June 26 down the years
Gus arrives
The birth of Aussie allrounder Gary Gilmour
1951
Birth of the Australian allrounder Gary Gilmour, who fit more into five one-day internationals than most people do into 200. He bowled England to defeat with 6 for 14 at Headingley in the World Cup semi-final of 1975, and then took 5 for 48 in the final. Amazingly he only played a solitary one-dayer after that. Gilmour also played 15 Tests, and ended with an outstanding strike rate of a wicket every 49 balls. His Test-best figures also came at Headingley, and also in 1975: 6 for 85 in the third Test against England. He died at 62, having battled health problems since a liver transplant in 2005.
Birth of the Australian allrounder Gary Gilmour, who fit more into five one-day internationals than most people do into 200. He bowled England to defeat with 6 for 14 at Headingley in the World Cup semi-final of 1975, and then took 5 for 48 in the final. Amazingly he only played a solitary one-dayer after that. Gilmour also played 15 Tests, and ended with an outstanding strike rate of a wicket every 49 balls. His Test-best figures also came at Headingley, and also in 1975: 6 for 85 in the third Test against England. He died at 62, having battled health problems since a liver transplant in 2005.
1995
In the 1990s, it would have flattered the majority of English debutants to say they were like fish out of water. But there were occasional exceptions, and on this day Dominic Cork hustled and bustled England to a memorable 72-run victory over West Indies at Lord's. Cork, who also carved his first ball in Tests for four, took 7 for 43 in the second innings, the best figures by an English debutant.
In the 1990s, it would have flattered the majority of English debutants to say they were like fish out of water. But there were occasional exceptions, and on this day Dominic Cork hustled and bustled England to a memorable 72-run victory over West Indies at Lord's. Cork, who also carved his first ball in Tests for four, took 7 for 43 in the second innings, the best figures by an English debutant.
1937
A distinctly forgettable Test debut for the great Len Hutton. Just three days after his 21st birthday, Hutton was pitched in against New Zealand at Lord's - and made 0 and 1, each time falling to the pace of Jack Cowie. Hutton was retained, though, and scored an even 100 in his next innings. After a career of 79 Tests and 6971 runs, it was clear the selectors had made the right decision.
A distinctly forgettable Test debut for the great Len Hutton. Just three days after his 21st birthday, Hutton was pitched in against New Zealand at Lord's - and made 0 and 1, each time falling to the pace of Jack Cowie. Hutton was retained, though, and scored an even 100 in his next innings. After a career of 79 Tests and 6971 runs, it was clear the selectors had made the right decision.
1973
A famous Lord's let-off for England. New Zealand had failed to beat England, home or away, in 43 attempts when they took a 298-run lead on first innings in the second Test at Lord's. With nearly two days to go, England were in a hole. But the key moment came when the New Zealand wicketkeeper, Ken Wadsworth, dropped Geoff Arnold before he had scored; Arnold went on to save the match in a ninth-wicket stand of 92 with Keith Fletcher.
A famous Lord's let-off for England. New Zealand had failed to beat England, home or away, in 43 attempts when they took a 298-run lead on first innings in the second Test at Lord's. With nearly two days to go, England were in a hole. But the key moment came when the New Zealand wicketkeeper, Ken Wadsworth, dropped Geoff Arnold before he had scored; Arnold went on to save the match in a ninth-wicket stand of 92 with Keith Fletcher.
1976
Zimbabwe seamer Mpumelelo Mbangwa - "Pommie" to most people - is born. Mbangwa's finest hour came in Peshawar in 1998-99, when he grabbed match figures of 6 for 63 as Zimbabwe famously beat Pakistan. His Test record - 32 wickets at an average of 31 - was eminently respectable, although in 29 ODIs he only took 11 wickets at an average touching 104. Like so many of his generation, he turned his back on Zimbabwe when in his twenties and became a cricket commentator.
Zimbabwe seamer Mpumelelo Mbangwa - "Pommie" to most people - is born. Mbangwa's finest hour came in Peshawar in 1998-99, when he grabbed match figures of 6 for 63 as Zimbabwe famously beat Pakistan. His Test record - 32 wickets at an average of 31 - was eminently respectable, although in 29 ODIs he only took 11 wickets at an average touching 104. Like so many of his generation, he turned his back on Zimbabwe when in his twenties and became a cricket commentator.
1745
The first recorded women's match was played at Gosden Common near Guildford, Surrey, between Bramley and Hambledon.
The first recorded women's match was played at Gosden Common near Guildford, Surrey, between Bramley and Hambledon.
1990
The end of a dull draw between England and New Zealand at Lord's - but one that Richard Hadlee will never forget. Nine days before the match began, Hadlee was knighted in the Queen's birthday honours, and so became the third knight to play Test cricket. The other two, Sir Timothy O'Brien and Sir Vizianagram, were not knighted for services to the game.
