World Cup anticlimax
1999 A World Cup final - and the dampest of squibs
Wisden Cricinfo staff
20-Jun-2003
All Today's Yesterdays -June 20 down the years
1999
A World Cup final - and the dampest of squibs. Pakistan were simply demolished by Australia, who hustled them out for 132 (extras top-scored, with 25) and smashed their way to an eight-wicket victory with a massive 29.5 overs to spare. At the time, it looked like a simple case of a great Australian team at the peak of the powers, and an enigmatic Pakistan side at their worst.
A World Cup final - and the dampest of squibs. Pakistan were simply demolished by Australia, who hustled them out for 132 (extras top-scored, with 25) and smashed their way to an eight-wicket victory with a massive 29.5 overs to spare. At the time, it looked like a simple case of a great Australian team at the peak of the powers, and an enigmatic Pakistan side at their worst.
1954
In Cape Province in South Africa, Allan Lamb is born. Qualifying for England through his parents, he made his debut as soon as he was eligible, against India in 1982, ironically at the expense of several players, Graham Gooch and Geoff Boycott among them, who had been banned for three years for their part in the rebel tour to South Africa. Lamb played 79 Tests in all, in which time he seized countless initiatives and wound up umpteen bowlers with his impudent strokeplay and feisty attitude. Lamb probably set a Test record for expletives during his career. When the going got tough, Lamb got going, and six of his 14 Test centuries were against West Indies, including three in 1984 - a summer in which he added a fourth, against Sri Lanka - and two in the Caribbean in 1989-90. Lamb was also a magnificent one-day batsman.
In Cape Province in South Africa, Allan Lamb is born. Qualifying for England through his parents, he made his debut as soon as he was eligible, against India in 1982, ironically at the expense of several players, Graham Gooch and Geoff Boycott among them, who had been banned for three years for their part in the rebel tour to South Africa. Lamb played 79 Tests in all, in which time he seized countless initiatives and wound up umpteen bowlers with his impudent strokeplay and feisty attitude. Lamb probably set a Test record for expletives during his career. When the going got tough, Lamb got going, and six of his 14 Test centuries were against West Indies, including three in 1984 - a summer in which he added a fourth, against Sri Lanka - and two in the Caribbean in 1989-90. Lamb was also a magnificent one-day batsman.
1993
As Mike Atherton turned for a third run in the second Test against Australia, he was 22 yards away from making his first century in a Lord's Test. Then it all went wrong. Atherton slipped on the green side-strip pitch and with his feet stuck as he desperately tried to get up, he could only watch on all fours as Ian Healy whipped off the bails. In all, 13 men have been run out for 99 in Tests, but none in quite such agonising circumstances as Atherton. This was only his fourth Lord's Test - he played 11 more, but never did get his name on the famous honours board.
As Mike Atherton turned for a third run in the second Test against Australia, he was 22 yards away from making his first century in a Lord's Test. Then it all went wrong. Atherton slipped on the green side-strip pitch and with his feet stuck as he desperately tried to get up, he could only watch on all fours as Ian Healy whipped off the bails. In all, 13 men have been run out for 99 in Tests, but none in quite such agonising circumstances as Atherton. This was only his fourth Lord's Test - he played 11 more, but never did get his name on the famous honours board.
1958
A better day for England, as they dismissed New Zealand for what was then the lowest total in a Lord's Test - a paltry 47. Jim Laker and Tony Lock shared nine wickets on a spiteful, rain-affected pitch, and the following day, New Zealand were skittled for 77 to complete an innings defeat. In all, the match lasted less than 12 hours.
A better day for England, as they dismissed New Zealand for what was then the lowest total in a Lord's Test - a paltry 47. Jim Laker and Tony Lock shared nine wickets on a spiteful, rain-affected pitch, and the following day, New Zealand were skittled for 77 to complete an innings defeat. In all, the match lasted less than 12 hours.
1994
Another England-New Zealand Lord's Test, and a nervy denouement. England scrambled to a draw with only two wickets left, thanks to Alec Stewart, who made 119 in the second innings, and Steve Rhodes, who made 32 not out and 24 not out and batted for nearly six hours in the match. The Kiwi star was Dion Nash, who became the first man to score a fifty and take ten wickets in a Lord's Test. His side should have won, but some execrable declaration batting on the fourth day - they plodded along to 211 for 5 off 68 overs - ultimately cost them, along with bad light, which prevented Nash bowling at the tail-enders at the death.
