March 6 down the years
Shane's shame
Warne loses the plot and his head
Shane Warne let loose after bowling Andrew Hudson • Getty Images
1994
He was usually an ice-cool customer, but from time to time Shane Warne's toys were sent flying out of the pram. Today, with the first Test in Johannesburg slipping away from Australia, Warne was mysteriously kept out of the attack until the 44th over. When he did come on fourth change (behind both Waughs), he bowled Andrew Hudson and lost the plot completely, screaming all manner of obscenities in a contemptible display. The Wisden Almanack said that "rarely on a cricket field has physical violence seemed so close". Warne was fined twice - first a paltry £220 by the match referee, then his whole match fee (£2000) by the ACB - and heckled by the locals for the rest of a match that Australia lost heavily. Merv Hughes was later fined the same for smashing his bat in the direction of a spectator.
He was usually an ice-cool customer, but from time to time Shane Warne's toys were sent flying out of the pram. Today, with the first Test in Johannesburg slipping away from Australia, Warne was mysteriously kept out of the attack until the 44th over. When he did come on fourth change (behind both Waughs), he bowled Andrew Hudson and lost the plot completely, screaming all manner of obscenities in a contemptible display. The Wisden Almanack said that "rarely on a cricket field has physical violence seemed so close". Warne was fined twice - first a paltry £220 by the match referee, then his whole match fee (£2000) by the ACB - and heckled by the locals for the rest of a match that Australia lost heavily. Merv Hughes was later fined the same for smashing his bat in the direction of a spectator.
1996
The highest total in one-day internationals at the time. It was carnage in Kandy as Sri Lanka simply flattened Kenya in their World Cup match. They whacked 398 for 5 off 50 overs, including a spanking opening stand of 83 between Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana... in 6.3 overs. There were 14 sixes and 43 fours in all; and 145 from Aravinda de Silva. Kenyan seamer Rajab Ali, who took 3 for 17 in the previous match - the humbling of West Indies - managed 6 for 67 this time. That's six overs, not wickets.
The highest total in one-day internationals at the time. It was carnage in Kandy as Sri Lanka simply flattened Kenya in their World Cup match. They whacked 398 for 5 off 50 overs, including a spanking opening stand of 83 between Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana... in 6.3 overs. There were 14 sixes and 43 fours in all; and 145 from Aravinda de Silva. Kenyan seamer Rajab Ali, who took 3 for 17 in the previous match - the humbling of West Indies - managed 6 for 67 this time. That's six overs, not wickets.
1929
Birth of the first ordained minister to play Test cricket. The Right Reverend Lord David Sheppard swapped the cloth for an England cap on 22 occasions and made a good fist of it, scoring two match-winning centuries against Australia, at Old Trafford in 1956 - in Jim Laker's match - and in Melbourne in 1962-63. Sheppard was Bishop of Woolwich and then Liverpool, and he also became president of Sussex in 2001. The Reverend's display of butterfingers once led to a typical display of wit from Fred Trueman: "It's a pity t'Reverend don't put his hands together more often in the field." Sheppard died the day before his 76th birthday.
Birth of the first ordained minister to play Test cricket. The Right Reverend Lord David Sheppard swapped the cloth for an England cap on 22 occasions and made a good fist of it, scoring two match-winning centuries against Australia, at Old Trafford in 1956 - in Jim Laker's match - and in Melbourne in 1962-63. Sheppard was Bishop of Woolwich and then Liverpool, and he also became president of Sussex in 2001. The Reverend's display of butterfingers once led to a typical display of wit from Fred Trueman: "It's a pity t'Reverend don't put his hands together more often in the field." Sheppard died the day before his 76th birthday.
2000
South Africa clinched a landmark victory in India, thrashing them by an innings in the second Test in Bangalore, thus becoming the first visiting side to win a Test series in India for 13 years. It was an outstanding achievement and at the time the stock of their captain, Hansie Cronje, could not have been higher. Little did anyone know that Cronje had played his last Test for South Africa and within a month would be exposed as a charlatan and a cheat.
