This Week Those Years!
View more historical moments in cricketSecond Week of February
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Let us take a trip down memory lane and recall some of the finest moments and incidents that occured during the second week of February.
5 FEBRUARY
Born on this day in 1889 were:
Elias Henry ‘Patsy’ Hendren (1889-1962), English batsman whose career included an astounding 170 centuries (second only to Jack Hobbs) and 57,611 first-class runs (He scored his best Test score of 205 not out against West Indies at Port of Spain on this day in 1930 – his 41st birthday);
Ernest Tyldesley (1889-1962), English batsman who scored more than 100 centuries and 38,874 first-class runs.
Also born on this day were:
Brian Luckhurst (1939-), English opening batsman of the 1960s and early 1970s;
Darren Lehman (1970-), Australian Test batsman who has the highest aggregate runs in the Sheffield Shield;
Tony Suji (1976-), Kenyan pace bowler;
Marlon Samules (1981-), West Indian all-rounder.
In 1970 South African John Traicos made his Test debut against Australia, in the second Test at Durban. (He took 1 for 27 and 2 for 70 in a match South Africa won by an innings and 129 runs.) On the same day Barry Richards hit the first of his two Test centuries when he scored 140 off only 164 deliveries against Australia at Durban. There would have been many more but for apartheid which restricted Richards to just four Test appearances.
In 1976 Australia completed a 5-1 series drubbing of West Indies, when they won the sixth and last Test at Melbourne by 165 runs. For the first time West Indies lost five matches in a Test series. It was also the last day of Test cricket for Lance Gibbs and Ian Redpath. Redpath was Man of the Match for his 101 and 70. (In 1958 Lance Gibbs had made his Test debut in the second Test at Port of Spain, against Pakistan on the same day – a Test career lasting 18 years to the day.)
In 1984 New Zealand beat England by an innings and 132 runs at Christchurch within three days. England failed to include a specialist spin bowler for only the third time in their Test history. It was England’s biggest defeat since 1973 and the first time since 1894-95 that it failed to total 100 in either innings (82 and 93). The match finished in 11 hours and 41 minutes of play.
In 1992 it was Dilip Vengsarkar’s last day of Test cricket – in the fifth Test at Perth against Australia. He made 1 and 4 in a match India lost by 300 runs. Nicknamed the ‘Colonel’ because his physique and beating resembled Col. C.K. Nayudu’s, his 6,868 runs came at an average of 42.13 and his three centuries at Lord’s still remain a record.
6 FEBRUARY
Born on this day were:
Albert Trott (1873-1914), Australian born all-rounder who played for both Australia and England and is famous as the only man to clear the pavilion at Lord’s (when he hit Monty Noble out the ground while playing for MCC against Australia);
Frederick Sewards ‘Fred’ Trueman (1931-), England’s best fast bowler ever whose record of 307 wickets was first bettered by Lance Gibbs in 1976;
David Capel (1963-), English all-rounder who played 15 Tests for his country;
Colin Miller (1964-), Australian bowler who bowled both off-spin and medium pace and holds the record for the highest number of wickets taken in Shield season (He made his debut in 1998-99 at age 34 and was also famous for his array of hair colours: red, blue, yellow, green, all part of his unique rotation system);
Brad Hogg (1971-), Australian slow left-arm chinaman bowler;
Fidel Edwards (1982-), West Indian seamer whose 6 for 22 against Zimbabwe in 2003 are the best figures by a debutante and included a wicket with his first ball in ODIs;
Brendon Taylor (1986-), Zimbabwe batsman, who once hit a six off the last ball of the match to give his side an improbable ODI win.
In 1947 Arthur Morris scored 124 not out in Australia’s second innings in the fourth Test against at Adelaide. He completed a double century for the match having scored 122 in the first innings; for England Denis Compton also scored two centuries (147 and 103 not out) – the first of only two occasions when two players have done this in the same Test match.
In 1948 Don Bradman retired hurt on 57 against India at Melbourne in what was his last Test innings in Australia.
In 1970 Graeme Pollock hit 274 (43 fours) in the second Test against Australia at Durban. It was the highest score in Tests by a South African until Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kirsten went one better in the last few years. Their record of 275 was bettered by Greame Smith who made 277 against England in 2003.
Two ‘youngest ever’ debuts today: In 1953 Australia’s youngest cricketer Ian Craig made his debut aged 17 years and 239 days, in the fifth Test against South Africa at Melbourne; and in 1997 Daniel Vettori became New Zealand’s youngest Test cricketer at 18 years and 10 days against England at Wellington.
