July 9 down the years
Edrich's epoch
An epic in Leeds
John Edrich went on a boundary-hitting spree at Headingley in 1965 • Getty Images
1965
A record-breaking innings from John Edrich. Nobody has scored more runs in boundaries in a Test innings than Edrich did in this meaty 310 not out against New Zealand at Headingley. Edrich larruped 52 fours and five sixes; that's 238 runs - or 77% of his innings. He was on the pitch throughout the match, as England stormed home by an innings. In both their innings, New Zealand managed only 49 more runs between them than Edrich made. It was a pretty modest Kiwi attack that he punished, though: Dick Motz, Bruce Taylor, Richard Collinge and Bryan Yuile.
A record-breaking innings from John Edrich. Nobody has scored more runs in boundaries in a Test innings than Edrich did in this meaty 310 not out against New Zealand at Headingley. Edrich larruped 52 fours and five sixes; that's 238 runs - or 77% of his innings. He was on the pitch throughout the match, as England stormed home by an innings. In both their innings, New Zealand managed only 49 more runs between them than Edrich made. It was a pretty modest Kiwi attack that he punished, though: Dick Motz, Bruce Taylor, Richard Collinge and Bryan Yuile.
1982
Ian Botham's highest Test score. It could have been a Western, so quickly were the bars at The Oval emptied as Beefy slung India from pillar to post with a lacerating 208. The Wisden Almanack said he "drove with rare ferocity, one straight six off [Dilip] Doshi leaving its mark for posterity in the shape of a hole in the pavilion roof". And he also fractured Sunny Gavaskar's left fibula, when a scorching hit smacked into Gavaskar at silly point. For years it was the fastest recorded Test double-century, in terms of balls faced (220). Now it's all a bit passé, and lies ninth. This was Botham's tenth century, in his 51st Test. In his last 51 he got only four.
Ian Botham's highest Test score. It could have been a Western, so quickly were the bars at The Oval emptied as Beefy slung India from pillar to post with a lacerating 208. The Wisden Almanack said he "drove with rare ferocity, one straight six off [Dilip] Doshi leaving its mark for posterity in the shape of a hole in the pavilion roof". And he also fractured Sunny Gavaskar's left fibula, when a scorching hit smacked into Gavaskar at silly point. For years it was the fastest recorded Test double-century, in terms of balls faced (220). Now it's all a bit passé, and lies ninth. This was Botham's tenth century, in his 51st Test. In his last 51 he got only four.
2023
England clinched their first win of the 2023 Ashes in a white-knuckled chase in the third Test, at Headingley, with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood taking them home. Earlier in the game, Wood's first-innings 5 for 34 trumped a Mitchell Marsh century, and Australia lost all ten for 263 before tea on the first day. England launched their fightback at cracking pace but lost four wickets to aggressive shots in the morning session the next day, and were out for 237 despite 80 from Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins taking his first six-for on English soil. Australia looked like they had a hand on the urn when Travis Head put together a measured 77 on the rain-interrupted third day, but Wood, Woakes, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali struck at regular intervals to limit Australia to 224. England looked in trouble at 171 for 6 chasing 251, but Harry Brook's attacking 75, and his 59-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Woakes put victory in sight, before Woakes and Wood sealed the win. England could well have gone on to level the series in the fourth Test at Old Trafford despite a fighting Marnus Labuschagne hundred, but rain scuppered the final two days of the match, forcing a draw, which meant Australia retained the Ashes.
England clinched their first win of the 2023 Ashes in a white-knuckled chase in the third Test, at Headingley, with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood taking them home. Earlier in the game, Wood's first-innings 5 for 34 trumped a Mitchell Marsh century, and Australia lost all ten for 263 before tea on the first day. England launched their fightback at cracking pace but lost four wickets to aggressive shots in the morning session the next day, and were out for 237 despite 80 from Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins taking his first six-for on English soil. Australia looked like they had a hand on the urn when Travis Head put together a measured 77 on the rain-interrupted third day, but Wood, Woakes, Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali struck at regular intervals to limit Australia to 224. England looked in trouble at 171 for 6 chasing 251, but Harry Brook's attacking 75, and his 59-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Woakes put victory in sight, before Woakes and Wood sealed the win. England could well have gone on to level the series in the fourth Test at Old Trafford despite a fighting Marnus Labuschagne hundred, but rain scuppered the final two days of the match, forcing a draw, which meant Australia retained the Ashes.
