The Kandy Man

Murali: the world on his shoulders © AFP

1992
The Test debut of a bowler who was once controversial and is now nothing but successful. Having picked up just the lone wicket of Craig McDermott in the first innings in Colombo, offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan went on to dismiss Tom Moody and Mark Waugh off consecutive balls in the second essay. Australia looked to be all at sea against both Don Anurasiri and Muralitharan, who bowled 34 overs between them in that drawn match. Muralitharan was also no-balled seven times for throwing in a Test in Melbourne in 1995-96, but his action has been cleared by the ICC, leaving him free to do what he does best - bamboozle batsmen with the extravagant turn he gets from his loose-jointed arm. When he bowls, he's responsible for about a third of the wickets taken by Sri Lanka. He already has more than 750 Test wickets to his name and a slew of other records, including the unique one of taking 10 wickets in a match in four consecutive Tests on two separate occasions.

2005
Another remarkable finale in a remarkable Ashes series. Set 129 to win the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, England slipped to 57 for 4 and 116 for 7 before Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard managed to crawl over the finishing line, securing a three-wicket win and a 2-1 series lead. Channel 4, which 13 days earlier had attracted record viewing figures for the final overs of the Old Trafford Test, reported that 8.4 million people, or 45% of the UK TV audience, tuned in for the agonising last rites.

1995
The last day of one of the most amazing County Championship matches of all time. At the very least, Nottinghamshire must have felt safe from defeat when they made 527 in their first innings in Northampton (Tim Robinson 209, Graeme Archer 158) - only for Northamptonshire to reply with a colossal 781 for 7 declared, the highest total in their history and the highest ever against Nottinghamshire. Anil Kumble then took 5 for 43 as Notts made only 157 in their second innings. Their 527 is the highest score by a team losing a first-class match by an innings.

1913
Birth of Lindsay Hassett, perhaps best remembered as the Australian captain who lost the Ashes after 19 years despite winning the toss in all five Tests. But even in that 1953 series, his last, he demonstrated what a superb little batsman he was, hitting hundreds at Lord's. He averaged 46.56 in a Test career that had started in 1938.

1929
On a difficult pitch at Lord's, Kent's stylish England allrounder Frank Woolley "showed all his well-known skill" (said Wisden) in hitting 176 against Middlesex. This made him the sixth man to make 100 first-class hundreds. He finished his career with 145 centuries and scored a total of 58,969 first-class runs, second on the all-time list. He was also one of the greatest fielders of all time, the only non-wicketkeeper to take 1000 catches.

1957
The last hurrah of Denis Compton. Forced to retire by an ongoing knee problem which had dogged him for the best part of a decade, Compton signed off with 143 against Worcestershire at Lord's.

1983
The birth of a human slingshot. Lasith Malinga propelled himself to fame during the 2007 World Cup, where his extraordinary round-arm exocets helped carry Sri Lanka all the way to the final in Barbados against the eventual champions, Australia. Along the way he proved irresistible at times, not least against South Africa in Guyana, when he grabbed four wickets in consecutive deliveries.

1972
Ravindu Shah, who was born today, burst on to the scene in 1998 with three half-centuries in his first ODI series. Given his consistency, style and wristy strokeplay, Shah was soon talked about as a batsman of genuine class. He had an impressive 2003 World Cup with two half-centuries in the league stages and contributions of 34 and 46 besides. However, he was unable to completely live up to his promise due to injury and had his opportunities for Kenya curtailed as a result of infighting within the board.

1967
Pakistan were sliding to an innings defeat when Asif Iqbal was joined by Intikhab Alam at The Oval. Together they put on 190 for the ninth wicket, a Test record that lasted until 1997-98. Intikhab's 51 was an ideal foil for Asif's joyful 146 off 244 balls. Pakistan lost the Test and the series, but its final day belonged to them.

1956
Australia finished the match at The Oval and the series on 27 for 5, relieved to cling on for a draw but leaving the Ashes in England. Jim Laker took the last wicket, his 46th in the five matches, a record for a series in England. Nineteen of them were taken in the previous match, the famous fourth Test at Old Trafford.

1924
The birth of Tony MacGibbon, the fast-medium bowler who spearheaded New Zealand's attack from 1950 to 1958. He was also a useful late-order batsman and a superb slip fielder. On the 1953-54 tour of South Africa he was crippled by enteritis, but still took 22 Test wickets. His 35 runs in a low-scoring match in Auckland contributed considerably to New Zealand's maiden Test victory, against West Indies in 1955-56.

1914
In Somerset's second innings at Weston-super-Mare, Yorkshire slow left-armer Alonzo Drake took all 10 wickets, in 8.5 overs, finishing with figures of 10 for 35. He bowled unchanged throughout both innings.

1982
Death of a South African who was one of only 13 players to have made a Test debut after the age of 40. Geoff Chubb was that rarity in Test cricket, an opening bowler who played in glasses. When he made his debut, at Lord's and 6 for 51 at Old Trafford.

1996
Following in dad's hefty footsteps, Liam Botham took 5 for 67 on his first-class debut, for Hampshire v Middlesex at Portsmouth. Not bad for a future England A rugby player.

Other birthdays
1905 Cyril Walters (England)
1948 Murray Parker (New Zealand)