April 11 down the years
The end of the innocence
Hansie's fall from grace
Hansie Cronje shocked cricket fans across the world when he confessed to having fixed matches • Getty Images
2000
The beginning of the end for Hansie Cronje, who quit today after it was revealed that he was at the heart of a match-fixing scandal that haunted the game for years after. Earlier in April reports had emerged from India that he was involved, largely as a result of a taped phone conversation. He denied it, and such was his reputation that he was almost universally believed - Ali Bacher, managing director of the South African cricket board, spoke of Cronje's "unquestionable integrity and honesty". Then, four days after the accusation, Cronje confessed in a 3am phone call to Bacher that he had not been "entirely honest". He was immediately stripped of the captaincy, and in subsequent testimony to the government-appointed King Commission revealed, sometimes in tears, further details of his involvement with bookmakers in match-fixing.
The beginning of the end for Hansie Cronje, who quit today after it was revealed that he was at the heart of a match-fixing scandal that haunted the game for years after. Earlier in April reports had emerged from India that he was involved, largely as a result of a taped phone conversation. He denied it, and such was his reputation that he was almost universally believed - Ali Bacher, managing director of the South African cricket board, spoke of Cronje's "unquestionable integrity and honesty". Then, four days after the accusation, Cronje confessed in a 3am phone call to Bacher that he had not been "entirely honest". He was immediately stripped of the captaincy, and in subsequent testimony to the government-appointed King Commission revealed, sometimes in tears, further details of his involvement with bookmakers in match-fixing.
1921
A West Indian captain is born. Jeffrey Stollmeyer, a classy opening batter, played over a third of his 32 Tests as captain, a reign that incorporated the thrilling 2-2 draw with England in 1953-54. He made four Test hundreds, three of them overseas, including an outstanding 104 in defeat in Sydney in 1951-52. Stollmeyer was also a key member of the great 1950 team that won in England, and along with Allan Rae paved the way for the three Ws, with a series of solid opening partnerships. He died in a Florida hospital in 1989 after being shot in the head by armed robbers who broke into his Trinidad home.
A West Indian captain is born. Jeffrey Stollmeyer, a classy opening batter, played over a third of his 32 Tests as captain, a reign that incorporated the thrilling 2-2 draw with England in 1953-54. He made four Test hundreds, three of them overseas, including an outstanding 104 in defeat in Sydney in 1951-52. Stollmeyer was also a key member of the great 1950 team that won in England, and along with Allan Rae paved the way for the three Ws, with a series of solid opening partnerships. He died in a Florida hospital in 1989 after being shot in the head by armed robbers who broke into his Trinidad home.
1982
Though Ian Bell, born today, was considered a class batter from the time he was 16, doubts remained about his ability to convert fifties into match-turning hundreds. He proved his temperament on England's 2009-10 tour of South Africa, with a 140 and a gutsy five-hour 78. The following winter he averaged 65.80 in England's Ashes whipping of Australia, and in 2011 he made 835 runs in seven Tests, with four centuries (including a double-hundred against India at The Oval). Bell struggled against Saeed Ajmal in the UAE, managing only 51 runs in six innings, but bounced back with an exceptional home Ashes series in 2013, scoring centuries in each of England's three victories. He failed in the Ashes whitewash that followed in Australia but scored a series-turning 167 against India in Southampton in the 2014 summer, going on to start the next year with a century in Antigua. He then averaged 20.85 from 22 innings in the remaining months, and was dropped before England's winter tour of South Africa.
Though Ian Bell, born today, was considered a class batter from the time he was 16, doubts remained about his ability to convert fifties into match-turning hundreds. He proved his temperament on England's 2009-10 tour of South Africa, with a 140 and a gutsy five-hour 78. The following winter he averaged 65.80 in England's Ashes whipping of Australia, and in 2011 he made 835 runs in seven Tests, with four centuries (including a double-hundred against India at The Oval). Bell struggled against Saeed Ajmal in the UAE, managing only 51 runs in six innings, but bounced back with an exceptional home Ashes series in 2013, scoring centuries in each of England's three victories. He failed in the Ashes whitewash that followed in Australia but scored a series-turning 167 against India in Southampton in the 2014 summer, going on to start the next year with a century in Antigua. He then averaged 20.85 from 22 innings in the remaining months, and was dropped before England's winter tour of South Africa.
