November 16 down the years
The king of swing
The man who took reverse to a new level
Mind your toes, please • Getty Images
1971
Birth of the Burewala Bombshell. There have been few more scintillating sights in cricket history than Waqar Younis in his pomp. With batters hopping and stumps flying, he and Wasim Akram took reverse swing to a new level in the early 1990s with their toe-crushing yorkers. He was at his best in the early 1990s - after bursting onto the scene against New Zealand in 1990-91, Waqar took 109 wickets over a three-year period at an average of 18.07 and the incredible strike rate of 33.55 balls per wicket. He later became captain of Pakistan, and took 7 for 36 - the second best figures in ODI history - against England at Headingley in 2001. He was also a huge success in county cricket, first for Surrey and then Glamorgan, for whom he took a career-best 8 for 17 against Sussex in Swansea in 1997. After retirement, Waqar coached Pakistan and was instrumental in them becoming No. 1 in Tests, even though they achieved it after the end of his tenure.
Birth of the Burewala Bombshell. There have been few more scintillating sights in cricket history than Waqar Younis in his pomp. With batters hopping and stumps flying, he and Wasim Akram took reverse swing to a new level in the early 1990s with their toe-crushing yorkers. He was at his best in the early 1990s - after bursting onto the scene against New Zealand in 1990-91, Waqar took 109 wickets over a three-year period at an average of 18.07 and the incredible strike rate of 33.55 balls per wicket. He later became captain of Pakistan, and took 7 for 36 - the second best figures in ODI history - against England at Headingley in 2001. He was also a huge success in county cricket, first for Surrey and then Glamorgan, for whom he took a career-best 8 for 17 against Sussex in Swansea in 1997. After retirement, Waqar coached Pakistan and was instrumental in them becoming No. 1 in Tests, even though they achieved it after the end of his tenure.
1862
Birth of the man known as "The Terror". Australian seamer Charlie Turner was a formidable opponent, particularly on wet surfaces, and he took his 101 Test wickets at a startling average of 16.53. Among Aussies with 100 wickets, the next best, Alan Davidson, conceded exactly four more runs per wicket. With his long, rhythmic run and virtually square-on delivery, Turner took 6 for 15 on debut against England in Sydney in 1886-87. And in 1888 he took 21 wickets at an average of 12, despite England winning two of the three matches by an innings. In 155 first-class matches in all, he took an improbable 35 10-fors. He died in Sydney in 1944.
Birth of the man known as "The Terror". Australian seamer Charlie Turner was a formidable opponent, particularly on wet surfaces, and he took his 101 Test wickets at a startling average of 16.53. Among Aussies with 100 wickets, the next best, Alan Davidson, conceded exactly four more runs per wicket. With his long, rhythmic run and virtually square-on delivery, Turner took 6 for 15 on debut against England in Sydney in 1886-87. And in 1888 he took 21 wickets at an average of 12, despite England winning two of the three matches by an innings. In 155 first-class matches in all, he took an improbable 35 10-fors. He died in Sydney in 1944.
2013
The day India wept. Sachin Tendulkar retired from cricket at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, his home ground, bringing the curtains down on a glittering international career that spanned 24 years. India thumped West Indies by an innings and 126 runs to wrap up the series 2-0 but the focus was entirely on Tendulkar, who cracked an energetic 74 before he edged to first slip on the second day. The match ended on the third morning, after which Tendulkar delivered a stirring speech in front of a doting crowd, and then took a victory lap of the stadium, hoisted aloft by his team-mates. His final act on a cricket ground was to pay his respects to the pitch, after which he climbed the stairs to the dressing room. And he was done.
The day India wept. Sachin Tendulkar retired from cricket at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, his home ground, bringing the curtains down on a glittering international career that spanned 24 years. India thumped West Indies by an innings and 126 runs to wrap up the series 2-0 but the focus was entirely on Tendulkar, who cracked an energetic 74 before he edged to first slip on the second day. The match ended on the third morning, after which Tendulkar delivered a stirring speech in front of a doting crowd, and then took a victory lap of the stadium, hoisted aloft by his team-mates. His final act on a cricket ground was to pay his respects to the pitch, after which he climbed the stairs to the dressing room. And he was done.
2023
Australia defeated South Africa by three wickets at Eden Gardens to make it to their eighth ODI World Cup final. South Africa's big-hitting line-up crumbled to 24 for 4, but their No. 6, David Miller, played one of the finest innings of the tournament, a century, that got them to 213, which was, coincidentally, the target South Africa chased against Australia in the unforgettable tied 1999 World Cup semi-final. Australia's chase began smoothly before the spinners, Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, reined them in. Maharaj dismissed top scorer Travis Head, and Shamsi got rid of Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell in successive overs, but the target was too small to defend successfully and Australia got there seven wickets down, with about three overs to spare.
Australia defeated South Africa by three wickets at Eden Gardens to make it to their eighth ODI World Cup final. South Africa's big-hitting line-up crumbled to 24 for 4, but their No. 6, David Miller, played one of the finest innings of the tournament, a century, that got them to 213, which was, coincidentally, the target South Africa chased against Australia in the unforgettable tied 1999 World Cup semi-final. Australia's chase began smoothly before the spinners, Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, reined them in. Maharaj dismissed top scorer Travis Head, and Shamsi got rid of Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell in successive overs, but the target was too small to defend successfully and Australia got there seven wickets down, with about three overs to spare.
