January 26 down the years
The first one-run win in Test cricket
An Australia-West Indies classic in Adelaide
A jubilant Courtney Walsh celebrates the narrowest of victories • Getty Images
1993
A sensational finish in Adelaide, in which West Indies kept alive their 13-year unbeaten run in Test series with a one-run victory over Australia - a margin that stood as the record for 30 years until New Zealand equalled it in their win over England in Wellington. With the Aussies chasing 186, it looked all over at 74 for 7, and then - after a steadfast 54 from the debutant Justin Langer - at 144 for 9, but Tim May (42 not out) almost became a national hero in his first Test for four years. As record numbers watched on TV and the strains of "Waltzing Matilda" enveloped the ground, Craig McDermott was given out caught behind off Courtney Walsh by Darrell Hair, although to this day doubt remains as to whether McDermott actually gloved it. All this on Australia Day too.
A sensational finish in Adelaide, in which West Indies kept alive their 13-year unbeaten run in Test series with a one-run victory over Australia - a margin that stood as the record for 30 years until New Zealand equalled it in their win over England in Wellington. With the Aussies chasing 186, it looked all over at 74 for 7, and then - after a steadfast 54 from the debutant Justin Langer - at 144 for 9, but Tim May (42 not out) almost became a national hero in his first Test for four years. As record numbers watched on TV and the strains of "Waltzing Matilda" enveloped the ground, Craig McDermott was given out caught behind off Courtney Walsh by Darrell Hair, although to this day doubt remains as to whether McDermott actually gloved it. All this on Australia Day too.
1954
Birth of Kim Hughes, the Australian captain who resigned the job in tears. That and captaining the 1981 side that was vanquished by Ian Botham is what Hughes will be remembered for, which is harsh, as he was an outstanding batter with a full complement of strokes. He lit up the Centenary Test at Lord's in 1980 with two blistering innings, not just batting on all five days but hitting a six on all five as well. He made a thrilling century in a low-scoring win over West Indies at the MCG in 1981-82, but a traumatic run against the same opponents in 1984-85 - nine Tests, no fifties, six runs in his last five innings - finished him off as a Test batter, aged just 30.
Birth of Kim Hughes, the Australian captain who resigned the job in tears. That and captaining the 1981 side that was vanquished by Ian Botham is what Hughes will be remembered for, which is harsh, as he was an outstanding batter with a full complement of strokes. He lit up the Centenary Test at Lord's in 1980 with two blistering innings, not just batting on all five days but hitting a six on all five as well. He made a thrilling century in a low-scoring win over West Indies at the MCG in 1981-82, but a traumatic run against the same opponents in 1984-85 - nine Tests, no fifties, six runs in his last five innings - finished him off as a Test batter, aged just 30.
1989
There have been some unlikely occurrences in Test history, but few to match the day Allan Border destroyed West Indies in Sydney - with the ball. He went into the match with 16 wickets in 100 Tests, and came out of it with 27 from 101 after returning the remarkable match figures of 11 for 96, including 7 for 46 on the first day. He dismissed everybody apart from Gordon Greenidge at least once, and then scored 75 off 330 balls, grinding out a big first-innings lead with David Boon (149). Australia won by seven wickets; it was a turning point for Border's boys: coming into the match on a run of six wins in 44 Tests, this kick-started a 12-game streak in which they won seven and lost none.
There have been some unlikely occurrences in Test history, but few to match the day Allan Border destroyed West Indies in Sydney - with the ball. He went into the match with 16 wickets in 100 Tests, and came out of it with 27 from 101 after returning the remarkable match figures of 11 for 96, including 7 for 46 on the first day. He dismissed everybody apart from Gordon Greenidge at least once, and then scored 75 off 330 balls, grinding out a big first-innings lead with David Boon (149). Australia won by seven wickets; it was a turning point for Border's boys: coming into the match on a run of six wins in 44 Tests, this kick-started a 12-game streak in which they won seven and lost none.
