Ending with a riot
1978 With Australia about to win the fifth Test in Jamaica, it wasn't rain that saved West Indies, but a riot
Wisden Cricinfo staff
02-May-2003
All Today's Yesterdays: May 3 down the years
1978
With Australia about to win the fifth Test in Jamaica, it wasn't rain that saved West Indies, but a riot. In Bobby Simpson's last Test, the Aussies needed just one more wicket with 38 balls left when the crowd took matters into their own hands after Vanburn Holder was given out caught behind. The match could have been finished the next day - but one of the umpires, Ralph Gosein, refused to stand.
With Australia about to win the fifth Test in Jamaica, it wasn't rain that saved West Indies, but a riot. In Bobby Simpson's last Test, the Aussies needed just one more wicket with 38 balls left when the crowd took matters into their own hands after Vanburn Holder was given out caught behind. The match could have been finished the next day - but one of the umpires, Ralph Gosein, refused to stand.
1955
An enigma is born. The dazzling Australian left-hander David Hookes looked like he had it all. Before he'd even played first-class cricket, he whacked six sixes in an over in a club game for Dulwich. At the age of 21 he hit five centuries in six innings for South Australia. And in 1982-83 he creamed the fastest authentic century in cricket history. Nobody was joking as Hookes, frustrated by a delayed Victoria declaration, pasted a furious hundred off just 34 balls for South Australia at Adelaide. But his Test career was frustratingly unfulfilled. He thrillingly smashed five successive fours off Tony Greig on debut, in the Centenary Test of 1976-77, but his only hundred in 23 appearances came against a poor Sri Lankan side, at Kandy in 1982-83. He's now joined the ranks of the media pundits.
An enigma is born. The dazzling Australian left-hander David Hookes looked like he had it all. Before he'd even played first-class cricket, he whacked six sixes in an over in a club game for Dulwich. At the age of 21 he hit five centuries in six innings for South Australia. And in 1982-83 he creamed the fastest authentic century in cricket history. Nobody was joking as Hookes, frustrated by a delayed Victoria declaration, pasted a furious hundred off just 34 balls for South Australia at Adelaide. But his Test career was frustratingly unfulfilled. He thrillingly smashed five successive fours off Tony Greig on debut, in the Centenary Test of 1976-77, but his only hundred in 23 appearances came against a poor Sri Lankan side, at Kandy in 1982-83. He's now joined the ranks of the media pundits.
1867
Only three bowlers have ever taken more first-class wickets than Middlesex and England's JT "Old Jack" Hearne, who was born today. A fast-medium bowler with a textbook action, he took 3061 wickets in all. Three of them gave him England's first hat-trick against Australia, at Headingley in 1899, and it was a seriously illustrious trio: Hill, Syd Gregory and Monty Noble. Three of his cousins and two of his brothers played for Kent, while Young Jack Hearne - who was said to be a distant cousin - also played for England. Old Jack died in Buckinghamshire in 1944.
Only three bowlers have ever taken more first-class wickets than Middlesex and England's JT "Old Jack" Hearne, who was born today. A fast-medium bowler with a textbook action, he took 3061 wickets in all. Three of them gave him England's first hat-trick against Australia, at Headingley in 1899, and it was a seriously illustrious trio: Hill, Syd Gregory and Monty Noble. Three of his cousins and two of his brothers played for Kent, while Young Jack Hearne - who was said to be a distant cousin - also played for England. Old Jack died in Buckinghamshire in 1944.
1945
Birth of the youngest of the famous Pakistani Mohammad brothers. Sadiq Mohammad was a wristy, left-hand opener with a full complement of strokes all round the wicket. He was generally a dasher, but one of Sadiq's finest innings owed more to restraint - a six-hour 97 on a dodgy Headingley wicket in 1978. He also made 69 and 37 on his debut, against New Zealand at Karachi in 1969-70, when, for the only time in a Test, he opened with his brother Hanif. Along with Zaheer Abbas, the stocky Sadiq also gave great service to Gloucestershire.
Birth of the youngest of the famous Pakistani Mohammad brothers. Sadiq Mohammad was a wristy, left-hand opener with a full complement of strokes all round the wicket. He was generally a dasher, but one of Sadiq's finest innings owed more to restraint - a six-hour 97 on a dodgy Headingley wicket in 1978. He also made 69 and 37 on his debut, against New Zealand at Karachi in 1969-70, when, for the only time in a Test, he opened with his brother Hanif. Along with Zaheer Abbas, the stocky Sadiq also gave great service to Gloucestershire.
1948
Some debut for Cambridge University's Hubert Doggart, who made 215 against Lancashire at Fenner's in his maiden first-class innings. Doggart went on to play twice for England against West Indies two years later, while still captain of Cambridge, but with less success, and he was dropped after England's infamous Lord's defeat.
Some debut for Cambridge University's Hubert Doggart, who made 215 against Lancashire at Fenner's in his maiden first-class innings. Doggart went on to play twice for England against West Indies two years later, while still captain of Cambridge, but with less success, and he was dropped after England's infamous Lord's defeat.
1874
Birth of Bert Hopkins, Australia's gentle, slow-medium swing bowler. His first Test wickets were a distinguished pair: CB Fry and Ranjitsinhji, when Hopkins surprisingly opened the bowling at Lord's in 1902 and reduced England to 0 for 2. He didn't take another wicket in the series, though. Hopkins could bat too, and often opened for his state, New South Wales. It's a good thing he did, as in a quarter of his 20 Tests, Hopkins did not get a bowl at all.
Birth of Bert Hopkins, Australia's gentle, slow-medium swing bowler. His first Test wickets were a distinguished pair: CB Fry and Ranjitsinhji, when Hopkins surprisingly opened the bowling at Lord's in 1902 and reduced England to 0 for 2. He didn't take another wicket in the series, though. Hopkins could bat too, and often opened for his state, New South Wales. It's a good thing he did, as in a quarter of his 20 Tests, Hopkins did not get a bowl at all.
Other birthdays
1844 Thomas Kelly (Australia)
1904 Austin Matthews (England)