1929
Birth of the Australian Alan Davidson, the main rival to Wasim Akram as the greatest left-arm seamer in history. Like Akram, Davidson was also a lusty lower-order hitter. His finest hour was the tied Test of 1960, which Davidson went into with a broken finger and came out of with a significant record - first man to score 100 runs and take ten wickets in a Test. He was a captain's dream, offering control (his economy rate was 1.97 runs per over throughout his Test career) and penetration. And he delivered in all conditions. In six Tests in India, Davidson took 30 wickets at an average of 15. That included 12 for 123 at Kanpur in 1957-58 - a match that Australia still lost.

1984
The beginning and the end of England opener Andy Lloyd's Test career. Lloyd was given his Test debut on his home ground of Edgbaston in the first Test against West Indies, but within half-an-hour he was on his way to hospital, after losing a Malcolm Marshall bouncer that clattered sickeningly into the temple-guard of his helmet. Lloyd didn't play any more first-class cricket that summer, and never played for England again. As for the match, England were pummelled by an innings and 180 runs, the first (and heaviest) of 14 defeats in 15 Tests against the Windies. The salt in the wound came courtesy of Eldine Baptiste and Michael Holding, who flogged a humiliating 150 for the ninth wicket in less than two hours, Holding creaming four sixes.

1979
Slow torture in a ridiculous World Cup match at Old Trafford, as England bowled Canada out for 45 - in 40.3 overs. Only Franklyn Dennis (21) made double figures, while Chris Old helped himself to figures of 10-5-8-4. England breezed to victory by eight wickets, with the small matter of 46.1 overs to spare.

1977
Birth of the South African batsman Boeta Dippenaar, who has so far had a modest return from his 19 Tests. Dippenaar often looks the part before giving it away, and nine of his 27 Test innings have ended in the twenties. He made his first century against New Zealand at Johannesburg in 2000-01, and a boundary-laden 74 against Australia at Sydney a year later. His one-day work has been more consistent, though, and among South Africans, only Jacques Kallis averages more than his 42.09.

1938
Don Bradman set the tone for a summer of plenty with 144 not out as Australia comfortably saved the first Test against England at Trent Bridge. Bradman made a century in every Test he batted in that summer, although there were only three: rain washed out the scheduled third, and he was unable to bat in the fifth - when Australia lost by a record innings and 579 runs - because of a fractured ankle sustained while bowling. In 19 Tests in England, Bradman averaged 102.84, with a staggering 11 centuries.

Other birthdays
1923 Don Smith (England)

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