September 2 down the years
Tall, lean and quick
Birth of an Indian fast bowler
Ishant Sharma showed promise on his first tour of Australia • AFP
1988
Birth of the 6ft 4in Ishant Sharma, who like Irfan Pathan before him, grabbed headlines during a tour of Australia in 2008, where his probing spell in the second innings in Perth set up India's win. But after a golden debut season, during which he was looked at as Zaheer Khan's successor, Ishant began to steadily lose pace. India's selectors tried to protect him by reducing his workload, but he struggled to recapture the form of his early period. When he completed 50 Tests in early 2013, he had among the worst averages for bowlers with 50 Test caps to their name, but the following year he was instrumental in India's famous Test win at Lord's, taking a career-best 7 for 74 in the match. A year later, he played a big part in India's Test series win in Sri Lanka, taking eight wickets at the SSC and going past 200 wickets in the process. In 2018 through early 2019, he enjoyed perhaps his finest year in the game, with 18 wickets in England, eight and 11 against South Africa and Australia away either side of it, and 11 in two Tests in the West Indies in mid-2019.
Birth of the 6ft 4in Ishant Sharma, who like Irfan Pathan before him, grabbed headlines during a tour of Australia in 2008, where his probing spell in the second innings in Perth set up India's win. But after a golden debut season, during which he was looked at as Zaheer Khan's successor, Ishant began to steadily lose pace. India's selectors tried to protect him by reducing his workload, but he struggled to recapture the form of his early period. When he completed 50 Tests in early 2013, he had among the worst averages for bowlers with 50 Test caps to their name, but the following year he was instrumental in India's famous Test win at Lord's, taking a career-best 7 for 74 in the match. A year later, he played a big part in India's Test series win in Sri Lanka, taking eight wickets at the SSC and going past 200 wickets in the process. In 2018 through early 2019, he enjoyed perhaps his finest year in the game, with 18 wickets in England, eight and 11 against South Africa and Australia away either side of it, and 11 in two Tests in the West Indies in mid-2019.
1980
As the rain-hit Centenary Test petered out at Lord's, Australia's Kim Hughes became only the third man to bat on all five days of a Test match. He made 117 and 84. But the day was probably more memorable for John Arlott's final stint behind the microphone. As the famous commentator ended his long career with the BBC's Test Match Special, play stopped and the whole ground stood to applaud him.
As the rain-hit Centenary Test petered out at Lord's, Australia's Kim Hughes became only the third man to bat on all five days of a Test match. He made 117 and 84. But the day was probably more memorable for John Arlott's final stint behind the microphone. As the famous commentator ended his long career with the BBC's Test Match Special, play stopped and the whole ground stood to applaud him.
2018
Moeen Ali returned to the England Test side and delivered a series win, taking 9 for 134 against India in Southampton. The match was more closely fought than the 60-run margin of victory suggested. On day one, India' seamers reduced England to 86 for 6 before their No. 8, Sam Curran, helped lift them to 246. India managed a slim lead thanks to a fighting unbeaten century by Cheteshwar Pujara. In their second innings, England were propped up by Jos Buttler and Curran again. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane put on a 101-run partnership in chase of a target of 245, but after their dismissals, to Moeen, India folded for 184.
Moeen Ali returned to the England Test side and delivered a series win, taking 9 for 134 against India in Southampton. The match was more closely fought than the 60-run margin of victory suggested. On day one, India' seamers reduced England to 86 for 6 before their No. 8, Sam Curran, helped lift them to 246. India managed a slim lead thanks to a fighting unbeaten century by Cheteshwar Pujara. In their second innings, England were propped up by Jos Buttler and Curran again. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane put on a 101-run partnership in chase of a target of 245, but after their dismissals, to Moeen, India folded for 184.
