1914
A Lancashire favourite is born. Cyril Washbrook was an imperious batsman who forged a fine opening partnership in Tests with Len Hutton. Their 359 together at Johannesburg in 1948-49 remains an England record. Washbrook, who died in 1999, cut and carved his way to over 34,000 runs - and 76 centuries - in a long first-class career that lasted from 1933 to 1964

1946
Birth of another Lancastrian who started with a bang … Beatle-haired blond Frank Hayes was hailed as the new star of English cricket when he carted a handy West Indian attack (Sobers, Boyce, Julien, Gibbs) for 106 on his debut in the first Test at The Oval in 1973. But in eight further Tests - unluckily for him, all against West Indies - Hayes's next-highest score was 29, and his overall average sank to 15.25. He was never the luckiest of cricketers - he had a low-key stint as captain of Lancashire, and in 1982 managed to shatter his ankle at Lord's while running a quick single.

1977
Andy Flintoff, whose birthday is today, was hailed as a world-beater as a schoolboy, but spinal injuries and brain-fades have held him back. But Flintoff still has massive potential as a pitch-hitting bowler and hard-hitting batsman.

1977
An exciting 16-run win for Australia over India in the first Test at Brisbane. Australia had six debutants after the defections to Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket, and were captained by 41-year-old Bob Simpson, returning to first-class cricket after a ten-year retirement. India just failed to reach a victory target of 341, succumbing for 324 after Sunil Gavaskar made 113.

1949
The birth of Peter Willey, uncompromising batsman and uncompromising umpire. He made his debut for Northants at 16, and played 26 times for England (including the immortal 1981 Headingley Test) despite dodgy knees and an even dodgier batting stance, from which he seemed to be in danger of straight-driving to square leg. He liked square leg so much he went there immediately on retirement, and soon became one of the world's best-respected umpires. He turned down a position as one of ICC's elite panel as he wasn't prepared to spend long periods away from his family.

1989
Javed Miandad completed a hundred in his 100th Test - he finished with 145, and Shoaib Mohammad 203 not out, as the third Test against India meandered to a high-scoring draw.

1882
Birth of an early Australian hero. Warren Bardsley was a solidly built left-hander who wore the baggy green in 41 Tests from 1909, averaging over 40. He was the first to score two centuries in the same Test (against England at The Oval in 1909), captained Australia twice, and in his last series, in 1926, he carried his bat for 193 at Lord's. That helped him to a record he still holds - most runs (575) by a visiting player in Tests at Lord's.

1991
A one-day tie at Perth, in the first match of that season's World Series Cup. India looked dead in the water when they were shot out for 126 by West Indies, with Curtly Ambrose taking 2 for 9 from 8.4 overs … but India returned the compliment. Kapil Dev removed Desmond Haynes with the first ball of the innings, then Subroto Banerjee took 3 for 30. Mohammad Azharuddin bowled out his four main bowlers, and had to turn to Sachin Tendulkar with the last pair in. He obliged with the last wicket with the scores level - top-scorer Andy Cummins (24), well caught by Azhar himself. It was West Indies' second ODI tie in a fortnight.

1990
The first day of Test cricket for Brian Lara. He made 44 on debut in the third Test against Pakistan at Lahore, but was overshadowed by the man who's now his captain - Carl Hooper cracked 134. The match (and with it the series) was drawn, even though Curtly Ambrose (5 for 35) and Ian Bishop (5 for 41) shot Pakistan out for 122 in their first innings

Other birthdays 1871 Alfred Archer (England)
1873 Robert Gleeson (South Africa)
1955 Malcolm Jarvis (Zimbabwe)
1933 Jim Pothecary (South Africa)
1889 George Street (England)

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