South Africa clinched a landmark victory in India, thrashing them by an innings in the second Test in Bangalore, thus becoming the first visiting side to win a Test series in India for 13 years. It was an outstanding achievement and at the time the stock of their captain, Hansie Cronje, could not have been higher. Little did anyone know that Cronje had played his last Test for South Africa and within a month would be exposed as a charlatan and a cheat.
1895
England retained the Ashes with a 3-2 win after beating Australia by six wickets at the MCG. Archie MacLaren scored a century in the first innings but England still conceded a lead of 29; George Giffen and Harry Trott took four each. Australia began their second innings well, but on the fourth day, when a dust storm that caused great discomfort to the players and spectators, they were bowled out for 267, with fast bowler Tom Richardson taking 6 for 104. That left England to get 297. They lost two wickets for 28 but Albert Ward (93) and Jack Brown (140) added 210 together to give England the win on the fifth day. Brown's half-century - off 28 minutes is the fastest (by minutes) in an Ashes series.
England retained the Ashes with a 3-2 win after beating Australia by six wickets at the MCG. Archie MacLaren scored a century in the first innings but England still conceded a lead of 29; George Giffen and Harry Trott took four each. Australia began their second innings well, but on the fourth day, when a dust storm that caused great discomfort to the players and spectators, they were bowled out for 267, with fast bowler Tom Richardson taking 6 for 104. That left England to get 297. They lost two wickets for 28 but Albert Ward (93) and Jack Brown (140) added 210 together to give England the win on the fifth day. Brown's half-century - off 28 minutes is the fastest (by minutes) in an Ashes series.
2022
It took India just three days to wrap up the first Test in Mohali against Sri Lanka, with Ravindra Jadeja becoming the sixth man to score 150 and take a five-for in the same Test. The match was notable for being Virat Kohli's 100th, though Sri Lanka restricted him to 45. India declared on 574 for 8, and in response Sri Lanka could muster only 174 and 178 in the follow on. R Ashwin picked up six wickets to go past Kapil Dev as India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, Jadeja finished with match figures of 5 for 88, and India won by an innings and 222 runs.
It took India just three days to wrap up the first Test in Mohali against Sri Lanka, with Ravindra Jadeja becoming the sixth man to score 150 and take a five-for in the same Test. The match was notable for being Virat Kohli's 100th, though Sri Lanka restricted him to 45. India declared on 574 for 8, and in response Sri Lanka could muster only 174 and 178 in the follow on. R Ashwin picked up six wickets to go past Kapil Dev as India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, Jadeja finished with match figures of 5 for 88, and India won by an innings and 222 runs.
1977
Birth of Nantie Hayward, South Africa's red-headed (until he dyed it blond), red-blooded quick bowler. He verged on the wayward at times, although he made an impressive debut: not many people did Mike Atherton for pace at the best of times, let alone in their first Test, but Hayward did just that in Port Elizabeth in 1999-00. He played the last of his 16 Tests against Sri Lanka in 2004.
Birth of Nantie Hayward, South Africa's red-headed (until he dyed it blond), red-blooded quick bowler. He verged on the wayward at times, although he made an impressive debut: not many people did Mike Atherton for pace at the best of times, let alone in their first Test, but Hayward did just that in Port Elizabeth in 1999-00. He played the last of his 16 Tests against Sri Lanka in 2004.
1984
England spin to defeat in Pakistan. No surprises there, but Nick Cook almost produced a mighty shock before England bowed to the inevitable. Pakistan were chasing just 65 to win on a Karachi dustbowl, but Cook had them at 40 for 6 and then 59 for 7 before they squeaked home by three wickets. Cook took 11 for 83 in this match, the best figures by an overseas bowler in Pakistan. But in a game where all the other spinners took 25 wickets for 289 runs, the anodyne performance of Vic Marks (1 for 63) was decisive.
