September 12 down the years
England's Ashes
A modern classic is sealed
Ending a 16-year wait • AFP
2005
The end of a 16-year famine for English cricket, and the culmination of one of the greatest series of all time. Needing a draw to regain the Ashes after eight desperately one-sided rubbers, England were handily placed on the final morning of a weather-interrupted match. But Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath - making their final appearances in England - weren't about to go quietly. England slipped to 127 for 5 before lunch - a lead of 134 - and that might have been even worse but for a crucial reprieve for Kevin Pietersen, by Warne himself at first slip. Seizing his moment, Pietersen opted for an all-out assault, clubbing seven sixes in a thrilling 158 to carry England beyond the point of no return and trigger the mother and father of all celebrations.
The end of a 16-year famine for English cricket, and the culmination of one of the greatest series of all time. Needing a draw to regain the Ashes after eight desperately one-sided rubbers, England were handily placed on the final morning of a weather-interrupted match. But Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath - making their final appearances in England - weren't about to go quietly. England slipped to 127 for 5 before lunch - a lead of 134 - and that might have been even worse but for a crucial reprieve for Kevin Pietersen, by Warne himself at first slip. Seizing his moment, Pietersen opted for an all-out assault, clubbing seven sixes in a thrilling 158 to carry England beyond the point of no return and trigger the mother and father of all celebrations.
1937
The first of West Indies' great post-war fast bowlers was born. After one of the longest run-ups in Test cricket, Wes Hall, gold chain bobbing at his throat, bowled genuinely fast. And he could do it all day, as in his marathon spell in the famous Lord's Test of 1963, when he bowled unchanged for over three hours on the last day. His partnership with Charlie Griffith on that tour was the stuff of English nightmares. Hall enjoyed the dramatic moment as much as anyone: he bowled the last over of the first tied Test, in Brisbane in 1960-61. He took 192 wickets in 48 Tests (exactly four a game), with best figures of 7 for 69 against England in Kingston in 1959-60, when he was at his frightening fastest.
The first of West Indies' great post-war fast bowlers was born. After one of the longest run-ups in Test cricket, Wes Hall, gold chain bobbing at his throat, bowled genuinely fast. And he could do it all day, as in his marathon spell in the famous Lord's Test of 1963, when he bowled unchanged for over three hours on the last day. His partnership with Charlie Griffith on that tour was the stuff of English nightmares. Hall enjoyed the dramatic moment as much as anyone: he bowled the last over of the first tied Test, in Brisbane in 1960-61. He took 192 wickets in 48 Tests (exactly four a game), with best figures of 7 for 69 against England in Kingston in 1959-60, when he was at his frightening fastest.
1901
Although his performance was upstaged by Gilbert Jessop's typically explosive 233, it was CB Fry who set a record on this day that hasn't been broken. Playing for the Rest of England against Yorkshire at Lord's, CB scored 105 ("a beautiful innings" according to the Wisden Almanack). It was his sixth consecutive first-class century, setting a record equalled only by Don Bradman in 1938-39 and Mike Procter in 1970-71. The Rest made 526 and won by an innings.
Although his performance was upstaged by Gilbert Jessop's typically explosive 233, it was CB Fry who set a record on this day that hasn't been broken. Playing for the Rest of England against Yorkshire at Lord's, CB scored 105 ("a beautiful innings" according to the Wisden Almanack). It was his sixth consecutive first-class century, setting a record equalled only by Don Bradman in 1938-39 and Mike Procter in 1970-71. The Rest made 526 and won by an innings.
1977
Birth of a tall left-arm seamer. Nathan Bracken became a regular in Australia's one-day team in the mid 2000s and took 46 wickets in 2006, performing creditably in the big tournaments that Australia won - the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. After the 2008 West Indies tour he was, for a time, the No. 1-ranked one-day bowler in the world, but he was then sidelined by a serious knee injury and he lost his central contract in 2010. Two years later Bracken sued Cricket Australia and three medical specialists over a career-ending knee injury he suffered in 2007. In 2013 he decided to enter the political arena - choosing to contest the Central Coast seat as an independent.
