September 1 down the years
Verity leaves his mark
7 for 9 caps 199 wickets in the summer
Hedley Verity took 144 wickets in 40 Tests • Getty Images
1939
With all other matches cancelled or abandoned as war loomed, Yorkshire opted to carry on playing against Sussex at Hove, as the match was Jim Parks' benefit. On a helpfully rain-affected pitch, that great slow left-armer Hedley Verity finished with the amazing figures of 7 for 9 to give Yorkshire the County Championship. He finished the summer with 199 wickets at 13.13. It was the last day of first-class cricket in England before the declaration of war against Germany two days later - and the last of Verity's career. He died in a prisoner of war camp in Italy in 1943.
With all other matches cancelled or abandoned as war loomed, Yorkshire opted to carry on playing against Sussex at Hove, as the match was Jim Parks' benefit. On a helpfully rain-affected pitch, that great slow left-armer Hedley Verity finished with the amazing figures of 7 for 9 to give Yorkshire the County Championship. He finished the summer with 199 wickets at 13.13. It was the last day of first-class cricket in England before the declaration of war against Germany two days later - and the last of Verity's career. He died in a prisoner of war camp in Italy in 1943.
1981
The last day of an astonishing series didn't live up to what had gone before. The draw at The Oval confirmed England's 3-1 win over Australia, and several of the players had cause for satisfaction. Dennis Lillee dismissed his old enemy Geoff Boycott for a duck. Terry Alderman took his 42nd wicket of the series, still the record by an Australian bowler in England. And Mike Brearley, in his last day as England captain, maintained his unbeaten record at home. The previous day the star of the show had taken his 200th wicket in only four years of Test cricket. You couldn't keep Ian Botham out of the record books that summer.
The last day of an astonishing series didn't live up to what had gone before. The draw at The Oval confirmed England's 3-1 win over Australia, and several of the players had cause for satisfaction. Dennis Lillee dismissed his old enemy Geoff Boycott for a duck. Terry Alderman took his 42nd wicket of the series, still the record by an Australian bowler in England. And Mike Brearley, in his last day as England captain, maintained his unbeaten record at home. The previous day the star of the show had taken his 200th wicket in only four years of Test cricket. You couldn't keep Ian Botham out of the record books that summer.
2015
A come-from-behind win against Sri Lanka at the SSC, gave India their first Test series victory in the country since 1993. After a rain-hit opening day, Cheteshwar Pujara marked his comeback to the Test side by carrying his bat with 145 on a bouncy pitch - rare for the SSC. Ishant Sharma then exploited the conditions with a five-wicket haul to give India a lead of 111. The Sri Lankan seamers caused an early wobble in India's second innings but the visitors recovered to set Sri Lanka 386. A gritty century by Angelo Mathews, supported by Kusal Perera's aggressive fifty, gave Sri Lanka hope after a bad start, but R Ashwin and Ishant combined to give India victory by 117 runs, and with it their first overseas series win since 2011.
A come-from-behind win against Sri Lanka at the SSC, gave India their first Test series victory in the country since 1993. After a rain-hit opening day, Cheteshwar Pujara marked his comeback to the Test side by carrying his bat with 145 on a bouncy pitch - rare for the SSC. Ishant Sharma then exploited the conditions with a five-wicket haul to give India a lead of 111. The Sri Lankan seamers caused an early wobble in India's second innings but the visitors recovered to set Sri Lanka 386. A gritty century by Angelo Mathews, supported by Kusal Perera's aggressive fifty, gave Sri Lanka hope after a bad start, but R Ashwin and Ishant combined to give India victory by 117 runs, and with it their first overseas series win since 2011.
2001
In the C&G Trophy final at Lord's, Somerset won a major trophy for the first time since 1983, thanks to a top score by Keith Parsons and a tragic performance from one of the Leicestershire seamers. Parsons made his 60 not out in only 52 balls. Earlier poor Scott Boswell had been taken off after bowling only two overs, in which he conceded 23 runs. He bowled nine wides, including five in a row in the second of those overs.