1982
Just another day at the office for Chris Tavaré, who took 63 minutes to get off the mark in Perth. In all, Tavaré made 9 from 82 balls, and in the first innings he took almost eight hours over 89. In the course of that innings he was stuck on 66 for 90 minutes. The match itself was a fairly dull draw, notable for a freak injury to Terry Alderman, who rugby-tackled a pitch invader and dislocated his shoulder so badly that he did not play first-class cricket again that season. The match was also notable for Norman Cowans becoming England's 500th Test cricketer.
Just another day at the office for Chris Tavaré, who took 63 minutes to get off the mark in Perth. In all, Tavaré made 9 from 82 balls, and in the first innings he took almost eight hours over 89. In the course of that innings he was stuck on 66 for 90 minutes. The match itself was a fairly dull draw, notable for a freak injury to Terry Alderman, who rugby-tackled a pitch invader and dislocated his shoulder so badly that he did not play first-class cricket again that season. The match was also notable for Norman Cowans becoming England's 500th Test cricketer.
1983
The third Test, in Ahmedabad, proved to be a landmark match for Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, but West Indies were still victorious by 138 runs. In the course of his first-innings 90, Gavaskar overtook Geoff Boycott as the top run scorer in Test history, while Kapil (9 for 83) became the tenth person and the first captain to take nine wickets in a Test innings. But in a low-scoring game India were blown away as they chased 242 to win. Michael Holding, fresh from spanking 58, took out the top order with 4 for 30, and at 39 for 7 and then 63 for 9, India were in danger of humiliation. They recovered to 103, but West Indies took a 2-0 lead in the six-match series with three still to play. An eventual 3-0 victory left nobody in any doubt as to their ability to thrive in all conditions.
The third Test, in Ahmedabad, proved to be a landmark match for Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, but West Indies were still victorious by 138 runs. In the course of his first-innings 90, Gavaskar overtook Geoff Boycott as the top run scorer in Test history, while Kapil (9 for 83) became the tenth person and the first captain to take nine wickets in a Test innings. But in a low-scoring game India were blown away as they chased 242 to win. Michael Holding, fresh from spanking 58, took out the top order with 4 for 30, and at 39 for 7 and then 63 for 9, India were in danger of humiliation. They recovered to 103, but West Indies took a 2-0 lead in the six-match series with three still to play. An eventual 3-0 victory left nobody in any doubt as to their ability to thrive in all conditions.
1940
Birth of one of the few men to play Test cricket and League football in recent decades. Chris Balderstone played cricket for Yorkshire and Leicestershire, and football for Huddersfield, Carlisle and Doncaster, and in September 1975 he played in the County Championship until 6.30pm and kicked off for Doncaster an hour later. He was a scrapper of a batter and a useful left-arm spinner, particularly on wearing wickets, who was rather unfortunate to play his only two Tests against a formidable West Indies side in 1976. He went on to become a Test umpire between 1993 and 1996, and died of cancer in Cumbria in 2000.
Birth of one of the few men to play Test cricket and League football in recent decades. Chris Balderstone played cricket for Yorkshire and Leicestershire, and football for Huddersfield, Carlisle and Doncaster, and in September 1975 he played in the County Championship until 6.30pm and kicked off for Doncaster an hour later. He was a scrapper of a batter and a useful left-arm spinner, particularly on wearing wickets, who was rather unfortunate to play his only two Tests against a formidable West Indies side in 1976. He went on to become a Test umpire between 1993 and 1996, and died of cancer in Cumbria in 2000.
1827
Birth of James Southerton, at 49 years and 119 days the oldest man to make a Test debut when he appeared in the first Test of all, in Melbourne in March 1877. He was also the first Test cricketer to die, less than three months before the first Test, in England in 1880.
Birth of James Southerton, at 49 years and 119 days the oldest man to make a Test debut when he appeared in the first Test of all, in Melbourne in March 1877. He was also the first Test cricketer to die, less than three months before the first Test, in England in 1880.
1952
India hammered Pakistan by ten wickets in the decisive third Test to take a 2-1 lead; with the final two Tests drawn, it was enough to clinch the first series between the two teams. India were in control from the moment Pakistan slid to 60 for 6 on the first afternoon, and despite a brilliant 96 from the 17-year-old Hanif Mohammad (who was keeping wicket in Tests for the last time) that gave the first indication of his abundant talent, India romped home on the fourth day. Left-arm spinner Vinoo Mankad completed the Test double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in only his 23rd match. It was a record until 1979, when Ian Botham managed it in his 21st.
India hammered Pakistan by ten wickets in the decisive third Test to take a 2-1 lead; with the final two Tests drawn, it was enough to clinch the first series between the two teams. India were in control from the moment Pakistan slid to 60 for 6 on the first afternoon, and despite a brilliant 96 from the 17-year-old Hanif Mohammad (who was keeping wicket in Tests for the last time) that gave the first indication of his abundant talent, India romped home on the fourth day. Left-arm spinner Vinoo Mankad completed the Test double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in only his 23rd match. It was a record until 1979, when Ian Botham managed it in his 21st.
Other birthdays
1944 David O' Sullivan (New Zealand)
1968 Eboo Essop-Adam (Zimbabwe)
1983 Amit Jaggernauth (West Indies)
1944 David O' Sullivan (New Zealand)
1968 Eboo Essop-Adam (Zimbabwe)
1983 Amit Jaggernauth (West Indies)