In 1995 Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting played their last Test innings today at Perth. Between them Gooch and Gatting played 197 Tests, in which they scored over 13,000 runs.
In 1998 V.V.S. Laxman scored 301 not out for Hyderabad against Bihar at Jamshedpur in a super-league match of the Ranji Trophy. The next highest score was 35 as Hyderabad made 529 for 8 declared, in a match they won by an innings and 152 runs. Laxman is the only batsman to score two triple centuries in the Ranji Trophy.
7 FEBRUARY
Born on this day were:
Charles Dickens (1812-70), English novelist whose home at Gad’s Hill was the scene of a number of charity matches (He usually gave a guinea if the first ball – which he often bowled – was hit to the boundary and in 1857 it is said that Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen also played cricket here);
Alfred Lyttelton (1857-1913), English wicket-keeper who played four Tests from 1880 to 1884 and also played football for his country, apart from being an outstanding tennis player;
Athol Rowan (1921-98), South African off-spinner and useful late-order batsman whose elder brother Eric also played for South Africa;
Ronald Lefebvre (1963-), Glamorgan and Holland pace bowler;
Ryan Campbell (1972-), wicketkeeper batsman who appeared in two ODIs for Australia.
In 1838 the first recorded reference to sledging (thought it was not called that at the time) – the low slang and insulting remarks resorted to by Australians, as the Commercial Journal put it – was reported. It is believed that the term came into being in the mid-1960s when a New South Wales (NSW) player swore in front of his team-mate who happened to be escorting a lady at the time. This team-mate was said to have remarked: ‘Mate, you are as subtle as a sledgehammer.’ In 1966, soul singer Percy Sledge had a hit called ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ and consequently the NSW player was nicknamed ‘Percy.’ From then on anyone guilty of a faux pas in the presence of a lady was classed as a sledge. It was a term used only in relation to off-field behaviour but a later generation of players, unaware of its origin began to describe on-field antics as sledging. An obliging media ensured that the term gained currency.
In 1948 left-hander Robert Neil Harvey scored a century (153) in the fifth Test against India at Melbourne aged only 19 years and 121 days. It was only his second Test and he remains the youngest Australian to score a Test hundred.
In 1952 an impromptu rest day was called on what should have been the second day of the fifth Test between India and England at Madras, following the death of King George VI on February 6.
In 1982 Australia defeated England by three wickets in the final of the third women’s World Cup at Christchurch, New Zealand to lift the Hansells Vita Fresh Women’s World Cup.
The perfect ten! In 1999 Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble took all ten wickets (26.3-9-74-10) in Pakistan’s second innings to spin India to a 212-run victory in the second Test at New Delhi. He became only the second player after Jim Laker to perform this feat. His ten wickets came in a spell of 18.2 overs for 37 runs and swept India to their first victory over Pakistan in 23 Tests, dating back to 1979-80. With India in a comfortable position, Mohammad Azharuddin instructed Javagal Srinath at the other end to bowl wide of the stumps. Richard Stokes of Surrey witnessed both perfect tens, making him possibly the only man to be present on both occasions.
8 FEBRUARY
Born on this day were:
Manohar Hardikar (1936-), bespectacled Indian all-rounder who played successfully for Bombay but played in only two Tests (both against West Indies in 1958-59);
Mohammad Azharuddin (1963-), outstanding Indian batsman and captain who hit three consecutive centuries on debut (a unique feat), and was the first batsman to reach 9,000 runs in ODI cricket (His career unfortunately ended in disgrace after he was banned for life for match-fixing);
Cameron Cuffy (1970-), West Indian pace bowler;
Mohammad Khaled Mashud ‘Pilot’ (1976-), Bangladeshi Test wicket-keeper.
In 1879 English captain Lord Harris was attacked with a stick and one of his teammates A.N. ‘Monkey Hornby’ punched in the face during cricket’s first riot at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The invasion came after New South Wales XI opener Billy Murdoch was given run out by a Victorian umpire George Coulthard. Play was abandoned for the day, as the bookmaking fraternity was threatened with serious losses if England won. If recent match-fixing scandals have shaken the foundations of cricket it would do well to remember that gambling was also at the root of cricket’s first riot. Betting was common practice in England from the earliest times and in the 1730s Frederick, Prince of Wales played cricket for large bets. Umpiring at the other end was Edmund Barton, who became the first and only first-class umpire to become a Prime Minister – Australia’s first in 1901-02.