1856
Birth of a perfectionist. England middle-order batter Arthur Shrewsbury was absolutely impeccable in defence, so much so that WG Grace would bellow "Give me Arthur" - later the title of a biography of Shrewsbury - when picking his Test team. Shrewsbury played 23 Tests and hit three centuries, the best of which was a magnificent 164 against Australia at Lord's in 1886, a match in which only two other batters, on either side, got more than 30. He shot himself in Gedling, Nottinghamshire, in 1903.
Birth of a perfectionist. England middle-order batter Arthur Shrewsbury was absolutely impeccable in defence, so much so that WG Grace would bellow "Give me Arthur" - later the title of a biography of Shrewsbury - when picking his Test team. Shrewsbury played 23 Tests and hit three centuries, the best of which was a magnificent 164 against Australia at Lord's in 1886, a match in which only two other batters, on either side, got more than 30. He shot himself in Gedling, Nottinghamshire, in 1903.
1955
Garry Sobers began a run of 85 consecutive appearances for West Indies in the second Test against Australia in Port-of-Spain. It was the first Trinidad Test to be played on a turf pitch; the idea was to give the bowlers a bit of a chance after the last Test on the ground produced 1528 runs for 24 wickets. This time there were only 1255 runs, 23 wickets and six centuries. Two of those came from Clyde Walcott, who later added two more in Jamaica to make it a record five in the series.
Garry Sobers began a run of 85 consecutive appearances for West Indies in the second Test against Australia in Port-of-Spain. It was the first Trinidad Test to be played on a turf pitch; the idea was to give the bowlers a bit of a chance after the last Test on the ground produced 1528 runs for 24 wickets. This time there were only 1255 runs, 23 wickets and six centuries. Two of those came from Clyde Walcott, who later added two more in Jamaica to make it a record five in the series.
2022
Another Test, another Keshav Maharaj seven-for. South Africa completed a 2-0 clean sweep over Bangladesh when they won by 332 runs in Gqeberha (in the first Test played in the city formerly known as Port Elizabeth). Maharaj became the first bowler in Test history to take consecutive seven-fors in the fourth innings. And if that wasn't enough, he also top-scored with 84 from No. 8 in the first innings. Like in the first Test, in Durban, South Africa used just two bowlers, both spinners, in the final innings. The match also featured the first substitutions in international cricket on account of Covid: Sarel Erwee and Wiaan Mulder contracted the virus and were replaced on day four by Khaya Zondo and Glenton Stuurman.
Another Test, another Keshav Maharaj seven-for. South Africa completed a 2-0 clean sweep over Bangladesh when they won by 332 runs in Gqeberha (in the first Test played in the city formerly known as Port Elizabeth). Maharaj became the first bowler in Test history to take consecutive seven-fors in the fourth innings. And if that wasn't enough, he also top-scored with 84 from No. 8 in the first innings. Like in the first Test, in Durban, South Africa used just two bowlers, both spinners, in the final innings. The match also featured the first substitutions in international cricket on account of Covid: Sarel Erwee and Wiaan Mulder contracted the virus and were replaced on day four by Khaya Zondo and Glenton Stuurman.
1992
West Indies gave South Africa one hell of a beating, walloping them by ten wickets in the second match, in Trinidad. South Africa limped to 152, with only three men reaching double figures. West Indies blazed past them in 25.5 overs, with Brian Lara unbeaten on 86. He was especially severe on left-arm spinner Omar Henry, who was caned for 41 off 4.5 overs. Henry later became the South African chairman of selectors.
