April 6 down the years
Lord of Lord's
An Indian great is born, and Imran's Pakistan conquer Guyana
Dilip Vengsarkar made it to the Lord's honours board thrice • PA Photos
1956
Birth of one of India's finest batters. The graceful, upright Dilip Vengsarkar was a rock in the middle order through 116 Tests between 1975-76 and 1991-92. Peculiarly, only four of his 17 hundreds came in victory - and they were all in a six-month period in 1986-87. That included an outstanding performance on a Headingley terror track in 1986. Vengsarkar made 61 and 102 not out; nobody else on either side passed 36. He also made centuries in three consecutive Lord's Tests.
Birth of one of India's finest batters. The graceful, upright Dilip Vengsarkar was a rock in the middle order through 116 Tests between 1975-76 and 1991-92. Peculiarly, only four of his 17 hundreds came in victory - and they were all in a six-month period in 1986-87. That included an outstanding performance on a Headingley terror track in 1986. Vengsarkar made 61 and 102 not out; nobody else on either side passed 36. He also made centuries in three consecutive Lord's Tests.
2014
Sri Lanka made up for four finals losses in global events with a commanding six-wicket win over India in the final of the World T20 in Mirpur. Leading the charge was Kumar Sangakkara, in his final T20 international, with an unbeaten 52 as Sri Lanka chased down 131 in 17.5 overs. Another Sri Lankan stalwart, Mahela Jayawardene, also bowed out of the format after the final. India - the reigning World Cup and Champions Trophy winners - were denied the chance to win three limited-overs trophies. But Australia's women's team had no such problems. Earlier in the day, they completed a hat-trick of World T20 titles with a six-wicket thumping of England.
Sri Lanka made up for four finals losses in global events with a commanding six-wicket win over India in the final of the World T20 in Mirpur. Leading the charge was Kumar Sangakkara, in his final T20 international, with an unbeaten 52 as Sri Lanka chased down 131 in 17.5 overs. Another Sri Lankan stalwart, Mahela Jayawardene, also bowed out of the format after the final. India - the reigning World Cup and Champions Trophy winners - were denied the chance to win three limited-overs trophies. But Australia's women's team had no such problems. Earlier in the day, they completed a hat-trick of World T20 titles with a six-wicket thumping of England.
1956
Mudassar Nazar, who was born today, formed probably Pakistan's finest opening partnership, with Mohsin Khan in the 1970s and 80s. He saved his best for India, against whom he made his top five Test scores, and six of his ten hundreds. He also made the slowest century in Test history, 557 minutes of pain against England in Lahore in 1977-78. His medium-pacers had high partnership-breaking value, and at Lord's in 1982 he swung Pakistan to a famous victory with 6 for 32 in the second innings. Mudassar's father, Nazar Mohammad, also played for Pakistan.
Mudassar Nazar, who was born today, formed probably Pakistan's finest opening partnership, with Mohsin Khan in the 1970s and 80s. He saved his best for India, against whom he made his top five Test scores, and six of his ten hundreds. He also made the slowest century in Test history, 557 minutes of pain against England in Lahore in 1977-78. His medium-pacers had high partnership-breaking value, and at Lord's in 1982 he swung Pakistan to a famous victory with 6 for 32 in the second innings. Mudassar's father, Nazar Mohammad, also played for Pakistan.
1988
A landmark win for Imran Khan's Pakistan, who became the first visiting team to win a Test in the Caribbean for ten years when they beat West Indies by nine wickets in Guyana. This was a rough, tough contest, fit for men, not boys: Imran took 11 wickets and Javed Miandad made an outstanding 114, while West Indies debutant Curtly Ambrose took 2 for 121. And there were a staggering 71 extras in Pakistan's first innings, a Test record at the time. This series was the second of three consecutive 1-1s between these sides, at a time when West Indies were blowing away most other teams.