1962
Birth of offspinner Tim May, who formed a fearsome double act with Shane Warne between 1993 and 1995, when May had a second coming - starting with the Adelaide classic above. They played in 17 Tests together, and shared ten or more wickets in eight of those. May was dropped for the final time after taking only one wicket in the first three Ashes Tests of 1994-95. After retiring, May became the first CEO of the Australian Cricketers' Association, 1997, and the chief executive of the international players' body in 2005, in which position he served for eight years.
Birth of offspinner Tim May, who formed a fearsome double act with Shane Warne between 1993 and 1995, when May had a second coming - starting with the Adelaide classic above. They played in 17 Tests together, and shared ten or more wickets in eight of those. May was dropped for the final time after taking only one wicket in the first three Ashes Tests of 1994-95. After retiring, May became the first CEO of the Australian Cricketers' Association, 1997, and the chief executive of the international players' body in 2005, in which position he served for eight years.
1963
Birth of Simon O'Donnell, the Australian allrounder who overcame cancer in the middle of his career to have a very good run with Victoria and Australia. He was particularly effective in one-dayers - he played 87 of those, and was a regular in the 1987 World Cup-winning side - but played only six Tests. A devastating hitter, O'Donnell smeared the second-fastest fifty in one-day history, off 18 balls against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 1989-90. In all, his 74 took 29 balls and included six sixes. His offcutters were also very handy, and he took 5 for 13 when New Zealand were bowled out for 94 in Christchurch in 1989-90.
Birth of Simon O'Donnell, the Australian allrounder who overcame cancer in the middle of his career to have a very good run with Victoria and Australia. He was particularly effective in one-dayers - he played 87 of those, and was a regular in the 1987 World Cup-winning side - but played only six Tests. A devastating hitter, O'Donnell smeared the second-fastest fifty in one-day history, off 18 balls against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 1989-90. In all, his 74 took 29 balls and included six sixes. His offcutters were also very handy, and he took 5 for 13 when New Zealand were bowled out for 94 in Christchurch in 1989-90.
1957
Birth of the Indian offspinner who didn't really spin it. Shivlal Yadav had a memorable five days in Sydney in 1985-86, returning match figures of 95.3-43-118-8, as Australia held on grimly (and it was grim - Greg Ritchie's 17 took 157 balls) for a draw. In 2014, when the Supreme Court ordered BCCI president N Srinivasan to step aside while investigations were conducted into corrupt practices in the IPL, Yadav was appointed as interim president.
Birth of the Indian offspinner who didn't really spin it. Shivlal Yadav had a memorable five days in Sydney in 1985-86, returning match figures of 95.3-43-118-8, as Australia held on grimly (and it was grim - Greg Ritchie's 17 took 157 balls) for a draw. In 2014, when the Supreme Court ordered BCCI president N Srinivasan to step aside while investigations were conducted into corrupt practices in the IPL, Yadav was appointed as interim president.
2016
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took the second-best match figures by a South African - 13 for 144 - in an emphatic win in Centurion against England, though the visitors won the series 2-1. Opener Stephen Cook, at 33, became the oldest South African to score a century on debut; Hashim Amla made his second hundred of the series and Quinton de Kock his maiden one before Rabada took a career-best seven-for to carve out a significant lead. On the final day, with England 52 for 3 chasing 382, Rabada picked up four wickets in 4.4 overs to bowl them out for 101.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada took the second-best match figures by a South African - 13 for 144 - in an emphatic win in Centurion against England, though the visitors won the series 2-1. Opener Stephen Cook, at 33, became the oldest South African to score a century on debut; Hashim Amla made his second hundred of the series and Quinton de Kock his maiden one before Rabada took a career-best seven-for to carve out a significant lead. On the final day, with England 52 for 3 chasing 382, Rabada picked up four wickets in 4.4 overs to bowl them out for 101.