1930
The cavalier strokeplay of Roy McLean, who was born today, made him the antithesis of most post-war South African batters. Once McLean got in - he made 11 ducks in 40 Tests - he was a fearsome proposition, especially square of the wicket on either side. At Lord's in 1955, he flashed 142, more than England had managed between them in the first innings... but South Africa still lost. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1961, and also played rugby for Natal.
The cavalier strokeplay of Roy McLean, who was born today, made him the antithesis of most post-war South African batters. Once McLean got in - he made 11 ducks in 40 Tests - he was a fearsome proposition, especially square of the wicket on either side. At Lord's in 1955, he flashed 142, more than England had managed between them in the first innings... but South Africa still lost. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1961, and also played rugby for Natal.
1983
Birth of Shaun Marsh, who scored a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka - only one of five Australians to achieve the landmark in an away game - in 2011, three years after breaking into the one-day side. Marsh first made headlines for top-scoring in the inaugural IPL that year, and memorably made a hundred to overshadow Sachin Tendulkar's 175 in Hyderabad in 2009. He was dropped after a terrible run in which he was out for four ducks in seven Test innings but returned in style in February 2014 with a hundred in a big win against South Africa in Centurion. Injury then set him back, and when he was called up again, in December that year against India, he had a solid enough series - once being run out on 99 - however he was frequently in and out of the XI. Called up as an opener in Colombo after Australia had lost the series in 2016, Marsh made a patient century, and two half-centuries on the tour of India next year. He played all five Ashes Tests in 2017-18 and was the second highest scorer, with 445 runs.
Birth of Shaun Marsh, who scored a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka - only one of five Australians to achieve the landmark in an away game - in 2011, three years after breaking into the one-day side. Marsh first made headlines for top-scoring in the inaugural IPL that year, and memorably made a hundred to overshadow Sachin Tendulkar's 175 in Hyderabad in 2009. He was dropped after a terrible run in which he was out for four ducks in seven Test innings but returned in style in February 2014 with a hundred in a big win against South Africa in Centurion. Injury then set him back, and when he was called up again, in December that year against India, he had a solid enough series - once being run out on 99 - however he was frequently in and out of the XI. Called up as an opener in Colombo after Australia had lost the series in 2016, Marsh made a patient century, and two half-centuries on the tour of India next year. He played all five Ashes Tests in 2017-18 and was the second highest scorer, with 445 runs.
1985
BJ Watling, who was born today, moved to New Zealand from Durban as a ten-year-old. A right-hand opening batter and part-time wicketkeeper, Watling earned a place in New Zealand's ODI squad for the series against Pakistan in 2008-09, before settling into the role of full-time wicketkeeper in 2013. The following year, against India, he and Brendon McCullum put together a record sixth-wicket Test partnership of 352 in Wellington. He hit a purple patch in 2015, making an unbeaten 142 in New Zealand's big win against Sri Lanka in Wellington before topping his team's run charts in a riveting drawn series against England, during which he made a match-winning 120 in Leeds. In Dunedin later that year, he took nine catches in a Test against Sri Lanka, becoming the third keeper to do so on two occasions. Watling announced his retirement in 2021, capping a career as New Zealand's most successful wicketkeeper-batter with his team's win in the inaugural World Test Championship final.
BJ Watling, who was born today, moved to New Zealand from Durban as a ten-year-old. A right-hand opening batter and part-time wicketkeeper, Watling earned a place in New Zealand's ODI squad for the series against Pakistan in 2008-09, before settling into the role of full-time wicketkeeper in 2013. The following year, against India, he and Brendon McCullum put together a record sixth-wicket Test partnership of 352 in Wellington. He hit a purple patch in 2015, making an unbeaten 142 in New Zealand's big win against Sri Lanka in Wellington before topping his team's run charts in a riveting drawn series against England, during which he made a match-winning 120 in Leeds. In Dunedin later that year, he took nine catches in a Test against Sri Lanka, becoming the third keeper to do so on two occasions. Watling announced his retirement in 2021, capping a career as New Zealand's most successful wicketkeeper-batter with his team's win in the inaugural World Test Championship final.
