Second week of July

6 JULY:

Born on this day were: Andrew Sandham (1890-1982), Test cricket's first triple-centurion who played 14 Tests and 23 innings for England; Anthony Robert 'Tony' Lewis (1937-), English batsman who was the last man to captain England on Test debut and who was later a BBC broadcaster and president of MCC; and Makhaya Ntini (1977-), seam bowler who is the first black African to play for South Africa.

In 1934, English middle-order batsman Elias Henry 'Patsy' Hendern scored 132 in the third Test against Australia at Old Trafford aged 45 years 151 days – still the oldest after Jack Hobbs to score a Test hundred.

In 1974, David Lloyd made 214 not out, against India at Edgbaston. This was Lloyd's second Test and he was on the field for the whole match becoming the fifth player to achieve this feat. It was also his highest first-class score and England won losing only two wickets in the match.

In 1987, Pakistan crushed England by an innings and 18 runs in the third Test at Headingley, Leeds. The inspiration came from Imran Khan, who took 3 for 37 and 7 for 40 and in the process became the first Pakistani to take 300 Test wickets. 

In 1993, English left-hander Graham Thorpe scored an unbeaten 114 on Test debut against Australia at Nottingham – he became the 14th Englishman and the only left-hander to do so.

In 1997, Steve Waugh completed his second hundred (116) of the match in the third Test against England at Old Trafford. He had scored 108 in the first innings. It was Steve Waugh's 14th Test century and the first instance of twin centuries in a Test by an Australian since DM Jones (against Pakistan, Adelaide 1989-90), and the first instance in an Ashes Test since AR Morris and DCS Compton (in Adelaide, 1946-47). This was the 45th instance of twin centuries in all Test matches. Australia won the match by 268 runs.

In 1999, Indian Test batsman M.L. Jaisimha who played in 39 Tests (1959-71) at an average of 30.68 died, aged 60. He became the first batsman in Test history to bat on all five days of a Test against Australia at Calcutta in 1959-60. A prolific scorer in domestic cricket, he was later a writer and national Test selector. 


7 JULY

Born on this day were: George Hearne (1856-1932), English all-rounder who was the oldest of the three Test-playing Hearne brothers (Frank and Alec were the others), and cousin of the famous J.T. Hearne; and Vincent Tancred (1875-1904), South African batsman who played one Test in 1898.

In 1868, Surrey's wicket-keeper Edward Pooley claimed a record 12 dismissals (eight caught, four stumped) against Sussex at The Oval. This record was equaled in 1938-39 by Donald Tallon, and by HB Taber in 1968-69. It was subsequently beaten by Wayne James who got 13 dismissals for Matabeleland against Mashonaland CD at Bulawayo in 1995-96.

In 1958, Arthur Milton scored an unbeaten 104 on Test debut for England against New Zealand at Leeds. He became the second Gloucestershire player to score a hundred on debut after WG Grace in 1880.

In 1993, the ICC ceased to be administered by MCC and became an independent organisation with its own CEO, the headquarter remaining at Lord's. The category of Foundation Member with its special rights was abolished. Sir Clyde Walcott was elected the first non-British chairman of ICC and he started his term on 1 October 1993.

In 1998, India's Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar set a new ODI opening partnership world record of 252 runs against Sri Lanka in the final of the Independence Cup in Colombo. Tendulkar's century in this match (128) was the 400th century in ODIs. India beat Sri Lanka by six runs. (He also scored the 300th century in ODIs when he scored 100 runs against Pakistan at Singapore on 5 April 1996.)

In 2005, full replacements ("supersubs") were used in a one-day international for the first time: England v Australia at Leeds. 


8 JULY

Born on this day were: Kenneth Farnes (1911-41), Essex seamer who played 15 Tests and was only 30 when he was killed in World War II, Clyde Butts (1957-), West Indies spinner who played in seven Tests; and Sourav 'Price of Calcutta' Ganguly (1972-), outstanding left-handed Indian batsman who is India's most successful Test captain.

In 1932, Herbert Sutcliffe scored his 100th first-class hundred of his career for Yorkshire against Gloucestershire. He became the seventh batsman in first-class history to do so.

