The Finisher
1970 One of the world's best one-day batsman is born
Wisden CricInfo staff
08-May-2003
May 8 down the years
1970
One of the world's best one-day batsman is born. Michael Bevan introduced the word "finisher" into the cricket dictionary with a series of performances as cool and calm as his nudging, scampering style is frenetic. A visitor from Mars might find it extraordinary that such a run-machine does not get near Australia's Test team, but after a promising start (82, 70 and 91 on the anaesthetised Pakistani pitches in 1994-95) his weakness against the short ball was exposed by Darren Gough and Dean Headley in particular. In fact, in the longer game, Bevan's trump card has often been his erratic, but potentially deadly, skiddy slow-left chinamen: he bowled West Indies to defeat with 10 wickets at Adelaide in 1996-97, and skittled South Africa with six more in Johannesburg two Tests later. It was destructive stuff: of those 16 wickets, nine were out for 2 or less.
One of the world's best one-day batsman is born. Michael Bevan introduced the word "finisher" into the cricket dictionary with a series of performances as cool and calm as his nudging, scampering style is frenetic. A visitor from Mars might find it extraordinary that such a run-machine does not get near Australia's Test team, but after a promising start (82, 70 and 91 on the anaesthetised Pakistani pitches in 1994-95) his weakness against the short ball was exposed by Darren Gough and Dean Headley in particular. In fact, in the longer game, Bevan's trump card has often been his erratic, but potentially deadly, skiddy slow-left chinamen: he bowled West Indies to defeat with 10 wickets at Adelaide in 1996-97, and skittled South Africa with six more in Johannesburg two Tests later. It was destructive stuff: of those 16 wickets, nine were out for 2 or less.
1938
If Pakistani batsmen are renowned for their swashbuckling flair then Javed Burki, who was born today, was the exception that proved the rule. Burki, the first cousin (and childhood hero) of Imran Khan, was stoic in defence, and his three Test centuries were fairly painstaking affairs. They all came against England in a five-Test, nine-month period in 1961-62. He captained Pakistan in England in 1962 when he was only 24, but they were hammered 4-0 and Burki lost his job. He later became an ICC match referee.
If Pakistani batsmen are renowned for their swashbuckling flair then Javed Burki, who was born today, was the exception that proved the rule. Burki, the first cousin (and childhood hero) of Imran Khan, was stoic in defence, and his three Test centuries were fairly painstaking affairs. They all came against England in a five-Test, nine-month period in 1961-62. He captained Pakistan in England in 1962 when he was only 24, but they were hammered 4-0 and Burki lost his job. He later became an ICC match referee.
1942
Birth of an Englishman who smashed a century off 45 balls against Australia. The genial Robin Hobbs was playing for Essex in a tour match when he pummelled Jim Higgs and Ashley Mallett all round Chelmsford. Hobbs's day job was as a legspinner, the last such specialist to play for England for over 20 years before Ian Salisbury in 1992, although he struggled for penetration in his seven Test appearances.
Birth of an Englishman who smashed a century off 45 balls against Australia. The genial Robin Hobbs was playing for Essex in a tour match when he pummelled Jim Higgs and Ashley Mallett all round Chelmsford. Hobbs's day job was as a legspinner, the last such specialist to play for England for over 20 years before Ian Salisbury in 1992, although he struggled for penetration in his seven Test appearances.
1908
No Northants player reached double figures as they were demolished for just 27 and 14 by Yorkshire in their County Championship match at Northampton. George Hirst, whose match figures were 12 for 19 off 20.1 overs, also managed more runs in one knock (44) than Northants mustered in both innings. Their aggregate of 42 was the lowest in first-class history at the time, and remains the second-lowest.
No Northants player reached double figures as they were demolished for just 27 and 14 by Yorkshire in their County Championship match at Northampton. George Hirst, whose match figures were 12 for 19 off 20.1 overs, also managed more runs in one knock (44) than Northants mustered in both innings. Their aggregate of 42 was the lowest in first-class history at the time, and remains the second-lowest.
1896
Another good day for Yorkshire, who made the highest total in County Championship history. From the relative depths of 448 for 7, they reached the lofty heights of 887 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, with four batsmen making centuries, then promptly reduced their hosts to 31 for 5. Not content with bashing 85 from No. 10, George Hirst then took 8 for 59. But though Warwickshire followed on 684 runs behind, Yorkshire, not entirely surprisingly, ran out of time.
Another good day for Yorkshire, who made the highest total in County Championship history. From the relative depths of 448 for 7, they reached the lofty heights of 887 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, with four batsmen making centuries, then promptly reduced their hosts to 31 for 5. Not content with bashing 85 from No. 10, George Hirst then took 8 for 59. But though Warwickshire followed on 684 runs behind, Yorkshire, not entirely surprisingly, ran out of time.
1873
Birth of Henry Leveson Gower (pronounced Loosen Gore), who only played three Tests, in South Africa in 1909-10, but who had a big role in the development of the game in England. He played for Surrey, and was later their president, as well as chairing the England selection committee for a time. He also ran the Scarborough Cricket Festival for nearly 50 years. Leveson Gower was knighted for his services to cricket in 1953, and died in Kensington a year later.
Birth of Henry Leveson Gower (pronounced Loosen Gore), who only played three Tests, in South Africa in 1909-10, but who had a big role in the development of the game in England. He played for Surrey, and was later their president, as well as chairing the England selection committee for a time. He also ran the Scarborough Cricket Festival for nearly 50 years. Leveson Gower was knighted for his services to cricket in 1953, and died in Kensington a year later.
1923
Nobody has scored more first-class centuries than Jack Hobbs's 197, and on this day at Bath he made the 100th of those 197, for Surrey against Somerset. Hobbs had gone for 0 in the first innings, when Surrey were skittled for 91, but his 116 not out was enough for Surrey to win a thriller by ten runs.
Nobody has scored more first-class centuries than Jack Hobbs's 197, and on this day at Bath he made the 100th of those 197, for Surrey against Somerset. Hobbs had gone for 0 in the first innings, when Surrey were skittled for 91, but his 116 not out was enough for Surrey to win a thriller by ten runs.
1985
A dramatic collapse in Jamaica put the seal on another comfortable West Indies series win. New Zealand had to win the match to square the series, an unlikely prospect as soon as they followed on 225 behind. But when they closed the third day on 211 for 1, anything was possible. Sadly for New Zealand, what happened was a Malcolm Marshall-induced slide from 223 for 1 to 283 all out, which left Gordon Greenidge and Des Haynes to knock off the 59 needed for a second consecutive ten-wicket victory.
A dramatic collapse in Jamaica put the seal on another comfortable West Indies series win. New Zealand had to win the match to square the series, an unlikely prospect as soon as they followed on 225 behind. But when they closed the third day on 211 for 1, anything was possible. Sadly for New Zealand, what happened was a Malcolm Marshall-induced slide from 223 for 1 to 283 all out, which left Gordon Greenidge and Des Haynes to knock off the 59 needed for a second consecutive ten-wicket victory.
Other birthdays
1902 "Curly" Page (New Zealand)
1961 Riaz Poonawalla (UAE)
1902 "Curly" Page (New Zealand)
1961 Riaz Poonawalla (UAE)