In 1949 India fell six runs short of a famous victory in the fifth Test against West Indies at the Brabourne Stadium, Bombay. Needing 361 for victory India made 355, with two wickets in hand, at the close of play. It is believed that the umpire A.R. Joshi miscounted and called over with one ball still to be bowled. Another version holds that there was still time left for another over when he called ‘Time.’
In 1952 India’s first Test victory, at the 25th attempt, was set up this day by left-arm spinner Vinoo Mankad, who took 8 for 55 against England in the fifth Test at Madras. There were four stumpings in the innings, and five in the match, for Khokhan Sen – all off Mankad – both records until Kiran More (thanks to Narendra Hirwani) bettered it in 1987-88 against the West Indies. Mankad added four more wickets in the second innings, and with Pankaj Roy (111) and Polly Umrigar (130) making hundreds, England were beaten by an innings and eight runs.
In 1973 Mushtaq Mohammad (201) and Asif Iqbal (175) put on a record 350 runs (in 275 minutes) for the fourth wicket against New Zealand in the second Test at Dunedin. It was Pakistan’s highest partnership for any wicket in Tests at the time and saw them emerge victors by an innings and 166 runs. In 1977 Waheed Mirza (324) and mansoor Akhtar (224 not out) set a new world record opening partnership playing for Karachi Whites against Quetta at Karachi. They put on 561 in six and a half hours, both making their maiden first-class centuries. They beat the previous record of 555 put on by Holmes and Sutcliffe in 1932.
In 1979 West Indian batsman Faoud Bacchus scored 250 against India in the sixth Test at Kanpur. He was out hit-wicket to S. Venkataraghavan. The match ended in a tame draw after West Indies made 452 in reply to India’s 644 in the first innings.
In 1994 Indian cricketer Kapil Dev surpassed sir Richard Hadlee’s record of 431 Test wickets (then the highest in Test cricket) when he got the wicket of Hasan Tillekeratne of Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad. The feat was saluted by 432 balloons and a minute’s standing ovation. It was India’s third successive innings victory for a series clean sweep: the first time this was achieved since 1928 (England v West Indies) and also India’s sixth consecutive home victory by an innings.
9 FEBRUARY
Born on this day were:
James Charles ‘Jim’ Laker (1922-86), English off-spinner who took 19 wickets in the Old Trafford Test against Australia in 1956 (including the record 10 for 53 in the second innings) and who was a respected commentator on BBC after retirement;
Qasim Omar (1957-) Pakistani batsman who played in 26 Tests;
Glenn McGrath (1970-), Australian pace bowler who was the spearhead of the Australian bowling and who has the dubious distinction of scoring a golden duck (first ball duck) on both his Test and ODI debuts.
In 1904 Victoria were bowled out for 15, the lowest score in Australian first-class cricket history, against the MCC under Pelham Warner. Harry Trott made nine out of that total. Only ten men batted for the Aussies but it is unlikely that the injured Jack Saunders with a first-class average of four could really have made a difference.
In 1964 Hanumant Singh scored a century on his debut, 105 in the fourth Test against England at Delhi. Colin Cowdrey made 151, and the match petered out into a draw when Mansur Ali Khan, Nawab of Pataudi Jr. made India’s first double hundred against England.
In 1986 Mohinder Amarnath became the first batsman to be given out for handling the ball in a ODI at Melbourne against Australia. (He also has the dubious distinction of being ruled out for obstructing the field.)
In 2003 the ‘dot ball,’ a delivery from which batsman fails to score, was recognised as significant to ODI cricket. The concept was launched at Newlands Stadium during the opening match of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. On the same day Craig Wishart scored an unbeaten 172 against Namibia in a World Cup match at Harare. It was Zimbabwe’s highest individual ODI score, as was the total of 340 for 2, a team record. Zimbabwe completed an 86-run victory by the Duckworth-Lewis method.
10 FEBRUARY
Born on this day were:
Albert Neilson ‘Monkey’ Hornby (1874-1925), English batsman and captain who also played Rugby for England (He is one of only three men in Test history with a bowling average of 0 taking 1 for 0 off seven overs in his career);
Dr Herbert Vivian ‘Ranji’ Hordern (1884-1938), Australian leg-spinner and useful batsman who was called ‘Ranji’ because of his dark complexion;
John Hampshire (1941-), the first English batsman to make a century at Lord’s on his debut in 1969 and who later became a Test umpire;
Pranab Roy (1957-), Indian batsman (and a Test selector) who played only two Tests for India and who is the son of the late Pankaj Roy;
Michael Kasprowicz (1972-), pace bowler who played 38 Tests for Australia and is now a commentator.
