September 8 down the years
The history boy
The youngest man to make a Test century
Mohammad Ashraful broke Mushtaq Mohammad's record when he became the youngest man to make a Test hundred • AFP / Getty Images
2001
A moment of history at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, as Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh became the youngest man, or boy, ever to make a Test century. Ashraful made 114 in Bangladesh's second innings against Sri Lanka, and though this did not have much of an impact on the result - trailing by 465 runs on first innings, Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 328 - it was quite some consolation for the perennial whipping boys of world cricket. It was the day before Ashraful's 17th birthday, according to some sources, and 63 days after it, according to others; either way, he broke the long-standing record for the youngest centurion, set by Mushtaq Mohammad when he made 101 for Pakistan against India in 1960-61 (17 years, 82 days).
A moment of history at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, as Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh became the youngest man, or boy, ever to make a Test century. Ashraful made 114 in Bangladesh's second innings against Sri Lanka, and though this did not have much of an impact on the result - trailing by 465 runs on first innings, Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 328 - it was quite some consolation for the perennial whipping boys of world cricket. It was the day before Ashraful's 17th birthday, according to some sources, and 63 days after it, according to others; either way, he broke the long-standing record for the youngest centurion, set by Mushtaq Mohammad when he made 101 for Pakistan against India in 1960-61 (17 years, 82 days).
1990
Birth of Jos Buttler, who pushed the envelope of limited-overs batting, and made a name for himself as one of England's first white-ball specialists, armed with every shot in the book, and a dozen outside it. Buttler announced himself with a ten-ball 32 in a T20I against South Africa in 2012, and inside four years he had scored three of England's fastest one-day hundreds, including one in 46 balls against Pakistan in Dubai in 2015. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, he made 191 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 159.16. In an ODI series against Australia in 2018, he made scores of 91 not out, 54 not out and 110 not out - the century taking England from 114 for 8 to a dramatic victory in a match in which no other England player crossed 20. Despite not playing first-class cricket for a year, Buttler was recalled to the Test side that year - having previously struggled to hold down a spot - based on his performances in the IPL, and had a three-year run. In 2019, he made 89 at The Oval, taking England to 332 from 181 for 7, and an eventual win against India, coming in at No. 7. Earlier that year, he had starred in the extraordinary tied World Cup final against New Zealand, with 59 runs and a stand of 110 with Ben Stokes. In 2022, Buttler was appointed England's white-ball captain, and under him the team won their first T20 World Cup title, in Australia. It was quite a different story at the ODI event in in India the following year, where England bombed ignominiously.
Birth of Jos Buttler, who pushed the envelope of limited-overs batting, and made a name for himself as one of England's first white-ball specialists, armed with every shot in the book, and a dozen outside it. Buttler announced himself with a ten-ball 32 in a T20I against South Africa in 2012, and inside four years he had scored three of England's fastest one-day hundreds, including one in 46 balls against Pakistan in Dubai in 2015. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, he made 191 runs from six innings at a strike rate of 159.16. In an ODI series against Australia in 2018, he made scores of 91 not out, 54 not out and 110 not out - the century taking England from 114 for 8 to a dramatic victory in a match in which no other England player crossed 20. Despite not playing first-class cricket for a year, Buttler was recalled to the Test side that year - having previously struggled to hold down a spot - based on his performances in the IPL, and had a three-year run. In 2019, he made 89 at The Oval, taking England to 332 from 181 for 7, and an eventual win against India, coming in at No. 7. Earlier that year, he had starred in the extraordinary tied World Cup final against New Zealand, with 59 runs and a stand of 110 with Ben Stokes. In 2022, Buttler was appointed England's white-ball captain, and under him the team won their first T20 World Cup title, in Australia. It was quite a different story at the ODI event in in India the following year, where England bombed ignominiously.
1999
Birth of opening batter Shubman Gill, one of the stars of India's Under-19 World Cup win in 2018. During the tournament, in which he was the second-highest run-getter, Gill landed a Rs 1.8 crore (USD 281,000 approx) contract with Kolkata Knight Riders. His talent was evident and he didn't have to wait long to play for India, making his international debut in an ODI in early 2019 and his Test debut in challenging conditions in the MCG Boxing Day Test in 2020. He got his first Test fifty in the next match, the hard-fought draw in Sydney, but had to wait a longer for his first hundred in the format, a second-innings 110 in Chattogram in December 2022. Gill was particularly prolific in 2023, leading the IPL run charts with 890 runs, becoming the youngest double-centurion in ODIs, and scoring his first T20I hundred - a 63-ball 126 not out in a massive win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
Birth of opening batter Shubman Gill, one of the stars of India's Under-19 World Cup win in 2018. During the tournament, in which he was the second-highest run-getter, Gill landed a Rs 1.8 crore (USD 281,000 approx) contract with Kolkata Knight Riders. His talent was evident and he didn't have to wait long to play for India, making his international debut in an ODI in early 2019 and his Test debut in challenging conditions in the MCG Boxing Day Test in 2020. He got his first Test fifty in the next match, the hard-fought draw in Sydney, but had to wait a longer for his first hundred in the format, a second-innings 110 in Chattogram in December 2022. Gill was particularly prolific in 2023, leading the IPL run charts with 890 runs, becoming the youngest double-centurion in ODIs, and scoring his first T20I hundred - a 63-ball 126 not out in a massive win over New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
1944
Birth of a Test cricketer who became an important coach of the art of legspin. Although he took 5 for 90 on a batter's pitch in Port-of-Spain in 1972-73, Terry Jenner was best known for being hit on the head by England fast bowler John Snow in Sydney in 1970-71. But he made a significant contribution to Test cricket by recognising and nurturing the talent of Shane Warne. Jenner died at the age of 66, following prolonged illness.