In 1958, England's Arthur Milton became the first English player to be on the field through a complete Test match against New Zealand at Leeds.

In 1961, Fred Trueman took 5 for 0 in 24 balls to complete match figures of 11 for 88 and give England an eight-wicket victory in the third Test against Australia at Headingley.

In 1973, Wilfred Rhodes, English cricketer who during his career (1898-1930) completed more doubles (1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a single season) than any other player, and who played his last Test at the age of 52, died, aged 95. He was blind in the latter part of his life and was guided around Lord's by his good friend - the great all-rounder George Hirst.

In 1974, Ashok Mankad was dismissed in an unusual and tragic manner when his cap fell on the wicket and dislodged the bails in the third Test at Edgbaston. This happened when he was playing a rising delivery from Chris Old. Dilip Vengsarkar met similar fate in Brisbane in 1977-78 when his cap fell onto the stumps as he was avoiding a bouncer from Jeff Thomson.

In 1995, West Indies beat England by an innings and 64 runs in the third Test at Edgbaston. England were bowled out for 147 and 89 within 172.2 overs. Walsh took 8 for 99 in the match and it is England's lowest score on this ground.


9 JULY

Born on this day were: George Geary (1893-1981), Leicestershire seamer who played 14 Tests for England between the two World Wars; Roy McLean (1930-), South African batsman; and Venkatapathy 'Muscles' Raju (1969-), Indian left-arm spinner who played 28 Tests (and is so nicknamed because he does not have any).

In 1965, John Edrich scored 310 not out against New Zealand at Headingley, Leeds. Nobody has scored more runs in boundaries in a Test innings than Edrich did in his 310 not out. Edrich hit 52 fours and five sixes; that's 238 runs or 77 per cent of his innings. He was on the pitch throughout the match as England stormed home by an innings. 

In 1976, England were dismissed for a paltry 71 by the West Indies at Manchester. Michael Holding took 5 for 17 in 14.5 overs.

In 1982, Ian Botham hit 208 in only 220 balls – his highest Test score against India at The Oval. It was the fastest record Test double century in terms of balls faced (220) and currently lies third below Nathan Astle and Adam Gilchrist. This was Botham's tenth century in his 51st Test. In his last 51 Tests, he got only four more.

In 2003 T. Frost became only the fourth wicket-keeper to take a wicket-keeper's hat-trick when he took three consecutive catches off N.M. Carter for Warwickshire against Surrey at Edgbaston. The first such hat-trick had been taken by W.H. Brain while playing for Gloucestershire against Somerset at Cheltenham in 1893 which is also the only hat-trick of stumpings (off CL Townsend) till date. 


10 JULY

Sunny's birthday! Sunil Manohar Gavaskar (1949-), pre-eminent Indian opening batsman and captain, who was the first to score 10,000 Test runs, was born on this day in 1949. Impeccable technique and an ability to concentrate for long periods made him a run accumulator par excellence. He started early, making 774 runs in his debut series against the West Indies in 1970-71 – a record that still stands. He scored more than 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year on four occasions (1976, 1978, 1979 and 1983) and remains the only Indian batsman to score a century in each innings of a Test match on three occasions. His other unique record is less flattering – he is the only Indian to be dismissed off the first ball of a Test match on three occasions. Gavaskar is now a highly respected TV commentator.

Also born on this day were: Bob Catterall (1900-61), South African batsman; Keith Stackpole (1940-), Australian opener who scored seven centuries in 43 Tests; Tony Cozier (1940-), West Indian cricket writer and TV commentator; and Scott Styris (1975-), New Zealand all-rounder.

In 1884, persistent rain ruled out any play on the first day of Test cricket at Old Trafford. Tests in Manchester have been dogged by the weather ever since.

In 1971, it was the slowest day of Test cricket in England. England and Pakistan crawled to only 159 runs off 107.4 overs on the third day of the third Test at Headingley. England won by 25 runs.