A landmark win for Imran Khan's Pakistan, who became the first visiting team to win a Test in the Caribbean for ten years when they beat West Indies by nine wickets in Guyana. This was a rough, tough contest, fit for men, not boys: Imran took 11 wickets and Javed Miandad made an outstanding 114, while West Indies debutant Curtly Ambrose took 2 for 121. And there were a staggering 71 extras in Pakistan's first innings, a Test record at the time. This series was the second of three consecutive 1-1s between these sides, at a time when West Indies were blowing away most other teams.
1973
Another Guyana Test, and another West Indies defeat. Clive Lloyd belted 178, his highest score in the Caribbean, but Australia triumphed by 10 wickets after West Indies were skittled for just 109 in their second innings, with Jeff Hammond, the South Australian fast bowler, demolishing the top order. It gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead with one to play.
Another Guyana Test, and another West Indies defeat. Clive Lloyd belted 178, his highest score in the Caribbean, but Australia triumphed by 10 wickets after West Indies were skittled for just 109 in their second innings, with Jeff Hammond, the South Australian fast bowler, demolishing the top order. It gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead with one to play.
1985
Not dissimilar to his Durham team-mate Steve Harmison in build or bowling style, Liam Plunkett also had the makings of a useful allrounder, as he demonstrated with a composed half-century in only his second one-day international, against Pakistan in 2005. He also made his Test debut on that tour. Plunkett took six wickets against Sri Lanka in the Edgbaston Test in 2006, and played in England's dismal ODI World Cup campaign the following year, but it was the 2019 tournament that was his swansong: coming on first change as England's enforcer, he took 15 wickets, including three in the memorable tied final against New Zealand.
Not dissimilar to his Durham team-mate Steve Harmison in build or bowling style, Liam Plunkett also had the makings of a useful allrounder, as he demonstrated with a composed half-century in only his second one-day international, against Pakistan in 2005. He also made his Test debut on that tour. Plunkett took six wickets against Sri Lanka in the Edgbaston Test in 2006, and played in England's dismal ODI World Cup campaign the following year, but it was the 2019 tournament that was his swansong: coming on first change as England's enforcer, he took 15 wickets, including three in the memorable tied final against New Zealand.
1937
A journeyman is born. Queenslander Tom Veivers, a solid, left-hand middle-order batter and a diligent offspinner, played 21 Tests for Australia in the 1960s. He made seven half-centuries and was very difficult to shift at No. 7 or 8, but never took a five-for. The closest he got to winning a Test was at Headingley in 1964, when he took 3 for 70 in the second innings, a haul that included the key wickets of Ken Barrington and Ted Dexter. He also bowled 95.1 overs in the first innings at Old Trafford in the same year, 2.5 overs fewer than Sonny Ramadhin's record for a Test innings.
A journeyman is born. Queenslander Tom Veivers, a solid, left-hand middle-order batter and a diligent offspinner, played 21 Tests for Australia in the 1960s. He made seven half-centuries and was very difficult to shift at No. 7 or 8, but never took a five-for. The closest he got to winning a Test was at Headingley in 1964, when he took 3 for 70 in the second innings, a haul that included the key wickets of Ken Barrington and Ted Dexter. He also bowled 95.1 overs in the first innings at Old Trafford in the same year, 2.5 overs fewer than Sonny Ramadhin's record for a Test innings.
Other birthdays
1908 Essie Shevill (Australia)
1915 Thelma McKenzie (Australia)
1965 Fazil Sattaur (West Indies)
1973 Sarah McLauchlan (New Zealand)
1974 Rashid Zia (USA)
1977 Ruchira Perera (Sri Lanka)
1908 Essie Shevill (Australia)
1915 Thelma McKenzie (Australia)
1965 Fazil Sattaur (West Indies)
1973 Sarah McLauchlan (New Zealand)
1974 Rashid Zia (USA)
1977 Ruchira Perera (Sri Lanka)