On This Day

[The Professor]

On this day in 1964 the English bowlers have mixed fortunes over a dominant Australian.

Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson showed a brief glimpse of things to come with an opening partnership of 50. By the time they were both sent back, Australia were already 124-2 and halfway to overhauling England's total. Shortly after Neil Gifford bowled Simpson, he also bagged Ian Redpath which gave England a bit of the momentum.

After lunch the two Freds, Titmus and Trueman, dominated and gutted the middle order. Up until this point, scoring had been very slow and it may have been a concerted effort to speed things up a bit that set about the collapse. Australia went from 154-4, when Titmus got the wicket of Ben Booth, to 178-7. Batsmen five through eight did not get above single figures.

Throughout all this Peter Burge was a mainstay. Burge delivered the spell of intensity that the Australians were looking for. He really started ticking over when he was joined by Neil Hawke. At that time Burge was on 38 and he and Hawke then shared a partnership of 105 in an hour and a half.

There was all kinds of action in the final over of the day. Burge claimed his century in 159 balls but Hawke was also dismissed on 37 off the final ball of the day.

Australia were 283/8 with a 15 run lead.

[The Professor]

On this day in 1964 England batted in fits and starts against Australia.

Just as Peter Burge had showed yesterday, Wally Grout came out and displayed a dominance to frustrate the English bowlers. Fred Trueman, usually so strong, was carted for 14 runs off his first two overs. The partnership lasted 89 runs before Burge was dismissed by a killer catch from a substitute fielder. Burge batted five and a quarter hours and hit twenty-four 4's for his 160. He was last man out and Australia were all out for 389 - 121 ahead.

England's innings started badly. Geoff Boycott, yet again, had another poor innings. Peter Parfitt was out next, retired hurt with a broken knuckle. This rendered England 13-1.

John Edrich and Ken Barrington batted together stoically until tea time. At this time England were 88-1. Edrich only lasted the very first ball after tea - Grout caught behind off the bowling of Graham McKenzie.

Barrington then became the dominant partner and was joined by Ted Dexter, who looked subdued. He scored a mere 17 runs - in an hour and a half. When he left, lbw off Tom Veivers, Barrington went into defensive mode too. However this did not last until the end of the day - he was dismissed for 85 in the final overs of the day. England finished with a total of 157 for four--36 runs ahead.

[The Professor]

On this day in 1964 there was a rest day between Australia and England ...so what better time to reflect on Burge's 160* of yesterday.

Whilst it was not his highest score - Burge's 160 is his fondest remembered showing.

I do not know whether it was because of the relative low scoring nature of the rest of the batsmen in the Test - Bunce's score was double that of his nearest competitor - or whether it was explosive power and skill but it was a top performance from a muscular aggressive batsmen.

England tried to put a forward short leg up for him when he first came in but the unfortunate fielders were taken for advantage if the bowler pitched slightly short because no one was quicker to latch on to a full-blooded, cross-batted fore-arm smash than Peter Burge.

It drew plaudits from England batsman Ted Dexter. He wrote in his diary: "He is the man I would most like to have in any team batting at number five or six when a cause was apparently lost because he might be just the man to turn the match entirely on his own. This obviously needs great technical skill and a stubborn will to survive but it takes a special level of resource and imagination to turn the tide single-handed as Peter Burge did more than once in his career."

Wisden called the innings "one of the best for many years".

[The Professor]

On this day in 1964 England's batting whimpers them to a 7 wicket defeat to Australia.

England had 6 batsmen left in the hutch and probably needed at very least 150 runs to make Australia even think about sweating on the result......instead they got 72. Graham McKenzie and Grahame Corling did the most damage to England's batting getting two wickets a piece - the former bowling economically and dangerously at every opportunity. Once Jim Parks was out for 23 the rest of the England batsmen were a push over and offered little resistance. England were 299 all out, this meant that England needed 109 runs for victory.

Bill Lawry was sent back early doors by Fred Trueman but Australia closed ranks and, with time on their side, batted slowly but effectively. Peter Burge, after his heroics in the first innings, was dismissed for just 8 but Ian Redpath and Bob Simpson played the game and pushed Australia to their total. Fred Titmus played them at their own game and bowled as many dot balls as he could. At the end of the day his figures read 24-18-12-2. Redpath batted well for his side and he settled the issue with his tenth four, having completed his first Test fifty in England.

