1988
The start of one of the most thrilling Tests of modern times. It didn't happen often in those days, but West Indies were definitely drinking in the last-chance saloon against Pakistan in Barbados: 1-0 down with one to play, and their eight-year unbeaten series run - not to mention their claim to be the world's best side - under serious threat. A magnificent match seesawed this way and that, with nobody making more than Viv Richards's first-innings 67, until West Indies were left to chase 266 to win. At 207 for 8 and just Courtney Walsh to come, Pakistan looked to have it in the bag, but Jeff Dujon blocked and Winston Benjamin blasted West Indies to a two-wicket win. Pakistan were left to lick their wounds; not least Abdul Qadir, who allegedly punched a heckler on the boundary and ended up paying an out-of-court settlement.

1937
The umpire Ken Palmer, who was born today, also played one Test for England, when he was coaching in Johannesburg and was called up after a series of injuries in 1964-65. It was a chastening debut: his bowling average of 189 is the second-worst in England's Test history, although he had a fine first-class record with bat and ball for Somerset. Palmer later forged a successful career as an umpire, though not one without controversy. In the fraught 1992 Headingley Test he gave Graham Gooch not out against Pakistan even though replays showed he was at least two feet short of his ground when Moin Khan removed the bails, a decision which prompted a lingering rancour when England went on to win by six wickets.

1983
When Australia lost only four wickets in beating Sri Lanka by an innings in the inaugural Test between the sides, which began at Kandy today, any Aussie would have given you long odds on Sri Lanka turning the tables so comprehensively in the World Cup final 13 years later. This match was Australia's from the first ball: Kepler Wessels and David Hookes made centuries in a top six that, unusually, had only one right-hander: Greg Chappell, playing for the 48th and final time as captain. Spinners Tom Hogan and Bruce Yardley did the rest on a wearing pitch.

1959
Birth of the stylish Ranjan Madugalle, a regular fixture in the Sri Lankan middle order in their formative years as a Test-playing nation. He was only on the winning side once, and made only one century - 103 against India in Colombo in 1985-86. Madugalle was also assaulted by a drunk in Canterbury on Sri Lanka's tour of England in 1984. He is now head of ICC's elite panel of match referees.

1968
A gentle giant is born. At 6ft 6ins, the lumbering Western Australian quick bowler Jo Angel was a formidable opponent on the trampoline WACA surface. It was there that he made his Test debut, in the winner-takes-all clash against West Indies in 1992-93, but after forcing Desmond Haynes to retire hurt by hitting him in the face in his second over, Angel was smacked all round the park by Phil Simmons, who hammered a breezy 80, and Richie Richardson. He came back in Pakistan two years later, and was convinced he had Inzamam-ul-Haq plumb lbw in the course of Pakistan's famous, matchwinning, last-wicket partnership at Karachi. He didn't, and his Test career was over that winter.

1978
Playing for the Minor Counties against blatantly superior players was a thankless task at the best of times, but particularly when a West Indian quick was tearing in as if it was a Test match. Today Middlesex's Wayne Daniel terrorised the Minors with 7 for 12 at Ipswich, the best figures in the history of the Benson & Hedges Cup.

Other birthdays

1851 George Alexander (Australia)
1861 Clarence Wimble (South Africa)
1955 Jim Love (England)
1958 Ashraf Ali (Pakistan)

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