In 1888 Australia were dismissed for 42 in the first innings against England at Sydney. This was their lowest total in Australia and the lowest in all Tests till 1902 when England dismissed them for 36. C.T.B. Turner had figures of 12 for 87 in the match.
In 1912 England’s Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes put on 323 for the first wicket against Australia at Melbourne – the first ever partnership of over 250 runs in Test history.
In 1934 the M.A. Chidambaran Stadium (Chepauk) at Madras became Test cricket’s 27th venue when it hosted its first Test, between India and England on this day. England won by 202 runs. It has produced the most number of decisive results among Indian grounds and also holds the record for the most number of Test wins for India.
In 1952 India won its first ever Test match when it beat England at Madras. Led by Vijay Hazare, India won by an innings and eight runs. Vinoo Mankad took 8 for 55 the best bowling performance till date against England by an Indian.
In 1973 Pakistani Mushtaq Mohammad scored 201 and took 5 for 49 against New Zealand at Dunedin to become only the second all-rounder in Test history to do the rare double of 200-runs and five-wickets in an innings of the same Test match.
In 1981 India came close to forfeiting the third Test at Melbourne when skipper Sunil Gavaskar so vehemently disagreed with a lbw decision that he urged his partner Chetan Chauhan to leave the field with him. However the Indian team manager met the players at the gate and ordered Chauhan to continue his innings. Just as well, since India won handily the next day (its last Test victory over Australia in Australia till December 2003 when they won the second Test at Adelaide). On the same day Australian Dennis Lillee became his country’s highest wicket-taker (at the time) when he claimed his 249th wicket. Lillee reminded Gavaskar of this incident when Gavaskar delivered the Lord Cowdrey Lecture in July 2003 on the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ and condemned sledging in the game.
In 1982 Indian wicket-keeper K.R. Meherhomji who played his sole Test against England in 1936 died, aged 70. He was one of the main players of the Parsees in the 1930s playing in the Bombay Quadrangular and once hit four fours off Harold Larwood in a Quadrangular match in 1936.
In 1994 Sri Lankan batsman Marvan Atapattu got a pair in the third Test at Ahmedabad against India. This made it five ducks and a 1 (that, apparently, an uncalled leg-bye) in his first six Test innings. No one could have guessed that he would go on to score six double centuries in Test cricket.
11 FEBRUARY
Born on this day were:
John William ‘Young Jack’ Hearne (1891-1965), English all-rounder who was a right-hand batsman and a leg-break and googly bowler;
William Morris ‘Bill’ Lawry (1937-), Australian left-handed opening batsman and captain who later became a TV commentator (He was called ‘The Phantom’ because he was addicted to the comic strip bearing the same name);
Bevan Congdon (1938-), New Zealand batsman and captain who made his ODI debut against Pakistan at Christchurch on his 35th birthday.
In 1851 the first first-class game in Australia was played between Tasmania and Victoria at Launceston Racecourse. There were four ball overs and with no boundaries. Tasmania won the timeless match by three wickets.
In 1948 England’s Billy Griffith scored 140 on debut against the West Indies at Port of Spain, becoming the only English player to score his maiden first-class hundred in his very first Test innings. He was out to Frank Worrell who also made his debut in this Test.
In 1959 Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad appeared in his last Test match against West Indies at Delhi. At 41 years 305 days he was the oldest to appear in a Test match for India.
In 1973 New Zealand and Pakistan played in a ODI for the first time at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. New Zealand won by 22 runs.
In 1981 India beat Australia by 59 runs in the third Test at Melbourne to record its last victory in Australia till December 2003 when they won the second Test at Adelaide by four wickets. Australia were skittled for 83 chasing only 143 in the fourth innings to give India a famous victory and draw the series 1-1.
In 1984 Australia and the West Indies played the first ever tie in a ODI at Melbourne. Both finished on 222 runs but the West Indies lost fewer wickets.
In 1987 this was the start of the first day of the second Test between India and Pakistan at Calcutta. It is interesting because this was the match in which Sunil Gavaskar refused to play at Eden Gardens because he thought that he had been treated unfairly by the crowd in the past.
In a major sensation Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne flew home from the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, without bowling a single ball, after testing positive for a banned substance.
In 2007 England stunned Australia at Sydney to win CB Series finals 2-0.
Compiled by Rajneesh Gupta