It was the first (and only) result of the series.

[The Professor]

On this day in 2005 Marcus Trescothick was the star man for England in a comprehensive win over Australia.

England's bowling under-performed initially and they would have been upset to be defending as much as they were. The opening partnership of Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden made hay while the sun shone and got themselves 62 – before Steve Harmison dismissed the more dangerous looking Gilchrist. Hayden soon followed, leaving Australia at 68-2.

England really sealed their dominance with the introduction of Paul Collingwood who ran through Australia’s middle order. Unsure of how to take the Durham man, Australia tried to treat him with disdain and got punished for it. Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke were all sent back by the underdog. Collingwood ended with figures of 10, 0, 34, 4 and an economy of 3.40.

Brett Lee and Michael Hussey had a last minute coming together of 51. The pair took 30 runs off the final two overs. Australia’s total of 219 flattered them somewhat and gave England something to run at.

Much like Australia's openers, Trecothick and Andrew Strauss began combatively and never looked back from there, despite some dangerous Australian bowling. England were clearly targeting certain bowlers - Jason Gillespie went for 66 in his 10 overs while Shane Watson was also poor. Brad Hogg came in and saw off Strauss with his third ball. England were 101-4 at this point.

Shortly after Trescothick reached his 10th one-day hundred from 132 balls. Australia's bowling, rough round the edges already, became very poor and Michael Vaughan finished the game with a four.

[The Professor]

On this day in 1972 Sourav Ganguly was born; so I share my top three Dada moments.

3. 88 for Kolkata against Deccan in 2010
A word that oft describes Ganguly’s batting is beautiful – this was one of those innings. If T20 coincided with Ganguly’s reign at the top a little better he would certainly have been one of the all-time greats. In this innings he was hitting shots like a rocket.


2. 182 v Sri Lanka in 1999

A performance where Ganguly destroyed bowlers again. When he was at his best Ganguly could spear a bowler anywhere around the ground and did It here. Many people do not remember him for his boundaries but he bagged a number of these in this innings. His cover drives were beautiful as was his square cut. Time and time again he stepped out and hit a six. Great batting, great playing of spin especially. AB De Villiers at his finest today is reminiscent of this type of Ganguly image.

1. 141 v Pakistan in 2000

One of my all time favourite batting performances. The fluency of his scoring was impressive enough as it was without taking into consideration that the Pakistan bowlers at that time were also world class. The field was set to punish Ganguly but he sliced through it with ease. Excellent batting.

[The Professor]

On this day in 1923 solider, cricketer and journalist Eric Hill was born.

Hill was born to the owners of a sweet shop and soon became a strapping schoolboy with a passion for cricket and football.

In 1941 he joined up with the RAF and went out on numerous reconnaissance missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal by the King for "many sorties that have displayed a high standard of skill and devotion to duty."

On the 16th September 1944, Hill's life was put at risk after his plane was pursued by German gunners however, due to skilful flying and the faster airplane, they escaped with their lives.

In 1945 he flew, what is widely believed to be, the longest photographic reconnaissance flight of the whole war, covering 3000 miles in ten hours.

In 1947, two years after being demobbed, Hill joined Somerset County Cricket Club. In 22 matches that season, he made 731 runs at an average of 17.40. This also included his career high of 85 against Northamptonshire.

1948 was not as good a year for Hill but by 1949 he had regained his place opening the batting. His form was back to his best: an aggregate of 718 runs at an average of 18.41.

Frustratingly, in 1950 his form dipped again before spiking back up again in 1951 with 474 runs at an average of 14.36. This was his last season for Somerset.

Overall he played in 72 first-class matches for Somerset, with a batting average of 15.92 from his 138 innings, including 6 half-centuries.

His affiliation with Somerset continued after his retirement. He became a journalist covering matches for the local paper and soon became a freelance sports reporter for The Daily Telegraph covering the England Test team.

Hill died in 2010 aged 87.

[The Professor]

On this day in 2012 England completed a ODI whitewash over Australia.