In the C&G Trophy final at Lord's, Somerset won a major trophy for the first time since 1983, thanks to a top score by Keith Parsons and a tragic performance from one of the Leicestershire seamers. Parsons made his 60 not out in only 52 balls. Earlier poor Scott Boswell had been taken off after bowling only two overs, in which he conceded 23 runs. He bowled nine wides, including five in a row in the second of those overs.
1989
Birth of one of the leading allrounders of her era. In early 2020, Sophie Devine of New Zealand became the first player, male or female, to make five consecutive scores of 50-plus in T20Is - a run she extended to six in a row at the beginning of the 2020 T20 World Cup. Devine's finest season was 2017-18, when she hit four hundreds and as many fifties against four separate teams in a 13-ODI run. In the 2010 World T20 final, she nearly got New Zealand across the line with a fighting 38 not out. Earlier in her career, Devine who also represented New Zealand in hockey, started out as bowler who chipped in with the bat; she later transformed herself into one of the most destructive hitters in the women's game. In the 2022 home ODI World Cup, she was something of a lone star for her side, making 309 runs at 44; New Zealand finished sixth on the table.
Birth of one of the leading allrounders of her era. In early 2020, Sophie Devine of New Zealand became the first player, male or female, to make five consecutive scores of 50-plus in T20Is - a run she extended to six in a row at the beginning of the 2020 T20 World Cup. Devine's finest season was 2017-18, when she hit four hundreds and as many fifties against four separate teams in a 13-ODI run. In the 2010 World T20 final, she nearly got New Zealand across the line with a fighting 38 not out. Earlier in her career, Devine who also represented New Zealand in hockey, started out as bowler who chipped in with the bat; she later transformed herself into one of the most destructive hitters in the women's game. In the 2022 home ODI World Cup, she was something of a lone star for her side, making 309 runs at 44; New Zealand finished sixth on the table.
1973
Gloucestershire beat Sussex by 40 runs in the Gillette Cup final at Lord's to win their first major trophy since the Championship back in 1877, when WG Grace was in the team. The Man of the Match was Mike Procter, an allrounder fit to be mentioned in the same breath as WG. Procter top-scored with 94 and took 2 for 27 in ten overs of fiery pace.
Gloucestershire beat Sussex by 40 runs in the Gillette Cup final at Lord's to win their first major trophy since the Championship back in 1877, when WG Grace was in the team. The Man of the Match was Mike Procter, an allrounder fit to be mentioned in the same breath as WG. Procter top-scored with 94 and took 2 for 27 in ten overs of fiery pace.
1984
Another final of the same competition, by now named the NatWest Trophy - and one of the most dramatic of the lot. Needing seven runs from the last over, Middlesex beat Kent off the last ball of the match, bowled by Kent seamer Richard Ellison. Squinting through the gloom (it was 7.45 in the evening), the Middlesex offspinner John Emburey hit it to square leg for four. Clive Radley's 67 made him Man of the Match, but Embers was very much the man of the moment.
Another final of the same competition, by now named the NatWest Trophy - and one of the most dramatic of the lot. Needing seven runs from the last over, Middlesex beat Kent off the last ball of the match, bowled by Kent seamer Richard Ellison. Squinting through the gloom (it was 7.45 in the evening), the Middlesex offspinner John Emburey hit it to square leg for four. Clive Radley's 67 made him Man of the Match, but Embers was very much the man of the moment.
1977
Neetu David, born on this day, was part of the generation of Indian women cricketers who preceded the ones who came to wider attention when interest in the women's game took off in the second half of the 2010s. That meant she played no T20s, but she did turn out in ten Tests for India, before the format fell by the wayside in the women's game. David's looping left-arm spin produced 41 wickets in the long game, including nine in a match India lost to England in 1995. In ODIs she took 141 wickets at 16.34 - the best average among all women who have taken over 100 wickets.