In 1975, Graham Gooch made his Test debut against Australia in the first Test at Edgbaston. It was not the most auspicious start; he was out for a 'pair' – the only instance in an Ashes Test in the 20th century. Gooch was dropped after the next Test  when he made 6 and 31, but returned after three years to restart a career that would eventually yield an England-record 8,900 Test runs.

The last day of Test cricket for Sir Richards Hadlee. In 1990, Hadlee took 5 for 53 in the second innings in the third Test against England at Edgbaston including a wicket with his very last ball in Test cricket ( D.E. Malcolm lbw). England won by 114 runs with Devon Malcolm and Eddie Hemmings sharing 15 wickets.

In 1991, South Africa was elected a full member of the ICC. On the same day, the ICC agreed to form a panel to enforce the new Code of Conduct for Tests and ODIs to impose penalties for slow over rates, breaches of the Code and other ICC regulations, and to support the umpires in upholding the conduct of the game. ICC referees began to supervise Tests and ODIs under a pilot scheme in the 1991-92 season.

In 2003, Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel hit his maiden first-class century – 129 for India 'A' against Yorkshire at Headingley. 


11 JULY

Born on this day were: Jack Alabaster (1930-), New Zealand leg-spinner who took 49 Test wicket; and Jim Higgs (1950-), Australian wrist-spinner who played in 22 Tests between 1977-78 and 1980-81 and later became a Test selector.

In 1848, Kent's Edmund Hinkly took 10 for 48 against an England XI at Lord's in cricket's first known ten-wicket haul! He had taken six in the first innings as well, but despite being skittled for 120 and 74, England won by 55 runs.

In 1930, Don Bradman scored an unbeaten 309 in Australia's mammoth 458 for 3 on the first day of the third Test at Headingley. In terms of time, his double century (214 minutes) is the fastest in Test history. He became only the third man to make a century before lunch on the first day of a Test and remains the only man to make 300 runs in a day in a Test match. He was eventually dismissed for 334.

In 1968, Colin Cowdrey became the first man to make 100th Test appearance when he appeared for England in the third Test against Australia at Edgbaston. 

In 2006, Stanford T20 tournament, with huge cash prizes funded by American billionaire Allen Stanford, started in Antigua. 


12 JULY

Born on this day were: Bruce Taylor (1943-), New Zealand all-rounder who scored a century (105) and then took 5 for 86 in India's first innings at Calcutta in 1964-65 on debut – still the only man to make a century and take a five-wicket haul on Test debut; Graham Roope (1946-), Surrey and England batsman who played in 21 Tests ; Sanjay Manrekar (1965-), Indian batsman (son of the great Vijay) who averaged 37 from 37 Tests and is now a respected TV commentator and columnist; and Alan Mullally (1969-), English left-arm seamer.

In 1932, Headley Verity (Yorkshire) took the cheapest ten-wicket haul in first-class history when he devastated Nottinghamshire at Headingley with extraordinary figures of 19.4-16-10-10. It is also the only ten-wicket haul to include a hat-trick. At 38 for 0 in the second innings, Nottinghamshire led by 99. Then Verity worked his magic and they lost by ten wickets.

In 1955, England's Alec Bedser ended his Test career of 51 matches with a then world record total of 236 wickets when he played in the third Test against South Africa at Old Trafford.

In 1965, England's off-spinner Fred Titmus (26-17-19-5) took four New Zealand wickets for no runs in his 21st over (W, 0, W, W, 0, W) at Leeds.

In 1977, Surrey's John Edrich scored his 100th against Derbyshire at The Oval. It was his partner Graham Roope's birthday (see above).

In 1996, the first Super 8s tournament began in Kuala Lampur. It involved eight-a-side matches of 14 overs, in which a six was rewarded with eight runs, and batsmen had to retire upon reaching 50. Australia 'A', led by Darren Lehmann and including Adam Gilchrist won it,and Australia and India ended pointless.

In 1996, Pakistani opener Nazar Mohammad (5 Tests in 1952-53) and the father of Mudassar Nazar died, aged 75.

In 2005, David Shepherd umpired in his 171st and last one-day international.

In 2006, Ashwell Prince named as South Africa's first black captain, after Graeme Smith pulled out  from Sri Lanka tour due to an injury.