The end of a dull draw between England and New Zealand at Lord's - but one that Richard Hadlee will never forget. Nine days before the match began, Hadlee was knighted in the Queen's birthday honours, and so became the third knight to play Test cricket. The other two, Sir Timothy O'Brien and Sir Vizianagram, were not knighted for services to the game.
1878
An example of the more calculating side of WG Grace. Gloucestershire's Billy Midwinter, a member of the Australian touring side, was persuaded by Grace to take a cab from Lord's to The Oval where Gloucestershire were about to play Surrey. Some reports suggest that Midwinter was duped, others that he was kidnapped by Grace from the Australian dressing room. In any event, Midwinter took no further part in the tour.
An example of the more calculating side of WG Grace. Gloucestershire's Billy Midwinter, a member of the Australian touring side, was persuaded by Grace to take a cab from Lord's to The Oval where Gloucestershire were about to play Surrey. Some reports suggest that Midwinter was duped, others that he was kidnapped by Grace from the Australian dressing room. In any event, Midwinter took no further part in the tour.
1874
Birth of the England allrounder Albert Relf, who played 13 Tests between 1903-04 and 1913-14. His finest hour came against Australia at Lord's in 1909, when he took 5 for 85 with his medium-pacers. Relf was also a useful batter, who once opened in a Test - and made his highest score, of 63, against South Africa, in Johannesburg in 1913-14. He did the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets eight times in ten seasons for Sussex. He died in Berkshire in 1937.
Birth of the England allrounder Albert Relf, who played 13 Tests between 1903-04 and 1913-14. His finest hour came against Australia at Lord's in 1909, when he took 5 for 85 with his medium-pacers. Relf was also a useful batter, who once opened in a Test - and made his highest score, of 63, against South Africa, in Johannesburg in 1913-14. He did the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets eight times in ten seasons for Sussex. He died in Berkshire in 1937.
2022
Madhya Pradesh clinched their maiden Ranjit Trophy title, beating 41-time winners Mumbai by six wickets to lift the trophy. MP had last reached the Ranji final in the 1998-99 season, when they lost to Karnataka. Here, they came into the last day needing a modest 108 to win, after their bowlers restricted Mumbai to 269 (Kumar Kartikeya picked up 4 for 98). After opener Yash Dubey was out for 1, the rest of the batters calmly saw off Mumbai's bowling, and Shubham Sharma and Rajat Patidar took them past the finish line with 30s each. Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan was Player of the Series for his 982 runs, including four hundreds.
Madhya Pradesh clinched their maiden Ranjit Trophy title, beating 41-time winners Mumbai by six wickets to lift the trophy. MP had last reached the Ranji final in the 1998-99 season, when they lost to Karnataka. Here, they came into the last day needing a modest 108 to win, after their bowlers restricted Mumbai to 269 (Kumar Kartikeya picked up 4 for 98). After opener Yash Dubey was out for 1, the rest of the batters calmly saw off Mumbai's bowling, and Shubham Sharma and Rajat Patidar took them past the finish line with 30s each. Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan was Player of the Series for his 982 runs, including four hundreds.
1983
Nick Compton, the grandson of the legendary Denis, is born in Natal. Raised in South Africa, Compton arrived in England as a teenager and played for the Under-19 side in 2001-02. But it was only in 2012 that he made headlines, finishing with 1494 runs at 99.60. It was enough to earn him a call-up for England's tour to India, replacing the retired Andrew Strauss as opener. Back-to-back hundreds on the 2013 tour to New Zealand seemed to have cemented his place in the side, but after a nervous time in the return series, he was dropped for the Ashes in the home summer. He started strongly, with an 85, in South Africa in 2015-16 but tailed away as the series went on.
Nick Compton, the grandson of the legendary Denis, is born in Natal. Raised in South Africa, Compton arrived in England as a teenager and played for the Under-19 side in 2001-02. But it was only in 2012 that he made headlines, finishing with 1494 runs at 99.60. It was enough to earn him a call-up for England's tour to India, replacing the retired Andrew Strauss as opener. Back-to-back hundreds on the 2013 tour to New Zealand seemed to have cemented his place in the side, but after a nervous time in the return series, he was dropped for the Ashes in the home summer. He started strongly, with an 85, in South Africa in 2015-16 but tailed away as the series went on.
Other birthdays
1932 Harry Bromfield (South Africa)
1945 David Heyn (Sri Lanka)
1913 Molly Dive (Australia)
1952 Babu Meman (Zimbabwe)
1961 David White (New Zealand)
1980 Friedel de Wet (South Africa)
1932 Harry Bromfield (South Africa)
1945 David Heyn (Sri Lanka)
1913 Molly Dive (Australia)
1952 Babu Meman (Zimbabwe)
1961 David White (New Zealand)
1980 Friedel de Wet (South Africa)