Another England-New Zealand Lord's Test, and a nervy denouement. England scrambled to a draw with only two wickets left, thanks to Alec Stewart, who made 119 in the second innings, and Steve Rhodes, who made 32 not out and 24 not out and batted for nearly six hours in the match. The Kiwi star was Dion Nash, who became the first man to score a fifty and take ten wickets in a Lord's Test. His side should have won, but some execrable declaration batting on the fourth day - they plodded along to 211 for 5 off 68 overs - ultimately cost them, along with bad light, which prevented Nash bowling at the tail-enders at the death.
1939
Birth of one of India's quickest bowlers. Ramakant "Tiny" Desai - he was only 5ft 4 ins tall, hence the nickname - took the Ranji Trophy by storm in his first season, with 50 wickets at an average of 11 in 1958-59. He made his Test debut that year too, against West Indies at Delhi, when he was the only bowler to emerge with any credit as the Windies hammered over 600. Desai was a bit of a one-man band in England the following summer, and reduced England to 80 for 6 at Lord's, a day short of his 20th birthday. He ended up with 74 Test wickets, and later became chairman of selectors, but died in a Mumbai hospital in 1998.
Birth of one of India's quickest bowlers. Ramakant "Tiny" Desai - he was only 5ft 4 ins tall, hence the nickname - took the Ranji Trophy by storm in his first season, with 50 wickets at an average of 11 in 1958-59. He made his Test debut that year too, against West Indies at Delhi, when he was the only bowler to emerge with any credit as the Windies hammered over 600. Desai was a bit of a one-man band in England the following summer, and reduced England to 80 for 6 at Lord's, a day short of his 20th birthday. He ended up with 74 Test wickets, and later became chairman of selectors, but died in a Mumbai hospital in 1998.
1979
World Cup semi-final day, and England booked a place in the final for the first time with a thrilling nine-run victory over New Zealand at Old Trafford. England's most economical overs came from, of all people, Geoff Boycott (9-1-24-1) and Graham Gooch (3-1-8-0). Gooch also biffed three sixes in his 84-ball 71, an innings that made him Man of the Match.
World Cup semi-final day, and England booked a place in the final for the first time with a thrilling nine-run victory over New Zealand at Old Trafford. England's most economical overs came from, of all people, Geoff Boycott (9-1-24-1) and Graham Gooch (3-1-8-0). Gooch also biffed three sixes in his 84-ball 71, an innings that made him Man of the Match.
1979
On the same day, West Indies eventually overwhelmed Pakistan by 43 runs at The Oval - but their passage to their final was not without one or two scares. Chasing 294 to win, Pakistan were in pole position at 176 for 1 with 20 overs remaining and Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas going like a train, but Colin Croft turned the tide with a blistering 12-ball spell, in which he blew away Majid, Zaheer and Javed Miandad. Viv Richards then nailed a high-class trio of his own: Asif Iqbal, Mudassar Nazar and Imran Khan.
On the same day, West Indies eventually overwhelmed Pakistan by 43 runs at The Oval - but their passage to their final was not without one or two scares. Chasing 294 to win, Pakistan were in pole position at 176 for 1 with 20 overs remaining and Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas going like a train, but Colin Croft turned the tide with a blistering 12-ball spell, in which he blew away Majid, Zaheer and Javed Miandad. Viv Richards then nailed a high-class trio of his own: Asif Iqbal, Mudassar Nazar and Imran Khan.
1997
St Vincent became Test cricket's 78th venue - and Sri Lanka celebrated by reducing West Indies to 5 for 3 on the first morning. The destroyers were the less-than-threatening Ravi Pushpakumara and Sajeewa de Silva, but a Brian Lara century in the second innings gave the Windies the draw they needed to clinch a 1-0 series victory.
St Vincent became Test cricket's 78th venue - and Sri Lanka celebrated by reducing West Indies to 5 for 3 on the first morning. The destroyers were the less-than-threatening Ravi Pushpakumara and Sajeewa de Silva, but a Brian Lara century in the second innings gave the Windies the draw they needed to clinch a 1-0 series victory.
Other birthdays
1897 Cyril Francois (South Africa)
1972 Paras Mhambrey (India)
1972 Paras Mhambrey (India)