April 3 down the years
6, 6, 6, 6
West Indies' second World T20 triumph
West Indies celebrate like only West Indies can • Getty Images
2016
A miraculous display of big hitting by Carlos Brathwaite secured West Indies their second World T20 title. Needing 19 off the last over in the final at Eden Gardens, Brathwaite launched England's Ben Stokes for four sixes off the first four balls, making his side the first to win two World T20 titles. A combined effort by the bowlers kept England to 155 - Brathwaite chipped in with three wickets. The mainstay of the chase was Marlon Samuels, whose unbeaten 85 mirrored his heroics in the 2012 final against Sri Lanka. The win capped an unforgettable day for West Indies cricket: their women's team had won their first World T20 title, upsetting Australia a few hours earlier.
A miraculous display of big hitting by Carlos Brathwaite secured West Indies their second World T20 title. Needing 19 off the last over in the final at Eden Gardens, Brathwaite launched England's Ben Stokes for four sixes off the first four balls, making his side the first to win two World T20 titles. A combined effort by the bowlers kept England to 155 - Brathwaite chipped in with three wickets. The mainstay of the chase was Marlon Samuels, whose unbeaten 85 mirrored his heroics in the 2012 final against Sri Lanka. The win capped an unforgettable day for West Indies cricket: their women's team had won their first World T20 title, upsetting Australia a few hours earlier.
2022
Australia won their seventh women's ODI World Cup title in fine fashion, tossing defending champions England aside in the final, in Christchurch. They dominated all tournament and in the title match, Alyssa Healy set them up with a masterful 170, which left England needing to chase 357 to win. Nat Sciver almost matched Healy, with 148 not out off 121 balls, but England regularly lost batters at the other end. Healy was also Player of the Tournament for her 509 runs from nine games, and England's Sophie Ecclestone topped the list of wicket-takers with 21.
Australia won their seventh women's ODI World Cup title in fine fashion, tossing defending champions England aside in the final, in Christchurch. They dominated all tournament and in the title match, Alyssa Healy set them up with a masterful 170, which left England needing to chase 357 to win. Nat Sciver almost matched Healy, with 148 not out off 121 balls, but England regularly lost batters at the other end. Healy was also Player of the Tournament for her 509 runs from nine games, and England's Sophie Ecclestone topped the list of wicket-takers with 21.
2000
Justin Langer walloped a run-a-ball 122 not out as Australia made light of a tricky target of 210 to beat New Zealand in the low-scoring third Test in Hamilton, their tenth win in a row. It was Langer's fourth century in the space of eight Tests, but maybe it went to his head, because he got only two fifties in his next eight, and at the start of the 2001 Ashes tour, 15 months after his captain, Steve Waugh, called him the best batter in the world, Langer was dropped. However, he got another chance in the final Test of the series, at The Oval, and he grabbed it with both hands, making a gutsy 102 before retiring hurt. That began a great patch as he forged a formidable opening combination with Matthew Hayden, giving Australia some rousing starts. As for this match, Daryl Tuffey made his debut, and his figures were an x-rated 9-0-75-0 and 11-1-52-0.
Justin Langer walloped a run-a-ball 122 not out as Australia made light of a tricky target of 210 to beat New Zealand in the low-scoring third Test in Hamilton, their tenth win in a row. It was Langer's fourth century in the space of eight Tests, but maybe it went to his head, because he got only two fifties in his next eight, and at the start of the 2001 Ashes tour, 15 months after his captain, Steve Waugh, called him the best batter in the world, Langer was dropped. However, he got another chance in the final Test of the series, at The Oval, and he grabbed it with both hands, making a gutsy 102 before retiring hurt. That began a great patch as he forged a formidable opening combination with Matthew Hayden, giving Australia some rousing starts. As for this match, Daryl Tuffey made his debut, and his figures were an x-rated 9-0-75-0 and 11-1-52-0.
1971
An unprecedented protest against racism took place in South Africa when all the players left the field after one ball of the match between Transvaal and The Rest, a game organised by the government to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Republic of South Africa. The walk-off came about because the government had blocked the selection of two coloured players for the 1971-72 tour of Australia. "We cricketers feel the time has come for an expression of our views," a statement said. Frank Waring, the minister of sport, dismissed it as "merely a gesture."
An unprecedented protest against racism took place in South Africa when all the players left the field after one ball of the match between Transvaal and The Rest, a game organised by the government to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Republic of South Africa. The walk-off came about because the government had blocked the selection of two coloured players for the 1971-72 tour of Australia. "We cricketers feel the time has come for an expression of our views," a statement said. Frank Waring, the minister of sport, dismissed it as "merely a gesture."
