September 17 down the years
The arrival of Ash
Birth of R Ashwin
R Ashwin is the first Indian to score a century and take a seven-for in a Test • Getty Images
1986
Birth of an Indian great. Offspinner R Ashwin, who became the fastest bowler to get to 300 Test wickets, made his name in the IPL, replaced Harbhajan Singh in the India one-day side in 2011, and impressed when he took nine wickets, the second-best figures by an Indian Test debutant after Narendra Hirwani. At the end of that first (three-Test) series, he had 22 wickets, a century, and the tag of India's lead spinner. He struggled in Australia but did well at home against New Zealand in 2012, taking 18 wickets in two Tests. He took 7 for 103 in Chennai, against Australia in 2013, and topped those figures two years later with 7 for 66 against South Africa in Nagpur. In 2015, Ashwin bowled India to a historic series win in Sri Lanka with 21 wickets. He then scored two Test hundreds from No. 6 on the 2016 tour of West Indies; In Antigua, he became only the third player - after Jack Gregory and Ian Botham - to take a seven-for and score a century in a Test. The next season was even better - in 14 home Tests he took 82 wickets at 25.28 - and he was named the ICC's Cricketer of the Year and Test Player of the Year. At the end of 2020 Ashwin hit another purple patch, taking 48 wickets in nine Tests starting in Australia and ending with the World Test Championship final in England. When Australia were in India next, in 2023, Ashwin was to the fore again, finishing with 25 wickets from four Tests.
Birth of an Indian great. Offspinner R Ashwin, who became the fastest bowler to get to 300 Test wickets, made his name in the IPL, replaced Harbhajan Singh in the India one-day side in 2011, and impressed when he took nine wickets, the second-best figures by an Indian Test debutant after Narendra Hirwani. At the end of that first (three-Test) series, he had 22 wickets, a century, and the tag of India's lead spinner. He struggled in Australia but did well at home against New Zealand in 2012, taking 18 wickets in two Tests. He took 7 for 103 in Chennai, against Australia in 2013, and topped those figures two years later with 7 for 66 against South Africa in Nagpur. In 2015, Ashwin bowled India to a historic series win in Sri Lanka with 21 wickets. He then scored two Test hundreds from No. 6 on the 2016 tour of West Indies; In Antigua, he became only the third player - after Jack Gregory and Ian Botham - to take a seven-for and score a century in a Test. The next season was even better - in 14 home Tests he took 82 wickets at 25.28 - and he was named the ICC's Cricketer of the Year and Test Player of the Year. At the end of 2020 Ashwin hit another purple patch, taking 48 wickets in nine Tests starting in Australia and ending with the World Test Championship final in England. When Australia were in India next, in 2023, Ashwin was to the fore again, finishing with 25 wickets from four Tests.
1988
Needing 210 runs in his last match to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the same English season, Nottinghamshire's West Indian allrounder Franklyn Stephenson scored 111 and 117 against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge. He finished with a flourish by also taking 11 wickets in the match, though his side lost, and completed a rare quadruple-century by conceding a hundred in each innings as a bowler. Stephenson and Richard Hadlee (1984) are the only players to do the double since the number of County Championship matches was reduced in 1969.
Needing 210 runs in his last match to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the same English season, Nottinghamshire's West Indian allrounder Franklyn Stephenson scored 111 and 117 against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge. He finished with a flourish by also taking 11 wickets in the match, though his side lost, and completed a rare quadruple-century by conceding a hundred in each innings as a bowler. Stephenson and Richard Hadlee (1984) are the only players to do the double since the number of County Championship matches was reduced in 1969.
1982
Some Test firsts in Madras. On the opening day of the inaugural Test between India and Sri Lanka, Sunil Gavaskar lost the toss for the ninth consecutive time. Duleep Mendis scored 105 in the day. He also scored 105 in the second innings to become the only batter to hit identical hundreds in the same Test. The match was drawn.
Some Test firsts in Madras. On the opening day of the inaugural Test between India and Sri Lanka, Sunil Gavaskar lost the toss for the ninth consecutive time. Duleep Mendis scored 105 in the day. He also scored 105 in the second innings to become the only batter to hit identical hundreds in the same Test. The match was drawn.
1940
One of England's most hard-working pace bowlers is born. Although Peter Lever took 6 for 38 to win the sixth Test in Melbourne in 1975, the series had been decided by then. Ironically, after the mayhem caused that winter by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, it was Lever who came closest to inflicting a real tragedy when a bouncer he bowled in Auckland was deflected into the temple of New Zealand debutant Ewen Chatfield, who suffered a fractured skull and needed heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Lever had had brighter moments in Australia four years earlier, seemingly forever bowling uphill or into the wind in assistance of John Snow, and finishing with 13 wickets at 33.76 in England's Ashes-winning campaign. At The Oval in 1970, he took 7 for 83 against a scary Rest of the World batting line-up, in what he was originally led to believe was his Test debut.