Birth of a tall left-arm seamer. Nathan Bracken became a regular in Australia's one-day team in the mid 2000s and took 46 wickets in 2006, performing creditably in the big tournaments that Australia won - the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. After the 2008 West Indies tour he was, for a time, the No. 1-ranked one-day bowler in the world, but he was then sidelined by a serious knee injury and he lost his central contract in 2010. Two years later Bracken sued Cricket Australia and three medical specialists over a career-ending knee injury he suffered in 2007. In 2013 he decided to enter the political arena - choosing to contest the Central Coast seat as an independent.
2022
England knocked off the 33 runs they needed for a win the third Test against South Africa, and took the series 2-1. After they were beaten by an innings in the first Test, it seemed England's attack-at-all-costs "Bazball" template might have been discredited but they had the last laugh with a whopping win in the second match, and here at The Oval they producedthe quickest result in a Test in England since 1912, a fitting conclusion to a series that involved nine days of play in the three matches. Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad took 14 wickets between them, and Broad went past Glenn McGrath on the all-time wicket-takers' list. In a low-scoring game, 60s by Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley made the difference.
England knocked off the 33 runs they needed for a win the third Test against South Africa, and took the series 2-1. After they were beaten by an innings in the first Test, it seemed England's attack-at-all-costs "Bazball" template might have been discredited but they had the last laugh with a whopping win in the second match, and here at The Oval they produced
1948
If Lillee and Thomson were the tormentors in chief in the mid-1970s, batters didn't get much respite when Australia's first-change came on. Max Walker, who was born today, was known as Tangles because he bowled off the wrong foot - but no one chuckled at his relentless support bowling. And when the terrifying twosome were injured, Walker was an effective front-line bowler in his own right. On the Caribbean tour of 1972-73, for example, he took 26 wickets to help win the series 2-0. In the sixth Test in Melbourne in 1974-75, he took 8 for 143 in an England innings of 529. His best Test figures were also the most expensive eight-for in international history, but typical of Walker, who never said die.
If Lillee and Thomson were the tormentors in chief in the mid-1970s, batters didn't get much respite when Australia's first-change came on. Max Walker, who was born today, was known as Tangles because he bowled off the wrong foot - but no one chuckled at his relentless support bowling. And when the terrifying twosome were injured, Walker was an effective front-line bowler in his own right. On the Caribbean tour of 1972-73, for example, he took 26 wickets to help win the series 2-0. In the sixth Test in Melbourne in 1974-75, he took 8 for 143 in an England innings of 529. His best Test figures were also the most expensive eight-for in international history, but typical of Walker, who never said die.
1968
Right-arm seamer Richard Snell, born today, played in both South Africa's first ODI and first Test after readmission. His best performance came in that historic Test match in Barbados. South Africa lost the match but Snell took 8 for 157, including the wickets of Desmond Haynes and captain Richie Richardson in both innings. He took eight wickets in nine World Cup matches in 1992.
Right-arm seamer Richard Snell, born today, played in both South Africa's first ODI and first Test after readmission. His best performance came in that historic Test match in Barbados. South Africa lost the match but Snell took 8 for 157, including the wickets of Desmond Haynes and captain Richie Richardson in both innings. He took eight wickets in nine World Cup matches in 1992.
2017
An all-star World XI played the first of a series of three T20Is in Lahore - heralded as the return of international cricket to Pakistan in a big way, eight years after the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in the same city brought an end to visits by international teams. Zimbabwe, Kenya and Afghanistan had toured in the mid-2010s, but this was a truly global squad, led by Faf du Plessis and containing the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Hashim Amla, Darren Sammy and David Miller. The match itself was a comfortable win for Pakistan, who made 197 and won by 20 runs.
An all-star World XI played the first of a series of three T20Is in Lahore - heralded as the return of international cricket to Pakistan in a big way, eight years after the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in the same city brought an end to visits by international teams. Zimbabwe, Kenya and Afghanistan had toured in the mid-2010s, but this was a truly global squad, led by Faf du Plessis and containing the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Hashim Amla, Darren Sammy and David Miller. The match itself was a comfortable win for Pakistan, who made 197 and won by 20 runs.
1925
In the season in which he passed WG Grace's total of 126 first-class hundreds, Jack Hobbs set another record right at the end. Playing for the Rest of England against the champions, Yorkshire, he made 106 in the first innings. It was the Master's 16th first-class century of the season, a record until Denis Compton hit 18 in 1947.
