1939
The Timeless Test began in Durban between England and South Africa. The Test lasted for 11 days but ended without result. There were 1981 runs, six centuries and two rest days.
1939
Motganhalli Jaisimha, famously known as M L Jaisimha, was born on this day. He opened both batting and bowling in Tests. Jaisimha’s Test career spanned over 12 years, from 1959 to 1971. In his very second Test, he set a world record batting on all five days (20 not out and 74) and earning a draw for India against the formidable Australia in 1960. But he only once passed 50 in Indian victories. He died of lung cancer in Secunderabad in 1999.
1970
Inzamam-ul-Haq, one of the most proficient batsman, was born on this day. This Pakistani was joked for being overweight but he played some of the finest innings in cricket. He made ODI debut prior to his Test debut. He made a breathtaking 60 off 37 balls in the 1992 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Inzamam was instrumental in Pakistan’s World Cup victory in 1992. He made his Test debut against England in 1992. He made 25 Test hundreds of which 329 against New Zealand remains his highest. Inzamam retired in 2007 just two runs short of Javed Miandad’s record for the highest Test aggregate by a Pakistan batsman.
1977
Bas Zuiderent, who once became the youngest player to play in a World Cup, was born on this day. The Dutch representing Netherlands was 18-year-old when he played in the 1996 World Cup. He helped them qualify for the tournament with an unbeaten 116 against UAE in the 2005 ICC Trophy and went on to feature in every World Cup game that his country has played.
2009
One of the darkest day in international cricket. A group of terrorists attacked the team bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers while they were on their way to Gaddafi stadium to play the third day of the Test match against Pakistan. It was the first time Pakistan was hosting a match after 14 months. The Test was called off and so was the tour. Pakistan’s status as an international cricketing venue was thrown into question.