One of England's most hard-working pace bowlers is born. Although Peter Lever took 6 for 38 to win the sixth Test in Melbourne in 1975, the series had been decided by then. Ironically, after the mayhem caused that winter by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, it was Lever who came closest to inflicting a real tragedy when a bouncer he bowled in Auckland was deflected into the temple of New Zealand debutant Ewen Chatfield, who suffered a fractured skull and needed heart massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Lever had had brighter moments in Australia four years earlier, seemingly forever bowling uphill or into the wind in assistance of John Snow, and finishing with 13 wickets at 33.76 in England's Ashes-winning campaign. At The Oval in 1970, he took 7 for 83 against a scary Rest of the World batting line-up, in what he was originally led to believe was his Test debut.
1990
New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham, born on this day, will probably best be remembered as the man who took three wickets, effected a run-out, scored 19 runs, and then 14 off five balls in the Super Over, and still ended up on the losing side in the tied ODI World Cup final of 2019. Neesham made his white-ball debuts for New Zealand in South Africa in 2012-13, and about a year after, made a Test hundred on debut against India - in the match where New Zealand piled up 680 in their second innings after conceding a 246-run lead. He followed it with 107 against West Indies in his second Test. Neesham didn't make the cut for the 2015 World Cup, but was a regular in the white-ball sides for the better part of two years after it, following which he was dropped and considered retiring. He was talked out of it and took a break from the game, to return in 2019. That year, his most successful in ODIs, he averaged almost 44 with the bat and under 21 with the ball.
New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham, born on this day, will probably best be remembered as the man who took three wickets, effected a run-out, scored 19 runs, and then 14 off five balls in the Super Over, and still ended up on the losing side in the tied ODI World Cup final of 2019. Neesham made his white-ball debuts for New Zealand in South Africa in 2012-13, and about a year after, made a Test hundred on debut against India - in the match where New Zealand piled up 680 in their second innings after conceding a 246-run lead. He followed it with 107 against West Indies in his second Test. Neesham didn't make the cut for the 2015 World Cup, but was a regular in the white-ball sides for the better part of two years after it, following which he was dropped and considered retiring. He was talked out of it and took a break from the game, to return in 2019. That year, his most successful in ODIs, he averaged almost 44 with the bat and under 21 with the ball.
2021
New Zealand withdrew from their limited-overs series in Pakistan minutes before play was due to start in the first ODI in Rawalpindi, due to information received about a security threat to the players. Neither team left their hotel on the morning of the game and spectators were not allowed into the ground, following which NZC issued a statement about the cancellation. The prime ministers of both countries spoke to each other in the lead-up up to New Zealand's withdrawal. The last time New Zealand toured Pakistan before this was in 2003, after their tour the previous year was abandoned following a bomb attack outside the team's hotel in Karachi.
New Zealand withdrew from their limited-overs series in Pakistan minutes before play was due to start in the first ODI in Rawalpindi, due to information received about a security threat to the players. Neither team left their hotel on the morning of the game and spectators were not allowed into the ground, following which NZC issued a statement about the cancellation. The prime ministers of both countries spoke to each other in the lead-up up to New Zealand's withdrawal. The last time New Zealand toured Pakistan before this was in 2003, after their tour the previous year was abandoned following a bomb attack outside the team's hotel in Karachi.
1996
In a Sahara Cup match in Toronto, Mohammad Azharuddin scored his 6000th run in ODIs. His partnership of 161 with Rahul Dravid seemed to have won India the match - but Saeed Anwar top-scored with 80 off 78 balls, Saleem Malik made an unbeaten 70, and Pakistan won by two wickets to level the series.
In a Sahara Cup match in Toronto, Mohammad Azharuddin scored his 6000th run in ODIs. His partnership of 161 with Rahul Dravid seemed to have won India the match - but Saeed Anwar top-scored with 80 off 78 balls, Saleem Malik made an unbeaten 70, and Pakistan won by two wickets to level the series.
2023
A wretchedly one-sided ODI Asia Cup final in Colombo. Hosts Sri Lanka were waylaid by India's Mohammed Siraj, who took four wickets in his first over to reduce them to 12 for 5 - which became 12 for 6 in his next over, the sixth of the innings. There was no face-saving resistance from the lower order, though under the circumstances, the 21-run stand between Kusal Mendis and Danish Wellalage, the largest of the innings, probably counted as such. Hardik Pandya took 3 for 3 to end the innings, and India's openers knocked the 51-run target off with nearly 44 overs remaining, securing the team their seventh 50-over Asia Cup title.