Australia's innings was bookended with two defining performances from David Warner and George Bailey. In between these two bookends were pages of no import. James Tredwell did most of the early damage. He was the bowler for the first two dismissals and had a hand in the run out of Peter Forest. Tredwell's England had reduced Australia to 49-3. Michael Clarke then tried to up the run rate and got caught for doing so. He scored a single run. Steve Smith began a bit of a rebuilding job with a score of 21 before passing the baton on to Bailey who scored an undefeated 46 in 53 balls. The rain eventually stopped the innings at 145-7 in 32 overs.

England's target of 146 in a reduced 32 overs was further reduced to 138 in 29 as the innings progressed. Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara showed no interest in these shifting goalposts and polished the score off with relative ease. Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott fell cheaply and it was Bopara who took hold of the innings and the match. It was Bopara who looked most confident despite the fact he was batting with his captain. He ends the series as second highest run scorer behind Ian Bell.

[The Professor]

On this day in 1893 one of the most ineffectual bowlers of all time was born.

The above statement is somewhat disingenuous but in his two professional appearances Geoffrey Chance did not get a single wicket.

Chance played Minor Counties league for Berkshire, Devon and Cornwall.

He then played for Hampshire in 1913 where he made a duck and got nine overs with no wickets.

His next professional game was ten years later for the MCC against Scotland. There he bowled three overs for no wickets.

In the 72 balls he bowled in professional cricket he did not get a single wicket.

[The Professor]

On this day in 2015 Kent smashed their way to the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals with a three-wicket win over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Gloucestershire lost the toss and were put into bat and posted 166 for 7. Michael Klinger was the most dominant Gloucestershire batsman and continued his fine form in the competition with 75 from 50 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. Mitchell Claydon got Klinger out and ended the innings with 2-22. This was the only success for Gloucestershire. Hamish Marshall, who had already moved to 11, was forced to retire hurt with a recurrence of a calf injury. Klinger then burned through partners; Ian Cockbain got a mere 11. He settled into a rhythm with Peter Handscomb getting 79 in 9.1 overs. Geraint Jones, Jack Taylor, Benny Howell and Tom Smith all were dispatched in short order to limit Gloucestershire's tail.

Alex Blake was the most dominant batsmen for Kent as he smashed 59 off just 24 balls to help Kent to their target of 167. Whilst Blake was the most prolific batsmen, Sam Northeast contributed 49 and Joe Denly 31. It was Denly that started strongly - hitting boundaries with gay abandon. When Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings went in short order, the power swung to Gloucestershire. Darren Stevens and Fabian Cowdrey both went cheaply too. Sam Northeast was still there as he burned through partners. He combined with Blake and Kent really started ticking over. They began hitting boundaries very regularly and continued to tilt the innings Kent's way. Northeast went just before the end but Blake forced Kent over the line for a key victory.

[The Professor]

On this day in 2015 rain affected the first day of the County Championship game between Surrey and Kent.

No play was possible before 3PM due to rain.

The day, when it could begin, began badly for Kent who had been put into bat - but the combination of Sam Northeast and Daniel Bell-Drummond accelerated in the closing stages for Kent to make the score more acceptable.

To start with Surrey debutant Sam Curran was the man of the hour. He claimed the first wicket of Joe Denly in just the second over. His brother, Tom, struck three overs later to displace Adam Ball, making it 27-2.

It looked like the Curran spell of dominance would continue when Bell-Drummond looked to be caught but the chance was floored. Surrey would rue this as Bell-Drummond went on to form a dominant partnership with Northeast to swing the balance back the way of Kent. It only took 9 overs for the pair to bring up the 50 partnership. Zafar Ansari's spin eventually claimed Bell-Drummond's wicket on 39. Northeast soon followed with 45 off 47 balls, nicked behind and caught by Ben Foakes.

Ben Harmison (11) and Darren Stevens (6) stand unopposed at the end of the day with the score at 132/4.

[The Professor]

On this day in 2015 a record seventh wicket stand pushed Kent further up.

Kent's day started poorly with the loss of Darren Stevens and Ben Harmison within the first dozen overs for just a further 9 runs. The latter another victim of debutant Sam Curran. This brought together the record seventh wicket partnership.