England spin to defeat in Pakistan. No surprises there, but Nick Cook almost produced a mighty shock before England bowed to the inevitable. Pakistan were chasing just 65 to win on a Karachi dustbowl, but Cook had them at 40 for 6 and then 59 for 7 before they squeaked home by three wickets. Cook took 11 for 83 in this match, the best figures by an overseas bowler in Pakistan. But in a game where all the other spinners took 25 wickets for 289 runs, the anodyne performance of Vic Marks (1 for 63) was decisive.
1990
The birth of Kieran Powell, a powerful left-hand opening batter from the Caribbean. He first made news during the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 and was handed his ODI debut a year later, at home against Bangladesh. He had to wait two more years for a Test chance and cemented his spot with twin hundreds against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2012. He was dropped in 2014 after failing to make a fifty in 17 innings and took a self-imposed break from the game, returning to the West Indies side only three years later.
The birth of Kieran Powell, a powerful left-hand opening batter from the Caribbean. He first made news during the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 and was handed his ODI debut a year later, at home against Bangladesh. He had to wait two more years for a Test chance and cemented his spot with twin hundreds against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2012. He was dropped in 2014 after failing to make a fifty in 17 innings and took a self-imposed break from the game, returning to the West Indies side only three years later.
1984
The birth of Sohail Khan, a fast bowler who hails from North-West Frontier Province and made Karachi his home. A product of the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy, Sohail burst onto the first-class scene with 65 wickets in his first nine matches for Sui Southern Gas Corporation in 2007-08, and earned himself a Test debut against Sri Lanka in early 2009 (which turned out to be the last Test in Pakistan before the Lahore attacks led to a suspension of international cricket in the country). However, despite a couple of five-wicket hauls in England in 2016, Sohail's Test career never really took off, though he enjoyed better returns in the limited-overs formats.
The birth of Sohail Khan, a fast bowler who hails from North-West Frontier Province and made Karachi his home. A product of the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy, Sohail burst onto the first-class scene with 65 wickets in his first nine matches for Sui Southern Gas Corporation in 2007-08, and earned himself a Test debut against Sri Lanka in early 2009 (which turned out to be the last Test in Pakistan before the Lahore attacks led to a suspension of international cricket in the country). However, despite a couple of five-wicket hauls in England in 2016, Sohail's Test career never really took off, though he enjoyed better returns in the limited-overs formats.
1956
Peter Roebuck is born. A Somerset stalwart throughout the 1980s, Roebuck captained the side during a tumultuous time in the county's history. A solid opening batter and part-time offspinner, he played 335 first-class matches and 298 List A matches in a playing career that spanned well over two decades. He then transitioned to a distinguished career as a cricket writer. Roebuck died in 2011 when he fell to his death from a hotel room in Cape Town.
Peter Roebuck is born. A Somerset stalwart throughout the 1980s, Roebuck captained the side during a tumultuous time in the county's history. A solid opening batter and part-time offspinner, he played 335 first-class matches and 298 List A matches in a playing career that spanned well over two decades. He then transitioned to a distinguished career as a cricket writer. Roebuck died in 2011 when he fell to his death from a hotel room in Cape Town.
Other birthdays
1884 Ted Alleston (England)
1898 Hal Hooker (Australia)
1905 Lisle Nagel (Australia)
1933 Kim Elgie (South Africa)
1957 Ashok Patel (India)
1969 Zafar Iqbal (Pakistan)
1990 Dane Piedt (South Africa)
1884 Ted Alleston (England)
1898 Hal Hooker (Australia)
1905 Lisle Nagel (Australia)
1933 Kim Elgie (South Africa)
1957 Ashok Patel (India)
1969 Zafar Iqbal (Pakistan)
1990 Dane Piedt (South Africa)