A wretchedly one-sided ODI Asia Cup final in Colombo. Hosts Sri Lanka were waylaid by India's Mohammed Siraj, who took four wickets in his first over to reduce them to 12 for 5 - which became 12 for 6 in his next over, the sixth of the innings. There was no face-saving resistance from the lower order, though under the circumstances, the 21-run stand between Kusal Mendis and Danish Wellalage, the largest of the innings, probably counted as such. Hardik Pandya took 3 for 3 to end the innings, and India's openers knocked the 51-run target off with nearly 44 overs remaining, securing the team their seventh 50-over Asia Cup title.
1924
A man of positively spooky patience was born. Leslie Watt was happy to take six hours to score his highest first-class score of 96, for Otago v Auckland in Auckland in 1950-51. At the other end, Bert Sutcliffe was scoring the bulk of a first-wicket stand of 373. Watt didn't get the chance to demonstrate his staying power at Test level. In his only appearance for New Zealand, against England in Dunedin in 1954-55, he made 0 and 2.
A man of positively spooky patience was born. Leslie Watt was happy to take six hours to score his highest first-class score of 96, for Otago v Auckland in Auckland in 1950-51. At the other end, Bert Sutcliffe was scoring the bulk of a first-wicket stand of 373. Watt didn't get the chance to demonstrate his staying power at Test level. In his only appearance for New Zealand, against England in Dunedin in 1954-55, he made 0 and 2.
1994
The list of players given out handled the ball in first-class cricket is still a relatively short one. One of the names on it is that of Zimbabwean Andy Waller, who on this day was given out while batting for Mashonaland County Districts v Mashonaland Under-24 in Harare.
The list of players given out handled the ball in first-class cricket is still a relatively short one. One of the names on it is that of Zimbabwean Andy Waller, who on this day was given out while batting for Mashonaland County Districts v Mashonaland Under-24 in Harare.
1862
Somebody should have done their homework on Kenny Burn, who was born today. He was chosen as reserve wicketkeeper for the trip to England in 1890 - and it wasn't until the Australians were on board their ship that anyone discovered he'd never kept wicket in his life. Despite averaging only 10.14 in England, he made it into the Test team as a batter. He scored 0 and 19 at Lord's, and 7 and 15 at The Oval, so at least his average didn't suffer.
Somebody should have done their homework on Kenny Burn, who was born today. He was chosen as reserve wicketkeeper for the trip to England in 1890 - and it wasn't until the Australians were on board their ship that anyone discovered he'd never kept wicket in his life. Despite averaging only 10.14 in England, he made it into the Test team as a batter. He scored 0 and 19 at Lord's, and 7 and 15 at The Oval, so at least his average didn't suffer.
1994
The final of the Singer World Series was ruined by rain. In every sense. Originally scheduled for the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, it was moved to the Sinhalese Sports Club - and then reduced to only 25 overs because the ground was wet there too. Put in to bat, Sri Lanka made 98 for 9 in their 25 overs. Thanks to a top score of 45 in 58 balls by their captain, Mohammad Azharuddin, India reached 99 for 4, and won by six wickets.
The final of the Singer World Series was ruined by rain. In every sense. Originally scheduled for the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, it was moved to the Sinhalese Sports Club - and then reduced to only 25 overs because the ground was wet there too. Put in to bat, Sri Lanka made 98 for 9 in their 25 overs. Thanks to a top score of 45 in 58 balls by their captain, Mohammad Azharuddin, India reached 99 for 4, and won by six wickets.
1980
Jaya Sharma, an attacking India women's opening batter, was born. Short and stocky in build, Sharma had a tendency to hit over the inner circle but was also staunch in defence. She made her ODI debut against England in 2002 but made only 2 and was in and out of the side since then. She went on to play 77 ODIs - scoring two centuries and 14 fifties - the last of which was against Australia in 2008. Sharma played one Test, against South Africa in 2002, in which she made 24 in her only innings.
Jaya Sharma, an attacking India women's opening batter, was born. Short and stocky in build, Sharma had a tendency to hit over the inner circle but was also staunch in defence. She made her ODI debut against England in 2002 but made only 2 and was in and out of the side since then. She went on to play 77 ODIs - scoring two centuries and 14 fifties - the last of which was against Australia in 2008. Sharma played one Test, against South Africa in 2002, in which she made 24 in her only innings.
Other birthdays
1908 Ernest Bock (South Africa)
1909 Frank "Nipper" Nicholson (South Africa)
1984 VRV Singh (India)
1987 Sudeep Tyagi (India)
1908 Ernest Bock (South Africa)
1909 Frank "Nipper" Nicholson (South Africa)
1984 VRV Singh (India)
1987 Sudeep Tyagi (India)