Ian Botham: a century, a 13-wicket haul, and still thirsting for more © Getty Images

1980
A one-man show in the Golden Jubilee Test against India in Bombay from the inimitable IT Botham, who became the first man to score a century and take ten wickets in a Test with a mighty performance. He took 6 for 58 and 7 for 48, and in between smacked a decisive 114 (nobody else reached 50 in the match), adding 171 for the sixth wicket with Bob Taylor, who also set a new Test record by taking 10 catches in the match. In statistical terms, this was Botham's zenith: after 18 Tests, he had made 1336 runs at an average of 40 and taken 139 wickets at a cost of 18.

1999
A riot in Calcutta. Nothing to do with Sachin Tendulkar's willow-wielding, but instead a response to him being controversially run out in the Asian Test Championship match against Pakistan. It wasn't the only one: as Pakistan moved towards victory on the final day, there was a three-hour delay as all spectators were removed from the ground. Pakistan's win owed most to a blistering 188 not out from Saeed Anwar, and came in spite of 13 wickets from Javagal Srinath. It was some comeback too: on the first morning Pakistan were 26 for 6.

1937
Birth of the new Bradman. That's how Norman O'Neill was hyped when he burst onto the scene in the late 1950s, but despite a Test average of 45, the tag inevitably proved to be a millstone round his neck. His high point came in the tied Test against West Indies in 1960-61, when he belted a Test-best 181, and at his peak O'Neill could be a devastating strokemaker, particularly off the back foot. He was also 12th man in the official New South Wales team of the 20th century. He died in 2008 aged 71.

2003
They had claimed Bangladesh's scalp in their first World Cup match for 24 years, but by their third fixture Canada had reverted to more familiar territory. Against Sri Lanka in Paarl, they were bowled out for 36 - back then the lowest total in ODI history, and nine runs worse than their previous record-low in a World Cup, 45 against England at Old Trafford in 1979. Their innings lasted for 18.4 overs, included five ducks and not a single score in double figures, and Sri Lanka rattled to victory inside five overs.

1995
In the first 120 years of Test cricket, no side came from behind to win a three-Test series overseas. Today Pakistan managed it with a 99-run win over Zimbabwe in Harare - and England and Sri Lanka have repeated the feat since. The Pakistanis had Inzamam-ul-Haq to thank: in a low-scoring match where only one other batsman passed 50, his meaty knocks of 101 and 83 made all the difference.

1994
The first day of the Test leg of England's tour of the Caribbean got off to a flier when Mike Atherton and Alec Stewart added 121 in comfortable style for the first wicket. Then the roof caved in. England were all out for 234, West Indies piled up a big lead despite sliding to 23 for 3, and England went down by eight wickets.

1891
A cricketing farmer is born. Jack "Farmer" White didn't turn it much for a left-arm spin bowler, instead relying on accuracy and variations of pace. He served England well between the reigns of Wilfred Rhodes and Hedley Verity, playing 14 of his 15 Tests after the age of 37. His finest hour came in the steaming heat of Adelaide in 1928-29, when his match figures were 124.5-37-256-13 in England's 12-run victory. His second-innings 8 for 126 is fourth in the Wisden 100.

Other birthdays
1965 John Commins (South Africa)
1969 Warren Wisneski (New Zealand)
1970 Ruwan Kalpage (Sri Lanka)