In the season in which he passed WG Grace's total of 126 first-class hundreds, Jack Hobbs set another record right at the end. Playing for the Rest of England against the champions, Yorkshire, he made 106 in the first innings. It was the Master's 16th first-class century of the season, a record until Denis Compton hit 18 in 1947.
1932
Birth of classy strokeplayer Waqar Hassan, whose only Test century was a big one: 189 against New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56. His partnership of 308 with wicketkeeper Imtiaz Ahmed was Pakistan's first 300-run stand in Tests and is still their highest for the seventh wicket against any country. Pakistan won by four wickets. Waqar made six other Test fifties, including 97 in Calcutta in 1952-53.
Birth of classy strokeplayer Waqar Hassan, whose only Test century was a big one: 189 against New Zealand in Lahore in 1955-56. His partnership of 308 with wicketkeeper Imtiaz Ahmed was Pakistan's first 300-run stand in Tests and is still their highest for the seventh wicket against any country. Pakistan won by four wickets. Waqar made six other Test fifties, including 97 in Calcutta in 1952-53.
1979
A partnership of 222 between Allan Border (162) and his captain Kim Hughes (100) made up the bulk of Australia's first-innings total of 390 in Madras. In his first bowl in Test cricket, slow left-armer Dilip Doshi finished with figures of 6 for 103, which set him on the way to a rare little record: he, Clarrie Grimmett and Saeed Ajmal are the only bowlers to take 100 Test wickets after starting their international careers when they were over 30.
A partnership of 222 between Allan Border (162) and his captain Kim Hughes (100) made up the bulk of Australia's first-innings total of 390 in Madras. In his first bowl in Test cricket, slow left-armer Dilip Doshi finished with figures of 6 for 103, which set him on the way to a rare little record: he, Clarrie Grimmett and Saeed Ajmal are the only bowlers to take 100 Test wickets after starting their international careers when they were over 30.
2014
Yorkshire won their 32nd County Championship title after thumping Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge - their fifth innings win of the season. They won eight and lost only one out of 15 matches. Five Yorkshire players from the Notts match had played Test cricket for England in the previous 12 months - Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom, the last of whom took nine wickets at Trent Bridge.
Yorkshire won their 32nd County Championship title after thumping Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge - their fifth innings win of the season. They won eight and lost only one out of 15 matches. Five Yorkshire players from the Notts match had played Test cricket for England in the previous 12 months - Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom, the last of whom took nine wickets at Trent Bridge.
1988
Birth of a Pakistani left-arm quick with a side-on action. Rahat Ali made his Test debut in 2013 in South Africa, taking a six-for in his second Test, in Centurion, and seven wickets in Pakistan's defeat to Zimbabwe in Harare. He seemed to struggle on the flat and dry pitches of the UAE, Pakistan's home after 2009, picking up only six wickets in his first four Tests there. But against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in November 2014, Rahat produced a stellar performance, at one point in the match boasting figures of 8-7-1-1 and finishing with 6 for 70. An injury replacement for Junaid Khan in the 2015 World Cup, Rahat took seven wickets in five matches. He performed a similar role in Tests thereafter, being picked as a replacement when the strike bowlers were injured.
Birth of a Pakistani left-arm quick with a side-on action. Rahat Ali made his Test debut in 2013 in South Africa, taking a six-for in his second Test, in Centurion, and seven wickets in Pakistan's defeat to Zimbabwe in Harare. He seemed to struggle on the flat and dry pitches of the UAE, Pakistan's home after 2009, picking up only six wickets in his first four Tests there. But against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in November 2014, Rahat produced a stellar performance, at one point in the match boasting figures of 8-7-1-1 and finishing with 6 for 70. An injury replacement for Junaid Khan in the 2015 World Cup, Rahat took seven wickets in five matches. He performed a similar role in Tests thereafter, being picked as a replacement when the strike bowlers were injured.
Other birthdays
1924 Lawrence Anderson "Fish" Markham (South Africa)
1972 Barry Seebaran (Canada)
1973 Deon Kotze (Namibia)
1924 Lawrence Anderson "Fish" Markham (South Africa)
1972 Barry Seebaran (Canada)
1973 Deon Kotze (Namibia)