April 29 down the years
Make way for Dre
A T20 legend announces himself
Andre Russell: bossing bowlers and batters across the world • BCCI
1988
A world-class seam-bowling allrounder from Jamaica, Andre Russell, born today, made his first-class debut at 19 and Test debut at 22, but he will be remembered as a T20 legend, sought after by every franchise league in the world. He played a vital role in guiding West Indies to the final of the 2016 World T20, which they won. That was one of five T20 title wins for Russell that year - the others being the BBL, CPL, PSL and BPL. In January 2017, he hit a low ebb when he was handed a one-year suspension for a doping violation, but he returned with a bang in the 2018 IPL. In the 2019 IPL, he hit a stunning 48 off 13 balls when Kolkata Knight Riders needed 53 runs off 18. He scored more than 500 runs that season at a strike rate of over 200 and took 11 wickets at an economy of 9.5. Two years later, he recorded the CPL's fastest half-century, off 14 balls.
A world-class seam-bowling allrounder from Jamaica, Andre Russell, born today, made his first-class debut at 19 and Test debut at 22, but he will be remembered as a T20 legend, sought after by every franchise league in the world. He played a vital role in guiding West Indies to the final of the 2016 World T20, which they won. That was one of five T20 title wins for Russell that year - the others being the BBL, CPL, PSL and BPL. In January 2017, he hit a low ebb when he was handed a one-year suspension for a doping violation, but he returned with a bang in the 2018 IPL. In the 2019 IPL, he hit a stunning 48 off 13 balls when Kolkata Knight Riders needed 53 runs off 18. He scored more than 500 runs that season at a strike rate of over 200 and took 11 wickets at an economy of 9.5. Two years later, he recorded the CPL's fastest half-century, off 14 balls.
1990
A month before his 25th birthday, left-arm fast bowler James Faulkner, born today, added to an intriguing bit of cricketing trivia: Launceston in Tasmania was the only town that had produced two World-Cup-final Man-of-the-Match winners; when Faulkner took the award in 2015, he became the third, after David Boon had done it in 1987, and Ricky Ponting in 2003. Faulkner, with deft changes of speed and length, derailed New Zealand with two wickets in an over just as they were seemingly getting back on track after a disastrous start. Faulkner made his ODI debut two years previously, and had already displayed his batting skills and temperament with rapid fifties down the order to snatch improbable victories for Australia against India in Mohali and against England in Brisbane.
A month before his 25th birthday, left-arm fast bowler James Faulkner, born today, added to an intriguing bit of cricketing trivia: Launceston in Tasmania was the only town that had produced two World-Cup-final Man-of-the-Match winners; when Faulkner took the award in 2015, he became the third, after David Boon had done it in 1987, and Ricky Ponting in 2003. Faulkner, with deft changes of speed and length, derailed New Zealand with two wickets in an over just as they were seemingly getting back on track after a disastrous start. Faulkner made his ODI debut two years previously, and had already displayed his batting skills and temperament with rapid fifties down the order to snatch improbable victories for Australia against India in Mohali and against England in Brisbane.
1966
The Cat is born. Throughout his career Phil Tufnell was as likely to pop up on the front page of newspapers as the back, but his old-fashioned flight and cunning made him the most talented English spinner of his generation. He won three Tests in a row after being recalled in 1991, but after that his career was distinctly stop-start, with only one other five-for, when he returned from the wilderness to vanquish Australia at The Oval in 1997. Like all fingerspinners in the 1990s, he struggled to do much more than contain good batters. The announcement of his retirement was typical Tufnell - he quit on the eve of a new season so that he could take part in a TV reality show, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
The Cat is born. Throughout his career Phil Tufnell was as likely to pop up on the front page of newspapers as the back, but his old-fashioned flight and cunning made him the most talented English spinner of his generation. He won three Tests in a row after being recalled in 1991, but after that his career was distinctly stop-start, with only one other five-for, when he returned from the wilderness to vanquish Australia at The Oval in 1997. Like all fingerspinners in the 1990s, he struggled to do much more than contain good batters. The announcement of his retirement was typical Tufnell - he quit on the eve of a new season so that he could take part in a TV reality show, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
1997
Aravinda de Silva became the first man to score two unbeaten hundreds in a Test, against Pakistan at the SSC in Colombo. His 138 and 103 were the second and third of six consecutive hundreds in Test innings in his own country - all of them on various grounds in Colombo. This match was drawn, along with the series, as Pakistan comfortably batted out the final day against a toothless, Murali-less Sri Lankan attack.
Aravinda de Silva became the first man to score two unbeaten hundreds in a Test, against Pakistan at the SSC in Colombo. His 138 and 103 were the second and third of six consecutive hundreds in Test innings in his own country - all of them on various grounds in Colombo. This match was drawn, along with the series, as Pakistan comfortably batted out the final day against a toothless, Murali-less Sri Lankan attack.