Birth of a Test cricketer who became an important coach of the art of legspin. Although he took 5 for 90 on a batter's pitch in Port-of-Spain in 1972-73, Terry Jenner was best known for being hit on the head by England fast bowler John Snow in Sydney in 1970-71. But he made a significant contribution to Test cricket by recognising and nurturing the talent of Shane Warne. Jenner died at the age of 66, following prolonged illness.
2019
Australia broke through to hold on to the Ashes just when England threatened to spoil their party by getting out of jail on the last day at Old Trafford, like they had in the previous match, in Leeds. The insatiable Steve Smith set it up with 211 and 82, which took his tally for the series to 671 runs at an average of over 134, with one match to play (and one missed with injury). Come the afternoon of day five, after Pat Cummins had gutted England's top order, Jack Leach, who co-starred in the Headingley escape alongside Ben Stokes, shaped up for a reprise, in the company this time of Craig Overton, before part-time legspinner Marnus Labuschagne put paid to Leach's dreams of being a hero again. It was the first time Australia had retained the urn in England after 2001.
Australia broke through to hold on to the Ashes just when England threatened to spoil their party by getting out of jail on the last day at Old Trafford, like they had in the previous match, in Leeds. The insatiable Steve Smith set it up with 211 and 82, which took his tally for the series to 671 runs at an average of over 134, with one match to play (and one missed with injury). Come the afternoon of day five, after Pat Cummins had gutted England's top order, Jack Leach, who co-starred in the Headingley escape alongside Ben Stokes, shaped up for a reprise, in the company this time of Craig Overton, before part-time legspinner Marnus Labuschagne put paid to Leach's dreams of being a hero again. It was the first time Australia had retained the urn in England after 2001.
1979
At long last, after defeat in two previous finals, Somerset won their first major trophy, beating Northants at Lord's to win the Gillette Cup. Their West Indian Test stars did all the damage. Viv Richards was made Man of the Match for his superb 117, and big Joel Garner sent the ball down from the stratosphere to take 6 for 29. Like people waiting for a bus, Somerset spent 104 years without winning a title, and then two came along together: they won the Sunday League the following day.
At long last, after defeat in two previous finals, Somerset won their first major trophy, beating Northants at Lord's to win the Gillette Cup. Their West Indian Test stars did all the damage. Viv Richards was made Man of the Match for his superb 117, and big Joel Garner sent the ball down from the stratosphere to take 6 for 29. Like people waiting for a bus, Somerset spent 104 years without winning a title, and then two came along together: they won the Sunday League the following day.
1952
England allrounder Geoff Miller was born. Although he surprised many people, including himself, by playing in 34 Tests, there were moments where he looked a useful allrounder. He helped England beat a weakened Australia 5-1 in 1978-79, taking his only five-wicket haul in Sydney. Typical of a nearly man, he twice hit 98 in Tests. His biggest moment came in Melbourne in 1982-83. A long last-wicket stand left Australia needing only four runs to win when Jeff Thomson edged Ian Botham to slip. Chris Tavaré could only get his fingertips to it, but Miller pouched the rebound for a dramatic victory. He later served as a national selector.
England allrounder Geoff Miller was born. Although he surprised many people, including himself, by playing in 34 Tests, there were moments where he looked a useful allrounder. He helped England beat a weakened Australia 5-1 in 1978-79, taking his only five-wicket haul in Sydney. Typical of a nearly man, he twice hit 98 in Tests. His biggest moment came in Melbourne in 1982-83. A long last-wicket stand left Australia needing only four runs to win when Jeff Thomson edged Ian Botham to slip. Chris Tavaré could only get his fingertips to it, but Miller pouched the rebound for a dramatic victory. He later served as a national selector.
1914
Before Daniel Vettori arrived in 1996-97, New Zealand's youngest Test player was Doug Freeman, who was born today. He was only 18 years 197 days old when he played in the first of his two Tests, both against a powerful England side that had just regained the Ashes in 1932-33. While the mighty Wally Hammond was hitting 227 in Christchurch, and a world record 336 not out in Auckland, Freeman's legspin was bringing him figures of 0 for 78 and 1 for 91. His only Test victim was a distinguished one: the great Herbert Sutcliffe, caught by Lindsay "Dad" Weir for 24. Young Freeman's entire first-class career consisted of only five matches.
Before Daniel Vettori arrived in 1996-97, New Zealand's youngest Test player was Doug Freeman, who was born today. He was only 18 years 197 days old when he played in the first of his two Tests, both against a powerful England side that had just regained the Ashes in 1932-33. While the mighty Wally Hammond was hitting 227 in Christchurch, and a world record 336 not out in Auckland, Freeman's legspin was bringing him figures of 0 for 78 and 1 for 91. His only Test victim was a distinguished one: the great Herbert Sutcliffe, caught by Lindsay "Dad" Weir for 24. Young Freeman's entire first-class career consisted of only five matches.
Other birthdays
1908 Johnny Lindsay (South Africa)
1966 Ghulam Ali (Pakistan)
1969 KN Ananthapadmanabhan (India)
1908 Johnny Lindsay (South Africa)
1966 Ghulam Ali (Pakistan)
1969 KN Ananthapadmanabhan (India)