1967
Michael John Procter, the immensely talented South African, made his Test debut against Australia in Durban. He took 3 for 27 and 4 for 71 as South Africa comfortably won the third Test. But the political situation in South Africa allowed him to play only seven Tests. He took 41 wickets in those at an average of 15.02.
1977
Paul Adams, referred to as the ‘Frog’ for his unorthodox bowling style, was born on this day. He was South Africa’s youngest Test cricketer making his debut at the age of 18 who wrecked England in his first season in 1995-96. Adams’ action gifted him wickets as the batsmen were often bewildered. But this continued for a couple of years. The batsmen studied him and he suffered for a lack of variety. In his 45 Tests he took 134 wickets and in 24 ODIs he had only 89 wickets.
1980
India achieved their first Test series victory over Pakistan for 27 years. In the fifth Test at Madras, Sunil Gavaskar for almost ten hours to hold the crease and scored 166. The other great, Kapil Dev joined him to play an innings of 84 along with a match figures of 11 for 136.
1883
Billy Bates became the first Englishman to take a Test hat-trick. Bates dismissed Australia’s Percy McDonnell Giffen George and Bonnor George with his round-arm offspin at the MCG. Bates finished with a remarkable match figures of 59.2-28-102-14 in the match.