1972
In the Gillette Cup final at Lord's, Warwickshire's perfectly respectable 234 for 9 was put in perspective by Clive Lloyd. He had opened the bowling with 12 consecutive economical overs, and now did what he did best, hammering an unforgettable 126 to win the match. Lancashire became the only club to win any of the major English one-day trophies three years in a row. It was no coincidence that Lloyd appeared in all three finals.
In the Gillette Cup final at Lord's, Warwickshire's perfectly respectable 234 for 9 was put in perspective by Clive Lloyd. He had opened the bowling with 12 consecutive economical overs, and now did what he did best, hammering an unforgettable 126 to win the match. Lancashire became the only club to win any of the major English one-day trophies three years in a row. It was no coincidence that Lloyd appeared in all three finals.
1981
Six-foot-seven-inch Chris Tremlett, born today, established himself in the England Test side during the 2010-11 Ashes - where he took 18 wickets in three Tests, including eight in Perth, England's only defeat of the series - though he had been around, injury permitting, since 2005. Tremlett troubled batters with awkward bounce and also with seam movement from just short of a length, but in the Lord's Test of 2011, during the whitewash of India, he added swing to his repertoire, before hamstring and back injuries ruled him out again. He then came back for a single Test, the 2013 Ashes encounter in Brisbane, before fading away.
Six-foot-seven-inch Chris Tremlett, born today, established himself in the England Test side during the 2010-11 Ashes - where he took 18 wickets in three Tests, including eight in Perth, England's only defeat of the series - though he had been around, injury permitting, since 2005. Tremlett troubled batters with awkward bounce and also with seam movement from just short of a length, but in the Lord's Test of 2011, during the whitewash of India, he added swing to his repertoire, before hamstring and back injuries ruled him out again. He then came back for a single Test, the 2013 Ashes encounter in Brisbane, before fading away.
2019
India completed a whitewash of West Indies in three formats when they won the second Test by 257 runs in Kingston. West Indies fought harder in their second innings than they did in their first, when they were all out for 117, but India won with a day to spare. Hanuma Vihari, who made a hundred and a fifty, was declared Man of the Match, but it was Jasprit Bumrah - "the most complete bowler in the world", according to his captain, Virat Kohli - who set the win up with his 6 for 27 in the first innings, which included a hat-trick. Kohli himself became India's most successful Test captain with the victory, his 28th in charge. For West Indies, Jason Holder took five in the first innings, and Shamarh Brooks dug in for over three hours for his fifty, but there wasn't much else worth shouting about.
India completed a whitewash of West Indies in three formats when they won the second Test by 257 runs in Kingston. West Indies fought harder in their second innings than they did in their first, when they were all out for 117, but India won with a day to spare. Hanuma Vihari, who made a hundred and a fifty, was declared Man of the Match, but it was Jasprit Bumrah - "the most complete bowler in the world", according to his captain, Virat Kohli - who set the win up with his 6 for 27 in the first innings, which included a hat-trick. Kohli himself became India's most successful Test captain with the victory, his 28th in charge. For West Indies, Jason Holder took five in the first innings, and Shamarh Brooks dug in for over three hours for his fifty, but there wasn't much else worth shouting about.
1896
Death of Australian opening batter Nat Thomson, who played in the first two Test matches ever, both in Melbourne in 1876-77. In the opening game, he became the first man to be dismissed in Test cricket, bowled by England's Allen Hill for a single. He made his highest score (41) in his fourth and last innings.
Death of Australian opening batter Nat Thomson, who played in the first two Test matches ever, both in Melbourne in 1876-77. In the opening game, he became the first man to be dismissed in Test cricket, bowled by England's Allen Hill for a single. He made his highest score (41) in his fourth and last innings.
1967
In their first appearances in the Gillette Cup final, Kent and Somerset served up some serious excitement. From 138 for 1, Kent struggled to 193 all out thanks to fine seam bowling from Fred Rumsey, Kenny Palmer and Bill Alley. But it was much the same story with the Somerset innings: a good start of 58 for 1 followed by a collapse, triggered by Derek Underwood's slow-medium left-arm. Somerset were all out for 161 and didn't reach the final again until 1978.