1973
Nobody in the history of the game has had quite as bittersweet a debut as Indian left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni, who was born on this day. Against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1997-98, he became the first Indian and the 12th person to take a wicket with his first ball when he dismissed Marvan Atapattu... but he ended with figures of 70-12-195-1. He actually got off quite lightly: this was the match in which Sri Lanka made a Test-record 952 for 6, and Anil Kumble and Rajesh Chauhan went for 223 and 276 respectively. Kulkarni only played two Tests after that one, but he'll never forget one of them - he was waiting, padded up, when India sealed a famous two-wicket win over Australia in Chennai in 2000-01.
Nobody in the history of the game has had quite as bittersweet a debut as Indian left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni, who was born on this day. Against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1997-98, he became the first Indian and the 12th person to take a wicket with his first ball when he dismissed Marvan Atapattu... but he ended with figures of 70-12-195-1. He actually got off quite lightly: this was the match in which Sri Lanka made a Test-record 952 for 6, and Anil Kumble and Rajesh Chauhan went for 223 and 276 respectively. Kulkarni only played two Tests after that one, but he'll never forget one of them - he was waiting, padded up, when India sealed a famous two-wicket win over Australia in Chennai in 2000-01.
2018
Vernon Philander put the boot into an Australia side reeling in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal in the previous Test that had resulted in bans for Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. Philander took 6 for 21 in the final innings in the final Test, in Johannesburg to secure South Africa their first series win at home against Australia since the storied 1970 series. It was the last Test of Morne Morkel's career, and he finished on 309 wickets. Tim Paine captained Australia, who were hopelessly outgunned, losing by 492 runs -- the biggest margin of defeat in Test cricket since World War II at the time.
Vernon Philander put the boot into an Australia side reeling in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal in the previous Test that had resulted in bans for Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. Philander took 6 for 21 in the final innings in the final Test, in Johannesburg to secure South Africa their first series win at home against Australia since the storied 1970 series. It was the last Test of Morne Morkel's career, and he finished on 309 wickets. Tim Paine captained Australia, who were hopelessly outgunned, losing by 492 runs -- the biggest margin of defeat in Test cricket since World War II at the time.
1930
The start of the second-longest Test of all - and it still didn't produce a result. Nine days' play - the last two admittedly washed out - ended in stalemate in the fourth Test between West Indies and England in Kingston, but not before records (all subsequently broken) for the longest match, highest total, highest individual score, and match aggregate had been set. Andrew Sandham set the third of those marks, completing the first Test triple-century shortly before the close of the second day. He ended the day on 309, and was dismissed early the next morning for 325. In all, he batted 10 hours, and his score remained the highest by a No. 2 in Tests for 73 years, until Australia's Matthew Hayden scored 380 in 2003.
The start of the second-longest Test of all - and it still didn't produce a result. Nine days' play - the last two admittedly washed out - ended in stalemate in the fourth Test between West Indies and England in Kingston, but not before records (all subsequently broken) for the longest match, highest total, highest individual score, and match aggregate had been set. Andrew Sandham set the third of those marks, completing the first Test triple-century shortly before the close of the second day. He ended the day on 309, and was dismissed early the next morning for 325. In all, he batted 10 hours, and his score remained the highest by a No. 2 in Tests for 73 years, until Australia's Matthew Hayden scored 380 in 2003.
1899
A fine day for South African allrounder Jimmy Sinclair, who became the first man to score a century and take six wickets in an innings, in the second Test against England, in Cape Town. It was also South Africa's first Test century, but it made no difference to the result - England won by 210 runs when South Africa were routed for just 35 in their second innings.
A fine day for South African allrounder Jimmy Sinclair, who became the first man to score a century and take six wickets in an innings, in the second Test against England, in Cape Town. It was also South Africa's first Test century, but it made no difference to the result - England won by 210 runs when South Africa were routed for just 35 in their second innings.
1987
Birth of a Scotland allrounder, in Pretoria. Richie Berrington made his ODI debut in 2008, against Ireland, and in 2012 scored a hundred in 58 balls to take Scotland to their first win over a Full Member side, Bangladesh, in a T20I at the Hague. In the World Cup League 2 in Dubai in 2022, Berrington struck a purple patch, making a hundred and a fifty against PNG, and 73 against Oman. The following year, in the ODI World Cup Qualifier in Bulawayo, he made 127 in a big win over UAE, and 64 in the loss against Netherlands that put paid to Scotland's hopes of making it to the World Cup.
Birth of a Scotland allrounder, in Pretoria. Richie Berrington made his ODI debut in 2008, against Ireland, and in 2012 scored a hundred in 58 balls to take Scotland to their first win over a Full Member side, Bangladesh, in a T20I at the Hague. In the World Cup League 2 in Dubai in 2022, Berrington struck a purple patch, making a hundred and a fifty against PNG, and 73 against Oman. The following year, in the ODI World Cup Qualifier in Bulawayo, he made 127 in a big win over UAE, and 64 in the loss against Netherlands that put paid to Scotland's hopes of making it to the World Cup.