Neetu David, born on this day, was part of the generation of Indian women cricketers who preceded the ones who came to wider attention when interest in the women's game took off in the second half of the 2010s. That meant she played no T20s, but she did turn out in ten Tests for India, before the format fell by the wayside in the women's game. David's looping left-arm spin produced 41 wickets in the long game, including nine in a match India lost to England in 1995. In ODIs she took 141 wickets at 16.34 - the best average among all women who have taken over 100 wickets.
1951
That fine wicketkeeper and real character David Bairstow was born. A crackerjack behind the stumps and a hefty hitter with the bat, he didn't establish himself as Alan Knott's successor in the England team, playing in only four Tests (13 dismissals, highest score 59). But he gave Yorkshire years of selfless and colourful service, helping them win the B&H Cup in 1987, their last major trophy until the Championship in 2001. Tragic that such an ebullient player should have committed suicide, as Bairstow did in 1998.
That fine wicketkeeper and real character David Bairstow was born. A crackerjack behind the stumps and a hefty hitter with the bat, he didn't establish himself as Alan Knott's successor in the England team, playing in only four Tests (13 dismissals, highest score 59). But he gave Yorkshire years of selfless and colourful service, helping them win the B&H Cup in 1987, their last major trophy until the Championship in 2001. Tragic that such an ebullient player should have committed suicide, as Bairstow did in 1998.
1976
England captain Clare Connor was born. During the tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2000, she took over the captaincy from the long-serving Karen Smithies. She led them in the World Cup that year and in the tough series against Australia in 2001. Her slow left-arm spin brought her a hat-trick in an ODI against India in Northampton in 1999, and she secured her greatest achievement by leading England to the women's Ashes in 2005, the first time Australia had lost the trophy since 1963. In 2007 she was appointed the ECB's head of women's cricket.
England captain Clare Connor was born. During the tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2000, she took over the captaincy from the long-serving Karen Smithies. She led them in the World Cup that year and in the tough series against Australia in 2001. Her slow left-arm spin brought her a hat-trick in an ODI against India in Northampton in 1999, and she secured her greatest achievement by leading England to the women's Ashes in 2005, the first time Australia had lost the trophy since 1963. In 2007 she was appointed the ECB's head of women's cricket.
1908
Although his Test figures were nothing to write home about, Amir Elahi entered the record books as one of the relatively few men to play Test cricket for two countries. In his only match for India, in Sydney in 1947-48, he was chosen as a bowler but didn't bowl. He played five times for Pakistan, including their inaugural Test appearance, in Delhi in 1952-53 - and would have had a long international career (with a long gap in the middle of it) if he'd played in any of the Tests on the tour of England in 1936.
Although his Test figures were nothing to write home about, Amir Elahi entered the record books as one of the relatively few men to play Test cricket for two countries. In his only match for India, in Sydney in 1947-48, he was chosen as a bowler but didn't bowl. He played five times for Pakistan, including their inaugural Test appearance, in Delhi in 1952-53 - and would have had a long international career (with a long gap in the middle of it) if he'd played in any of the Tests on the tour of England in 1936.
1989
Right-arm medium-pacer Shakera Selman, born today, holds the distinction of having bowled the millionth delivery in women's international cricket - against Sri Lanka, late in 2018. Selman made her T20I and ODI debuts ten years before that, and has been a near constant presence in the West Indies sides since. She took 5 for 15 in a home ODI against New Zealand in 2014, and in the home T20I World Cup three years after, took seven wickets in her five games in West Indies' run to the semi-final.
Right-arm medium-pacer Shakera Selman, born today, holds the distinction of having bowled the millionth delivery in women's international cricket - against Sri Lanka, late in 2018. Selman made her T20I and ODI debuts ten years before that, and has been a near constant presence in the West Indies sides since. She took 5 for 15 in a home ODI against New Zealand in 2014, and in the home T20I World Cup three years after, took seven wickets in her five games in West Indies' run to the semi-final.
Other birthdays
1919 Ossie Dawson (South Africa)
1921 Madhav Mantri (India)
1980 Dawn Holden (England)
1919 Ossie Dawson (South Africa)
1921 Madhav Mantri (India)
1980 Dawn Holden (England)