In their first appearances in the Gillette Cup final, Kent and Somerset served up some serious excitement. From 138 for 1, Kent struggled to 193 all out thanks to fine seam bowling from Fred Rumsey, Kenny Palmer and Bill Alley. But it was much the same story with the Somerset innings: a good start of 58 for 1 followed by a collapse, triggered by Derek Underwood's slow-medium left-arm. Somerset were all out for 161 and didn't reach the final again until 1978.
1978
If it's September 2, it must be a Gillette Cup final - and Somerset must be losing it. Still without a major trophy on their sideboard, they were all out for 207 despite a typically hard-hit 80 by Ian Botham. They lost by five wickets to Sussex, who had already won the Cup twice before.
If it's September 2, it must be a Gillette Cup final - and Somerset must be losing it. Still without a major trophy on their sideboard, they were all out for 207 despite a typically hard-hit 80 by Ian Botham. They lost by five wickets to Sussex, who had already won the Cup twice before.
1996
As the Wisden Almanack reported, the early death of Paddy Clift "cast a pall over Leicestershire's Championship 1996 celebrations". A respected Rhodesian allrounder, Clift announced himself in the Leicestershire team with the astonishing figures of 8 for 17 (five bowled, three lbw) against MCC at Lord's in 1976. Although he never scored 1000 runs or took 100 wickets in a Championship season, he was an integral member of the team, taking two hat-tricks, scoring a century in 50 minutes, and helping them win the Sunday League in 1977 and the B&H Cup in 1985.
As the Wisden Almanack reported, the early death of Paddy Clift "cast a pall over Leicestershire's Championship 1996 celebrations". A respected Rhodesian allrounder, Clift announced himself in the Leicestershire team with the astonishing figures of 8 for 17 (five bowled, three lbw) against MCC at Lord's in 1976. Although he never scored 1000 runs or took 100 wickets in a Championship season, he was an integral member of the team, taking two hat-tricks, scoring a century in 50 minutes, and helping them win the Sunday League in 1977 and the B&H Cup in 1985.
1878
Surrey bowler Edward Barratt took all ten wickets in an innings on his home ground: 10 for 43 for the Players against the touring Australians at The Oval. He had some help with all ten: his victims were caught or stumped. The opening batter Charles Bannerman scored 51 in a total of 77. The Australians made only 89 in their second innings - but it was enough to win the match. On a dreadful pitch, typical of the time, the Players were all out for 82 and 76 and lost by eight runs.
Surrey bowler Edward Barratt took all ten wickets in an innings on his home ground: 10 for 43 for the Players against the touring Australians at The Oval. He had some help with all ten: his victims were caught or stumped. The opening batter Charles Bannerman scored 51 in a total of 77. The Australians made only 89 in their second innings - but it was enough to win the match. On a dreadful pitch, typical of the time, the Players were all out for 82 and 76 and lost by eight runs.
1857
How did Tom Groube, who was born today, ever get to bat for Australia? His highest first-class score was only 61, and in his only Test, at The Oval in 1880, he made 11 and 0. The previous winter he had averaged 155.33 for the East Melbourne club. So that explains it.
How did Tom Groube, who was born today, ever get to bat for Australia? His highest first-class score was only 61, and in his only Test, at The Oval in 1880, he made 11 and 0. The previous winter he had averaged 155.33 for the East Melbourne club. So that explains it.
Other birthdays
1866 Charles Vintcent (South Africa)
1893 Alfred Cooper (South Africa)
1912 Ernie Bromley (Australia)
1969 Stephen Peall (Zimbabwe)
1973 Indika de Saram (Sri Lanka)
1866 Charles Vintcent (South Africa)
1893 Alfred Cooper (South Africa)
1912 Ernie Bromley (Australia)
1969 Stephen Peall (Zimbabwe)
1973 Indika de Saram (Sri Lanka)