them through. It was among the fastest-scoring Tests of all (Australia clattered along at 6.27 in the second innings to set up the declaration), and featured hundreds from David Warner and Steven Smith, who had been prolific through the series, and for India by KL Rahul and their captain, Virat Kohli.
1903
No one could accuse Hugh Motley Thurlow (who was born today) of being a giant in Test cricket, but he trod in the footsteps of one. Don Bradman, the first player to score two Test triple-centuries, very nearly hit another on this day. Against South Africa in Adelaide in 1931-32, Bradman made 299 not out before Thurlow, batting at No. 11, ran himself out. In contrast with everything Bradman achieved, poor "Pud" Thurlow played in only this one Test, finishing with no runs, no wickets and no catches.
No one could accuse Hugh Motley Thurlow (who was born today) of being a giant in Test cricket, but he trod in the footsteps of one. Don Bradman, the first player to score two Test triple-centuries, very nearly hit another on this day. Against South Africa in Adelaide in 1931-32, Bradman made 299 not out before Thurlow, batting at No. 11, ran himself out. In contrast with everything Bradman achieved, poor "Pud" Thurlow played in only this one Test, finishing with no runs, no wickets and no catches.
1930
Christchurch hosted the first day of the first Test to be played in New Zealand. Playing for one of two England teams touring at the time (the other went to the Caribbean), the debutant Maurice Allom took four wickets in five balls, including a hat-trick, to help dismiss the hosts for 112 (Roger Blunt 45 not out) on the way to winning the match by eight wickets.
Christchurch hosted the first day of the first Test to be played in New Zealand. Playing for one of two England teams touring at the time (the other went to the Caribbean), the debutant Maurice Allom took four wickets in five balls, including a hat-trick, to help dismiss the hosts for 112 (Roger Blunt 45 not out) on the way to winning the match by eight wickets.
1988
Birth of the tubby Mohammad Shahzad, Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batter, who has spoken of being inspired by MS Dhoni's style of batting. In his first 11 ODI innings, Shahzad made three hundreds and three fifties. He hit a 67-ball 118 - then the highest T20I score by an Associate batter - against Zimbabwe in Sharjah in 2016, and was named the ICC's Associate and Affiliate Player that year. In December 2017, he was was found to be in breach of the ICC Anti-Doping Code and retrospectively banned for a year, and his records for the year expunged. He suffered another year's suspension in 2019 after his home board penalised him for not seeking its permission before travelling out of the country.
Birth of the tubby Mohammad Shahzad, Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batter, who has spoken of being inspired by MS Dhoni's style of batting. In his first 11 ODI innings, Shahzad made three hundreds and three fifties. He hit a 67-ball 118 - then the highest T20I score by an Associate batter - against Zimbabwe in Sharjah in 2016, and was named the ICC's Associate and Affiliate Player that year. In December 2017, he was was found to be in breach of the ICC Anti-Doping Code and retrospectively banned for a year, and his records for the year expunged. He suffered another year's suspension in 2019 after his home board penalised him for not seeking its permission before travelling out of the country.
1933
No great success at Test level, especially in the 1962-63 Ashes series, Len Coldwell, who was born today, was one of the great county stalwarts. Among his 1474 first-class wickets were the 139 that nearly won Worcestershire the Championship in 1962. He and Jack Flavell got there before long, bowling the county to consecutive titles, the first in their history, in 1964 and 1965.
No great success at Test level, especially in the 1962-63 Ashes series, Len Coldwell, who was born today, was one of the great county stalwarts. Among his 1474 first-class wickets were the 139 that nearly won Worcestershire the Championship in 1962. He and Jack Flavell got there before long, bowling the county to consecutive titles, the first in their history, in 1964 and 1965.
1935
A horrible old sticky dog of a pitch led to a very low-scoring Test in Bridgetown. After two declarations and some furious juggling of both batting orders, Wally Hammond hit a six to win the match by four wickets and give England a series lead they couldn't hold. Eric Hollies was among the nine debutants in the match - five for England and four for West Indies.
A horrible old sticky dog of a pitch led to a very low-scoring Test in Bridgetown. After two declarations and some furious juggling of both batting orders, Wally Hammond hit a six to win the match by four wickets and give England a series lead they couldn't hold. Eric Hollies was among the nine debutants in the match - five for England and four for West Indies.
1981
Jehan Mubarak, born today in Washington DC, returned to Sri Lanka to attend the Royal College, a breeding ground for future internationals. He made his Sri Lanka debut in 2002 and narrowly missed a maiden half-century in his second Test. He made his ODI debut later that year but failed to live up to the promise - averaging 16.57 in his 20 games. He was not picked for the 2007 World Cup, and while he played off and on thereafter, he was on the sidelines more often than not. In 2015, after two exceptional domestic seasons, Mubarak earned a recall to the Test side at the age of 34, but after three unimpressive outings, against Pakistan and India, he was dropped again.
Jehan Mubarak, born today in Washington DC, returned to Sri Lanka to attend the Royal College, a breeding ground for future internationals. He made his Sri Lanka debut in 2002 and narrowly missed a maiden half-century in his second Test. He made his ODI debut later that year but failed to live up to the promise - averaging 16.57 in his 20 games. He was not picked for the 2007 World Cup, and while he played off and on thereafter, he was on the sidelines more often than not. In 2015, after two exceptional domestic seasons, Mubarak earned a recall to the Test side at the age of 34, but after three unimpressive outings, against Pakistan and India, he was dropped again.
1917
Left-arm pace bowler Tyrell Johnson, who was born today, played in only one match for West Indies, at The Oval in 1939, but it was enough for him to join the select list of bowlers who have taken a wicket with their first ball in Tests. England opener Walter Keeton played on to his first delivery, and Johnson also caught and bowled Len Hutton, but the war wrecked his chances of any more caps.
Left-arm pace bowler Tyrell Johnson, who was born today, played in only one match for West Indies, at The Oval in 1939, but it was enough for him to join the select list of bowlers who have taken a wicket with their first ball in Tests. England opener Walter Keeton played on to his first delivery, and Johnson also caught and bowled Len Hutton, but the war wrecked his chances of any more caps.
Other birthdays
1871 Ike Travers (Australia)
1975 James Kirtley (England)
1978 Johan van der Wath (South Africa)
1979 Victor Grandia (Netherlands)
1981 Alamgir Kabir (Bangladesh)
1871 Ike Travers (Australia)
1975 James Kirtley (England)
1978 Johan van der Wath (South Africa)
1979 Victor Grandia (Netherlands)
1981 Alamgir Kabir (Bangladesh)