1999
The most famous one day cricket match in the history of cricket, and perhaps the most thrilling game of cricket in the world. The 100 overs that were play during the World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston had all the components. We all know about the grueling finale when the game had been tied, and Australia was able to progress to the final due to their better run rate than South Africa in the previous Super Six stage, but there was more to the game other than the heartbreaking final.
Then there were Michael Bevan and Steve Waugh quietly, guiding the way for Australia’s return after they had lost four wickets in a row for the score of 68; a masterclass in seam-bowling by Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald with a combined score in the range of 9 to 68. The show of the absolute champion of Shane Warne (4 for 29) after South Africa raced to 48 for 0; a spectacular performance from an infirm Jacques Kallis; and some incredible striking from Lance Klusener. However, with just two balls left and one run in the bag, Klusener set off on the run that would be his last, but only to discover that Donald was leading with his feet and South Africa’s dream ended in the cruelest way possible.
1981
Despite a fragile body and a string of accidents, Shane Watson, born today, hung on in international cricket for long enough to be an all-rounder who was successful in one-day cricket. In the crease, the player was a ferocious man with a big chest and was a right-handed follower of Matthew Hayden, and someone who didn’t require following through to get an edge. He had a great start in Test cricket, and during his first eight games as an opener, he recorded seven fifties and 120 but struggled to keep that level of regularity.
The lowest point was during 2013’s tour of India after he was dismiss and three others due to not completing a task given in the hands of coach Mickey Arthur. At the 2014 World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan following an intense battle with Wahab Riaz, He was 64 not out, as Australia took the title. He left international cricket in 2016 following his participation in the World T20, but one of his most memorable performances was two years later when he took the Chennai Super Kings to the IPL title by scoring 117 from just 57 balls in the championship final.
2022
England set a record in their history for having the best ODI score in the men’s game when they scored 498-4 in a match against the Netherlands at Amstelveen. Their previous record, 481, was set against Australia in the year 2018. Three centuries were pounce with Jos Buttler (162 still not out of 70) Dawid Malan (125 of 109) and Phil Salt (122 off 93) as well as the record-breaking 26 sixes were hit by Jos Buttler, with Buttler scoring 14. England had reached 488 with only two balls remaining and Liam Livingstone was able to only get one four off the last ball, which put the legendary 500 on the line. The Netherlands came out with a fierce fightback and were then bowler off for 266.
1930
Brian Statham, born today, was the quintessential English seamer – a disciple of line and length, and the original if-they-miss-I’ll-hit bowler (over 40% of his Test victims were bowler). He was also a real gentleman, modest, well-known, and always eager to shine on Frank Tyson or Fred Trueman. Statham was the good policeman in Trueman’s mishap. Between them, they were England’s most successful new-ball pairing. While Statham took 252 wickets, at an average of just 25, his workhorse status resulted in him only taking one 10-for in his 70 tests in the match against South Africa at Lord’s in 1960. The first-class record he had (2260 wickets with a strike rate of 16.37) in the time Statham was the primary player for Lancashire was an incredible feat. Leukemia was his cause of death in June of 2000.
1964
The birth of Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes, who looked like a pro in his debut season of Test cricket, before disappearing from the scene. In the series against New Zealand and South Africa in 1994, he performed admirably using gloves and bats and was particularly successful in saving his team from the Lord’s Test in match against New Zealand. But a harrowing tour of Australia came next: he scored just 72 runs in nine innings. His record fell apart and he was never chosen again. In the year 2018, Rhodes took over as the head coach of Bangladesh.
1956
The birthplace of spinner left arm Nick Cook, who only made his debut at Lord’s in the year 1983 after Phil Edmonds hit his back when he got out of a vehicle. Cook was 5 wickets in the debut innings, and also four five-fors during his first four Tests. After having taken 32 wickets at 17 average in the four Tests, he became a shambles in his final 11 Tests. included 20 wickets with an average of 57. see our latest article by clicking here.