Sam Billings and Calum Haggett combined in the dying embers of the Kent innings to give their side an extra surge. Billings' 99 and Haggett's 80 combined to form a 151-run partnership which raised Kent to a more than reputable total. They went to 154 for six to total 336. The change in attitude from defensive shots to attacking boundary-getting shots was stark. The pair got their century stand off 28 overs. It was the reintroduction of Curran that did for Billings on the cusp of his first First Class century.

Curran finished his debut innings with a fivefer whilst his brother, Tom, got the final scalp.

Surrey, seeing the initiative was falling away from them clearly made the decision to bat aggressively and finished the day on 144-1. Arun Harinath stands on 76 at the end of the day with Kumar Sangakarra on 34.

[The Professor]

On this day in 2015 Kent have a slight numerical lead but the initiative is now very much with Surrey.

Kent looked the brighter when they tidied up Surrey's batsmen for just over three hundred; however their batsmen then went on to let them down.

Kumar Sangakarra was the most dangerous batsmen, ending up with a combative hard-working 110. Arun Harinath, after looking so sharp yesterday, was out in his first over today off Darren Stevens. Stevens returned again to pick up Zafar Ansari for 10. The rest of the batsmen went for a mere handful of runs a piece - most struggling to get into double figures. Throughout all of this Sangakarra was the mainstay but he soon edged into his stumps off the bowling of Matt Hunn. The Currans then pushed Surrey over 300 and gaining another point. It then got wrapped up soon after.

Stevens was the most dangerous bowler with figures of 4/76.

Sam Curran's memorable debut continued as he claimed all three of the opening Kent batsmen. He got Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw for 5 with his sixth ball before Adam Ball caught for nought. Joe Denly was third out, athletically caught in the fifth over, rendering them 54 for 3. Sam Northeast steadied the ship with a calm and composed 33. When he and Billings both went in short order, it was soon 56 for 5. Ben Harmison put on some runs but Gareth Batty then attacked the tail and got four wickets in quick succession. By the time that Kent was all out they had a lead of 125 that Surrey should be able to overturn.

The two overs that Surrey faced was not an emphatic success - and they ended the day on 4-1 - losing Ansari off Treadwell.

[The Professor]

On this day in 2015 Surrey seize a Championship win against Kent.

Despite the best efforts of the Kent bowlers, led by James Tredwell, Kent could not delay the inevitable and take an unlikely victory on Day 4.

Needing 125 Surrey would have felt confident but at 26-2 their pulses would have quickened a little after the early loss of Kumar Sangakarra.

A third wicket partnership of 55 between Rory Burns and Ben Foakes set Kent back on the right track, defying the clever bowling of Tredwell. Foakes needed some luck- he was dropped twice in his innings. When this partnership was broken by Tredwell removing Burns, Arun Harinath came in and swiftly got back out again. He was replaced by Jason Roy who finished the game off with some lusty blows alongside Foakes who ended on 57*

[The Professor]

On this day in 1956 England sealed one of their most devastating wins over Australia to date.

Having been made to follow on into their second innings, Australia began the day on 93/2 and needing to get 89 runs to force England to pad up again.

England's bowling attack, led by Jim Laker, bowled dangerously and economically. This is best shown in the fact that seven of Laker's first eight overs were maidens. It also took Neil Harvey three and a half hours to reach his fifty. He was ably supported by Keith Miller but when he was dismissed, caught by Fred Trueman off the bowling of Laker, he had to go it alone.

Harvey ran through a succession of partners with Peter Burge, Richie Benaud and Ian Johnson all being dismissed in single figures by Laker. The wheels well and truly came off when Tony Lock caught and bowled Harvey - leaving Australia at 138-7 and needing 44 more runs. Ron Archer went in the over before lunch and the two teams went in with Australia possessing only two more batsmen.

These two batsmen did not score a single run after the lunch break and England wrapped up an innings and 42 runs. England's bowling figures of the day were impressive: Laker 19 overs, 10 maidens, 24 runs, 4 wickets; Lock 15.5 overs, 7 maidens, 16 runs, 2 wickets.