The Allan Donald run-out: possibly one-day cricket's most iconic photograph © Getty Images

1999

The greatest one-day match in history, and arguably the greatest game of cricket anywhere. The 100 overs of the World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa at Edgbaston had just about everything. Everyone knows about the agonising end, when the match was tied and Australia went through to the final because of their superior run rate in the earlier Super Six stage, but there was so much more to the game than that heartbreaking finale. There was Michael Bevan and Steve Waugh coolly, patiently leading Australia's recovery after they lost four wickets for 68; a seam-bowling masterclass from Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald, who had combined figures of 9 for 68; the performance of a true champion from Shane Warne (4 for 29) after South Africa raced to 48 for 0; a titanic all-round display from a barely fit Jacques Kallis; and some breathtaking hitting from Lance Klusener. But then, with two balls to spare and one run needed, Klusener set off on that fateful run, only to find that Donald had lead in his boots, and South Africa's dream died in the cruellest manner possible.

1981

Despite a brittle body and a score of injuries, Shane Watson, born today, stuck it out in international cricket long enough to make it as a successful one-day allrounder. At the crease, he was an aggressive brute with a broad chest, a right-handed disciple of Matthew Hayden, and someone who didn't need to follow through to gain a boundary. He made a good start in Test cricket, where in his first eight matches as an opener he scored seven fifties and a 120, but he struggled to maintain that consistency. The low point came in 2013 in India, when he was axed along with three other players for failing to complete a task set by coach Mickey Arthur. In the 2015 World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan, after an enthralling battle with Wahab Riaz, he finished on 64 not out as Australia won. He retired from international cricket in 2016 after the World T20, but one of his finest performances came two years later, when he led Chennai Super Kings to the IPL title with 117 off 57 balls in the final.

1930

Brian Statham, born today, was the quintessential English seamer - a disciple of line and length, and the original if-they-miss-I'll-hit bowler (over 40% of his Test victims were bowled). He was also a true gentleman: unassuming, hugely popular, and happy to give the limelight to Frank Tyson or Fred Trueman. Statham played the good cop to Trueman's bad. Between them they were England's best new-ball partnership. Though he took 252 wickets at an average of less than 25, Statham's workhorse role meant that he only took one ten-for in his 70 Tests, against South Africa at Lord's in 1960. His first-class record (2260 wickets at 16.37), when he was the main man for Lancashire, was sensational. He died of leukaemia in June 2000.

1930

One of the more famous catches in English cricket history, by a man who played only one first-class match. Sydney Copley was on the Nottinghamshire ground staff when he had to field as a substitute in the first Test between England and Australia at Trent Bridge. And with Australia on 229 for 3, chasing 429, Copley took a superb catch at mid-on to end a dangerous partnership between Stan McCabe and Don Bradman. Bradman went on to make a fine 131, but England won by 93 runs.

1964

Birth of the Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes, who looked the part in his first season of Test cricket before fading from the scene. Against New Zealand and South Africa in 1994, he excelled with bat and gloves, most notably saving the Lord's Test against New Zealand. But a horror tour of Australia followed: he made only 72 runs in nine innings, his keeping went to pieces, and he was not picked again. In 2018, Rhodes took over as head coach of Bangladesh.

1956

Birth of left-arm spinner Nick Cook, who only made his debut, at Lord's in 1983, because Phil Edmonds ricked his back getting out of a car. Cook took 5 for 35 in his first innings, and four five-fors in his first four Tests. But after taking 32 wickets at an average of 17 in those four Tests, he was impotence personified: his last 11 Tests brought 20 wickets at an average of 57.

2000

A shock for England, as a West Indies side that was supposed to be in terminal decline pummelled them by an innings in the first Test, at Edgbaston. Courtney Walsh took eight wickets, in the process becoming the first man to pass 450 Test wickets, and Curtly Ambrose - despite bowling absolutely magnificently - ended with match figures of 34.5-18-48-1. All was well that ended well, though: England went on to win 3-1, their first series victory against West Indies for 31 years.

2000

On the same day, in Colombo, Pakistan grabbed a tense five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. Their star was Wasim Akram, who took his 25th five-for and smacked 78 in the first innings, adding 90 for the last wicket with Arshad Khan. Wasim then saw Pakistan home after they wobbled to 89 for 5 in pursuit of 131 for victory.

Other birthdays

1902 Alec Hurwood (Australia)



© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.