405 reasons to believe
1988 When he sits back in 20 years' time to chew on a modest Test average of 31, Graeme Hick will look back at one moment in particular as tantalising proof of what might have been
Rob Smyth
06-May-2003
All Today's Yesterdays - May 6 down the years
1988
When he sits back in 20 years' time to chew on a modest Test average of 31, Graeme Hick will look back at one moment in particular as tantalising proof of what might have been. On this day at Taunton, Hick smashed 405 not out for Worcestershire against Somerset, an innings that included 35 fours and 11 sixes. It was the highest score in first-class cricket in England for 93 years, and a measure of the innings is that, in the whole match, nobody else got more than 56. Hick might well have beaten the first-class record of the time, Hanif Mohammad's 499, but his captain Phil Neale was more concerned with winning the game, which Worcester did.
When he sits back in 20 years' time to chew on a modest Test average of 31, Graeme Hick will look back at one moment in particular as tantalising proof of what might have been. On this day at Taunton, Hick smashed 405 not out for Worcestershire against Somerset, an innings that included 35 fours and 11 sixes. It was the highest score in first-class cricket in England for 93 years, and a measure of the innings is that, in the whole match, nobody else got more than 56. Hick might well have beaten the first-class record of the time, Hanif Mohammad's 499, but his captain Phil Neale was more concerned with winning the game, which Worcester did.
1962
A metallic fast bowler is born. Back and knee injuries plagued the career of Essex seam bowler Neil Foster so much that the plates in his body once apparently set off an airport metal-detector. In all, he had as many as nine knee operations, and the problems jinxed a fine career. Fozzie had a beautiful, upright action, which generated prolific outswing and seam movement both ways. And he had the priceless ability to dismiss good batsmen: he is the only man to snare Javed Miandad and Viv Richards for 0 in a Test. He came from nowhere to take 11 wickets in England's stunning Madras victory in 1984-85, and at The Oval in 1988 demolished West Indies' top order single-handedly in a devastating display. He went on the rebel tour to South Africa a year later, only to return to Test cricket at his Lord's bogey ground - where his bowling average was 51 - in 1993. He gave in to injury and retired a week later.
A metallic fast bowler is born. Back and knee injuries plagued the career of Essex seam bowler Neil Foster so much that the plates in his body once apparently set off an airport metal-detector. In all, he had as many as nine knee operations, and the problems jinxed a fine career. Fozzie had a beautiful, upright action, which generated prolific outswing and seam movement both ways. And he had the priceless ability to dismiss good batsmen: he is the only man to snare Javed Miandad and Viv Richards for 0 in a Test. He came from nowhere to take 11 wickets in England's stunning Madras victory in 1984-85, and at The Oval in 1988 demolished West Indies' top order single-handedly in a devastating display. He went on the rebel tour to South Africa a year later, only to return to Test cricket at his Lord's bogey ground - where his bowling average was 51 - in 1993. He gave in to injury and retired a week later.
1965
Australia's highest opening partnership. Given West Indies' history of new-ball devastation, it's slightly strange that they've been on the wrong end of two of the three highest opening partnerships in Test history. One of those was on this day in Barbados, as Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson became the first opening pair to both score double-centuries in the same innings of a Test. In all they added 382, but it wasn't enough for victory: Seymour Nurse made a double-century of his own for West Indies as the match drifted towards a draw.
Australia's highest opening partnership. Given West Indies' history of new-ball devastation, it's slightly strange that they've been on the wrong end of two of the three highest opening partnerships in Test history. One of those was on this day in Barbados, as Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson became the first opening pair to both score double-centuries in the same innings of a Test. In all they added 382, but it wasn't enough for victory: Seymour Nurse made a double-century of his own for West Indies as the match drifted towards a draw.
1970
As he punished county attacks with a series of swashbuckling innings for Derbyshire and Sussex, Chris Adams, who was born today, looked tailor-made to be the middle-order enforcer England were lacking. But a series in South Africa was an unforgiving baptism, and even though he got all five Tests, Adams was exposed ruthlessly outside off stump by South Africa's pace battery. His best innings was probably his first, when he came to the crease with England in disarray at 2 for 4 and made a fearless 16 to get them back on track. An articulate TV pundit, Adams also took a couple of very good catches as a 20-year-old substitute in the second Test against India at Old Trafford in 1990.
As he punished county attacks with a series of swashbuckling innings for Derbyshire and Sussex, Chris Adams, who was born today, looked tailor-made to be the middle-order enforcer England were lacking. But a series in South Africa was an unforgiving baptism, and even though he got all five Tests, Adams was exposed ruthlessly outside off stump by South Africa's pace battery. His best innings was probably his first, when he came to the crease with England in disarray at 2 for 4 and made a fearless 16 to get them back on track. An articulate TV pundit, Adams also took a couple of very good catches as a 20-year-old substitute in the second Test against India at Old Trafford in 1990.
1947
Birth of Andy Roberts. Not the Andy Roberts, but the New Zealand allrounder who played seven Tests in the mid-1970s. His Test career never really got going, although he did crack an impressive, unbeaten 84 against India at Kanpur in 1976-77. He died in Wellington in 1989, aged only 42.
Birth of Andy Roberts. Not the Andy Roberts, but the New Zealand allrounder who played seven Tests in the mid-1970s. His Test career never really got going, although he did crack an impressive, unbeaten 84 against India at Kanpur in 1976-77. He died in Wellington in 1989, aged only 42.
Other birthdays
1927 Michael Frederick (West Indies)
1981 Laxmi Ratan Shukla (India)
1927 Michael Frederick (West Indies)
1981 Laxmi Ratan Shukla (India)