2017
Moeen Ali's career-best figures of 10 for 112 gave England an emphatic 211-run victory over South Africa at Lord's. Moeen, who also made 87 in the first innings, became the fifth fastest Test allrounder to get to 2000 runs and 100 wickets. Before this match, South Africa had last lost a Test at Lord's in 1960 - a fact new England captain Joe Root might have been thinking about during his innings of 190, the highest by an England batter on captaincy debut.
Moeen Ali's career-best figures of 10 for 112 gave England an emphatic 211-run victory over South Africa at Lord's. Moeen, who also made 87 in the first innings, became the fifth fastest Test allrounder to get to 2000 runs and 100 wickets. Before this match, South Africa had last lost a Test at Lord's in 1960 - a fact new England captain Joe Root might have been thinking about during his innings of 190, the highest by an England batter on captaincy debut.
1893
Birth of George Geary, the Leicestershire seamer who played 14 Tests for England between the First and Second World Wars. One of a family of 16, he took almost as many wickets (12) in only his fourth Test, against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1927-28. And two years later, at the MCG, he had remarkable first-innings figures of 81-36-105-5, the most overs bowled by an Englishman in a Test innings. In 1929 he took 10 for 18 against Glamorgan at Pontypridd, at the time the cheapest ten-for in first-class history. He died in Leicester in 1981, and his boots are on display at Grace Road.
Birth of George Geary, the Leicestershire seamer who played 14 Tests for England between the First and Second World Wars. One of a family of 16, he took almost as many wickets (12) in only his fourth Test, against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1927-28. And two years later, at the MCG, he had remarkable first-innings figures of 81-36-105-5, the most overs bowled by an Englishman in a Test innings. In 1929 he took 10 for 18 against Glamorgan at Pontypridd, at the time the cheapest ten-for in first-class history. He died in Leicester in 1981, and his boots are on display at Grace Road.
1908
The birth of one of the major figures of women's cricket for two decades from 1930. A fine opening bat and the most outstanding wicketkeeper of her generation, Betty Snowball also played squash and lacrosse at the international level. She played ten times for England, and toured Australia twice, recording a Test average of 40.86 and effecting 21 dismissals.
The birth of one of the major figures of women's cricket for two decades from 1930. A fine opening bat and the most outstanding wicketkeeper of her generation, Betty Snowball also played squash and lacrosse at the international level. She played ten times for England, and toured Australia twice, recording a Test average of 40.86 and effecting 21 dismissals.
1969
The Test career of the Indian left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju, who was born today, splits beautifully into two sections: home and away. In 16 Tests at home he took 71 wickets at an average of 24; in 12 Tests overseas he managed only 22 wickets at 52. When the ball was spitting off the surface, Raju's bounce made him almost unplayable. Against Sri Lanka in Chandigarh in 1990-91, his match figures were 53.5-38-37-8.
The Test career of the Indian left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju, who was born today, splits beautifully into two sections: home and away. In 16 Tests at home he took 71 wickets at an average of 24; in 12 Tests overseas he managed only 22 wickets at 52. When the ball was spitting off the surface, Raju's bounce made him almost unplayable. Against Sri Lanka in Chandigarh in 1990-91, his match figures were 53.5-38-37-8.
1974
Birth of left-arm quick bowler Ian Bradshaw, who is best remembered for the batting partnership with Courtney Browne that helped West Indies win the Champions Trophy in 2004. Bradshaw was economical when he started out, but in his five Tests, in 2006, he averaged 60 for nine wickets. In 62 ODIs he picked up 78 wickets at nearly 30.
Birth of left-arm quick bowler Ian Bradshaw, who is best remembered for the batting partnership with Courtney Browne that helped West Indies win the Champions Trophy in 2004. Bradshaw was economical when he started out, but in his five Tests, in 2006, he averaged 60 for nine wickets. In 62 ODIs he picked up 78 wickets at nearly 30.
Other birthdays
1914 Bill Tallon (Australia)
1959 Trish Dawson (Australia)
1975 Amrita Shinde (India)
1982 Burton van Rooi (Namibia)
1914 Bill Tallon (Australia)
1959 Trish Dawson (Australia)
1975 Amrita Shinde (India)
1982 Burton van Rooi (Namibia)