1989
Hard-hitting Sri Lanka batter Thisara Perera, born today, first came to notice during an under-pressure cameo against India in Mirpur in 2010. From there he made it to the World T20 squad and then the 2011 World Cup side, but he mostly went under the radar in the global tournaments. He made his maiden one-day half-century in South Africa, a few months after playing his first Test, in England in 2011. The next year, in a one-day series against Pakistan at home, Perera bowled series-winning spells, taking 6 for 44 in Pallekele and a hat-trick in Colombo. Two years on, Perera, more or less a limited-overs specialist by then, hit the six that won Sri Lanka the World T20 in 2014. He had a career in T20 leagues around the world for his all-round skills, and he was one of seven captains Sri Lanka had in 2017.
Hard-hitting Sri Lanka batter Thisara Perera, born today, first came to notice during an under-pressure cameo against India in Mirpur in 2010. From there he made it to the World T20 squad and then the 2011 World Cup side, but he mostly went under the radar in the global tournaments. He made his maiden one-day half-century in South Africa, a few months after playing his first Test, in England in 2011. The next year, in a one-day series against Pakistan at home, Perera bowled series-winning spells, taking 6 for 44 in Pallekele and a hat-trick in Colombo. Two years on, Perera, more or less a limited-overs specialist by then, hit the six that won Sri Lanka the World T20 in 2014. He had a career in T20 leagues around the world for his all-round skills, and he was one of seven captains Sri Lanka had in 2017.
2018
New Zealand scrapped to the end to clinch their first home series win against England in over 34 years. They went into the last day of the Christchurch Test with ten wickets in hand but lost two off the first couple of balls, from Stuart Broad. They were rescued and taken to the finish line by, in order, Tom Latham, who camped 207 balls for 83; Colin de Grandhomme, who positively rampaged to 45 off 97 in contrast; and Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner, who clung on, limpet-like, for 31 overs (Wagner made 7 in about an hour and three quarters). Trent Boult was the Player of the Series for his 15 wickets in the two Tests.
New Zealand scrapped to the end to clinch their first home series win against England in over 34 years. They went into the last day of the Christchurch Test with ten wickets in hand but lost two off the first couple of balls, from Stuart Broad. They were rescued and taken to the finish line by, in order, Tom Latham, who camped 207 balls for 83; Colin de Grandhomme, who positively rampaged to 45 off 97 in contrast; and Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner, who clung on, limpet-like, for 31 overs (Wagner made 7 in about an hour and three quarters). Trent Boult was the Player of the Series for his 15 wickets in the two Tests.
1964
Delhi middle-order batter Ajay Sharma, born today, is best known for being banned for life in December 2000, along with Mohammad Azharuddin. He played only one Test - against West Indies in Chennai in 1987-88, the match in which Narendra Hirwani took 16 wickets - but he did finish with a monstrous first-class average of 67.
Delhi middle-order batter Ajay Sharma, born today, is best known for being banned for life in December 2000, along with Mohammad Azharuddin. He played only one Test - against West Indies in Chennai in 1987-88, the match in which Narendra Hirwani took 16 wickets - but he did finish with a monstrous first-class average of 67.
1916
Birth of Cliff Gladwin, the lanky Derbyshire seamer who played eight Tests for England in the 1940s. Gladwin is remembered for his feats with the bat, though: he and Alec Bedser scampered the winning leg-bye off the last ball in Durban in 1948-49. In all, Gladwin took over 1600 first-class wickets at an average of just 18. He died in Derbyshire in 1988.
Birth of Cliff Gladwin, the lanky Derbyshire seamer who played eight Tests for England in the 1940s. Gladwin is remembered for his feats with the bat, though: he and Alec Bedser scampered the winning leg-bye off the last ball in Durban in 1948-49. In all, Gladwin took over 1600 first-class wickets at an average of just 18. He died in Derbyshire in 1988.
1964
Birth of the man who instigated one of the greatest shocks in cricket history. In the 1996 World Cup, hapless Kenyan wicketkeeper Tariq Iqbal looked like he would struggle to catch a cold. But he somehow held on to a chance offered by Brian Lara, taking it between his thighs, and set in motion an extraordinary West Indies collapse: they were dismissed for a pathetic 93 and famously beaten.
Birth of the man who instigated one of the greatest shocks in cricket history. In the 1996 World Cup, hapless Kenyan wicketkeeper Tariq Iqbal looked like he would struggle to catch a cold. But he somehow held on to a chance offered by Brian Lara, taking it between his thighs, and set in motion an extraordinary West Indies collapse: they were dismissed for a pathetic 93 and famously beaten.
Other birthdays
1884 Jimmy Matthews (Australia)
1936 Shakoor Rana (Pakistan)
1963 Zakir Khan (Pakistan)
1981 Sewnarine Chattergoon (West Indies)
1986 Burt Cockley (Australia)
1884 Jimmy Matthews (Australia)
1936 Shakoor Rana (Pakistan)
1963 Zakir Khan (Pakistan)
1981 Sewnarine Chattergoon (West Indies)
1986 Burt Cockley (Australia)