1974
Birth of Ireland's best exponent of the chicken dance, fast bowler Trent Johnston, who made his way to Ireland from New South Wales. Johnston was Ireland's captain during their great run in the 2007 World Cup where they beat Pakistan, hitting the winning runs in the match. He was at the other end when Ireland sealed an even bigger victory, over England in the 2011 World Cup. Among the most memorable of Johnston's bowling exploits was the one in an innings win against UAE - he took 3 for 8 (in an innings haul of 5 for 33) - that helped Ireland qualify for the Intercontinental Cup final in 2005. He retired in 2013 and took over as New South Wales coach in July 2015.
Birth of Ireland's best exponent of the chicken dance, fast bowler Trent Johnston, who made his way to Ireland from New South Wales. Johnston was Ireland's captain during their great run in the 2007 World Cup where they beat Pakistan, hitting the winning runs in the match. He was at the other end when Ireland sealed an even bigger victory, over England in the 2011 World Cup. Among the most memorable of Johnston's bowling exploits was the one in an innings win against UAE - he took 3 for 8 (in an innings haul of 5 for 33) - that helped Ireland qualify for the Intercontinental Cup final in 2005. He retired in 2013 and took over as New South Wales coach in July 2015.
2007
Surrey smashed the existing limited-overs record score as they made 496 for 4 in 50 overs against Gloucestershire at The Oval. Ali Brown led the way with 176 off 97 balls.
Surrey smashed the existing limited-overs record score as they made 496 for 4 in 50 overs against Gloucestershire at The Oval. Ali Brown led the way with 176 off 97 balls.
1979
Birth of Ashish Nehra, the Indian left-arm seamer who blew England into disarray with an explosive burst of 6 for 23 in the 2003 World Cup. Nehra, whose late inswing was his main threat, faltered after a promising start in Test cricket. Surgery on a troublesome ankle, and an indifferent 2003-04 tour of Australia followed, and though he did well in Pakistan in 2004, he ceased to be an automatic pick. He hit the headlines with decent showings in the IPL, particularly in the second season, and was recalled to the one-day squad. He then chose to concentrate on the shorter format and made it to the 2011 World Cup, where he took three wickets in three games, though he missed the final due to injury. He was in the wilderness for nearly five years before he was recalled to India's T20 side for the tour of Australia in 2016 and became a vital member of the World T20 squad. Nehra finally called it a day late in 2017, going on to coach in the IPL.
Birth of Ashish Nehra, the Indian left-arm seamer who blew England into disarray with an explosive burst of 6 for 23 in the 2003 World Cup. Nehra, whose late inswing was his main threat, faltered after a promising start in Test cricket. Surgery on a troublesome ankle, and an indifferent 2003-04 tour of Australia followed, and though he did well in Pakistan in 2004, he ceased to be an automatic pick. He hit the headlines with decent showings in the IPL, particularly in the second season, and was recalled to the one-day squad. He then chose to concentrate on the shorter format and made it to the 2011 World Cup, where he took three wickets in three games, though he missed the final due to injury. He was in the wilderness for nearly five years before he was recalled to India's T20 side for the tour of Australia in 2016 and became a vital member of the World T20 squad. Nehra finally called it a day late in 2017, going on to coach in the IPL.
1940
New South Wales' finest wicketkeeper is born. Brian Taber eased into their official team of the millennium, and he also played 16 Tests for Australia in the late 1960s. Taber, who hails from Wagga Wagga, was a natural, unfussy keeper but limited as a batsman: his first-class average was only 18. His last Tests were in the 0-4 thrashing by South Africa in 1969-70, after which he was replaced by Rodney Marsh.
New South Wales' finest wicketkeeper is born. Brian Taber eased into their official team of the millennium, and he also played 16 Tests for Australia in the late 1960s. Taber, who hails from Wagga Wagga, was a natural, unfussy keeper but limited as a batsman: his first-class average was only 18. His last Tests were in the 0-4 thrashing by South Africa in 1969-70, after which he was replaced by Rodney Marsh.
1991
A sensational innings from Mark Taylor, which helped Australia become the first touring team to win a Test in Antigua. His 144 against West Indies may have come in a dead rubber, but it was still a sensational effort: in Australia's second-innings 265, only three other players reached double figures, and nobody got more than David Boon's 35. Taylor's was a rapid, 227-ball affair, and enabled the Aussies to take a consolation victory in a series they lost 1-2.
A sensational innings from Mark Taylor, which helped Australia become the first touring team to win a Test in Antigua. His 144 against West Indies may have come in a dead rubber, but it was still a sensational effort: in Australia's second-innings 265, only three other players reached double figures, and nobody got more than David Boon's 35. Taylor's was a rapid, 227-ball affair, and enabled the Aussies to take a consolation victory in a series they lost 1-2.
Other birthdays
1892 Sydney Rippon (England)
1892 Dudley Rippon (England)
1918 Mervyn Harvey (Australia)
1892 Sydney Rippon (England)
1892 Dudley Rippon (England)
1918 Mervyn Harvey (Australia)