1968
New Zealand's Chris Pringle, born today, had one of the most remarkable introductions into international cricket. After one season of first-class cricket in the Shell Trophy - totalling six matches - Pringle was playing club cricket in England when he ambled over to the New Zealand side during a practice session at Headingley and asked if anyone had a spare ticket for the forthcoming ODI. New Zealand were suffering an injury crisis at the time and Pringle, who was drafted in, went on to play two of the matches. His other claim to fame was that he took 7 for 52 to bowl Pakistan out in Faisalabad in 1990-91. In all, he took 11 for 152 in the match, in sharp contrast to 19 wickets at 65 in the other 13 Tests he played. Pringle later admitted to tampering with the ball because he was sure Pakistan were doing it.
New Zealand's Chris Pringle, born today, had one of the most remarkable introductions into international cricket. After one season of first-class cricket in the Shell Trophy - totalling six matches - Pringle was playing club cricket in England when he ambled over to the New Zealand side during a practice session at Headingley and asked if anyone had a spare ticket for the forthcoming ODI. New Zealand were suffering an injury crisis at the time and Pringle, who was drafted in, went on to play two of the matches. His other claim to fame was that he took 7 for 52 to bowl Pakistan out in Faisalabad in 1990-91. In all, he took 11 for 152 in the match, in sharp contrast to 19 wickets at 65 in the other 13 Tests he played. Pringle later admitted to tampering with the ball because he was sure Pakistan were doing it.
1956
Left-arm spinner Diana Edulji, born today, played 20 Tests and 34 ODIs for India between 1976 and 1993. In her second Test, against West Indies in Chennai, she scored an unbeaten 57 batting at No. 9. Her best Test performance was against Australia: 6 for 64 in a drawn Test in Delhi. She played three World Cups, with her best ODI figures, 4 for 12, coming against England in a three-run loss in the 1993 edition. She became a selector for the Indian women's team after retirement, and in 2017, the Supreme Court named her as one of the members of an interim panel of administrators to initiate reforms in the BCCI.
Left-arm spinner Diana Edulji, born today, played 20 Tests and 34 ODIs for India between 1976 and 1993. In her second Test, against West Indies in Chennai, she scored an unbeaten 57 batting at No. 9. Her best Test performance was against Australia: 6 for 64 in a drawn Test in Delhi. She played three World Cups, with her best ODI figures, 4 for 12, coming against England in a three-run loss in the 1993 edition. She became a selector for the Indian women's team after retirement, and in 2017, the Supreme Court named her as one of the members of an interim panel of administrators to initiate reforms in the BCCI.
1982
Birth of wicketkeeper-batter Ashish Bagai, who made his debut for Canada at 17. He was a key member of the side that finished third in the 2001 ICC Trophy, thus gaining a place at the 2003 World Cup. In the World Cricket League in Nairobi in early 2007 he scored 137 not out against Scotland - his first hundred in senior cricket. In 2009 he accepted a full-time contract with Cricket Canada and was named captain again after a period of uncertainty over his availability. He stepped down from the post after the 2011 World Cup, and retired two years later after Canada failed to qualify for the 2014 World T20.
Birth of wicketkeeper-batter Ashish Bagai, who made his debut for Canada at 17. He was a key member of the side that finished third in the 2001 ICC Trophy, thus gaining a place at the 2003 World Cup. In the World Cricket League in Nairobi in early 2007 he scored 137 not out against Scotland - his first hundred in senior cricket. In 2009 he accepted a full-time contract with Cricket Canada and was named captain again after a period of uncertainty over his availability. He stepped down from the post after the 2011 World Cup, and retired two years later after Canada failed to qualify for the 2014 World T20.
Other birthdays
1862 Philip Hutchinson (South Africa)
1903 Geoffrey Legge (England)
1919 KC Ibrahim (India)
1957 Ashok Malhotra (India)
1962 Roshan Guneratne (Sri Lanka)
1969 Ishwar Maraj (Canada)
1974 Saman Jayantha (Sri Lanka)
1862 Philip Hutchinson (South Africa)
1903 Geoffrey Legge (England)
1919 KC Ibrahim (India)
1957 Ashok Malhotra (India)
1962 Roshan Guneratne (Sri Lanka)
1969 Ishwar Maraj (Canada)
1974 Saman Jayantha (Sri Lanka)