West Indies gave South Africa one hell of a beating, walloping them by ten wickets in the second match, in Trinidad. South Africa limped to 152, with only three men reaching double figures. West Indies blazed past them in 25.5 overs, with Brian Lara unbeaten on 86. He was especially severe on left-arm spinner Omar Henry, who was caned for 41 off 4.5 overs. Henry later became the South African chairman of selectors.
2018
Afghanistan wicketkeeper Shafiqullah Shafaq broke Ravi Shastri's 33-year-old record for the fastest double-century in first-class cricket (which was equalled in 2016 by Aneurin Donald of Glamorgan) when he got to the mark in 89 balls and 103 minutes in a game against Boost in Afghanistan's Alokozay Ahmad Shah Abdali four-day tournament. Shafiqullah came in at 58 for 3, proceeded to hit 24 sixes in his innings - also a world record, bettering by one Colin Munro's mark, set in 2015 - finished the drawn game on 200, and was judged Man of the Match.
Afghanistan wicketkeeper Shafiqullah Shafaq broke Ravi Shastri's 33-year-old record for the fastest double-century in first-class cricket (which was equalled in 2016 by Aneurin Donald of Glamorgan) when he got to the mark in 89 balls and 103 minutes in a game against Boost in Afghanistan's Alokozay Ahmad Shah Abdali four-day tournament. Shafiqullah came in at 58 for 3, proceeded to hit 24 sixes in his innings - also a world record, bettering by one Colin Munro's mark, set in 2015 - finished the drawn game on 200, and was judged Man of the Match.
2012
A young West Indies side missing the services of Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo gave Australia the jitters in Barbados. Though they lost by three wickets on the final day, West Indies made sure Australia's chase of 192 was no stroll in the park. In fact, West Indies gained a small first-innings lead on the back of an unbeaten century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul, though Michael Clarke made a gutsy declaration when behind too. But a familiar second-innings collapse followed for West Indies. Offspinner Narsingh Deonarine brought them back into the game with four top-order wickets in the last session of the game, but Australia's tail, which had frustrated West Indies in the first innings, completed the win in growing darkness.
A young West Indies side missing the services of Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo gave Australia the jitters in Barbados. Though they lost by three wickets on the final day, West Indies made sure Australia's chase of 192 was no stroll in the park. In fact, West Indies gained a small first-innings lead on the back of an unbeaten century from Shivnarine Chanderpaul, though Michael Clarke made a gutsy declaration when behind too. But a familiar second-innings collapse followed for West Indies. Offspinner Narsingh Deonarine brought them back into the game with four top-order wickets in the last session of the game, but Australia's tail, which had frustrated West Indies in the first innings, completed the win in growing darkness.
1995
A bout of chicken pox for Moin Khan meant that Saeed Anwar led Pakistan for the first time in the Asia Cup match in Sharjah. Responsibility isn't always a good thing, though: Anwar made a distinctly out-of-character 4 off 23 balls, and Pakistan were beaten by five wickets when Sri Lanka reached 180 for 5 with 19 overs to spare. Sanath Jayasuriya showed Anwar how it should be done, flaying 30 off 15 balls.
A bout of chicken pox for Moin Khan meant that Saeed Anwar led Pakistan for the first time in the Asia Cup match in Sharjah. Responsibility isn't always a good thing, though: Anwar made a distinctly out-of-character 4 off 23 balls, and Pakistan were beaten by five wickets when Sri Lanka reached 180 for 5 with 19 overs to spare. Sanath Jayasuriya showed Anwar how it should be done, flaying 30 off 15 balls.
Other birthdays
1854 Hugh Massie (Australia)
1957 Everton Mattis (West Indies)
1969 Gavin Briant (Zimbabwe)
1963 Billy Bowden (New Zealand)
1854 Hugh Massie (Australia)
1957 Everton Mattis (West Indies)
1969 Gavin Briant (Zimbabwe)
1963 Billy Bowden (New Zealand)