1995
Mohammad Azharuddin's run-a-ball 90 gave India their fourth successive Asia Cup title. Venkatesh Prasad took 2 for 32 to keep Sri Lanka to 230, after which Sachin Tendulkar laid the platform with a run-a-ball 41 in Sharjah. Then Azhar and Navjot Sidhu, who made his third half-century in four innings, shared an unbroken stand of 175. Apart from the trophy and the winners' cheque, Azhar was given a steel sword in a gold-plated scabbard by his admirers.
1984
Umar Gul, born today, is crucial to Pakistan's bowling attack because he has been successful in all three formats. He was the leading wicket-taker in the first two World Twenty20s and led Pakistan to success in Tests and ODIs in 2009. Gul isn't express but bowls sharp, has exceptional control and ability to extract seam movement, and manages to get plenty of bounce using his considerable height. He took a five-for in his first Test, against India - in Lahore in 2004 - and went on to take wickets in England, New Zealand and even on the dead pitches of Sri Lanka. He has the best figures in a Twenty20 - 5 for 6 against New Zealand at The Oval - and features twice more in the top ten.
1984
International cricket's first Jean-Paul is born. JP Duminy made his one-day debut for South Africa in 2004, but it was when his Test chance came three years later that he launched his career like few others have. On debut he helped guide South Africa to a successful chase of 414 in Perth with an unbeaten 50. Then he followed that with a serene 166 in Melbourne to rescue his team from the prospect of a huge deficit. Those two innings confirmed him as an integral part of South Africa's future, and he built on that with impressive performances in the subsequent limited-overs games. He was bought by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL for nearly a million dollars in 2009, and moved to Deccan Chargers in 2011
1960
Birth of Pat Symcox, South Africa's tall, in-your-face offspinner, whose 20-Test career was most notable for his lower-order biffing: Symcox became only the third No. 10 to make a Test hundred, against Pakistan in Johannesburg in 1997-98... after which he was promptly dropped. His signature performance came earlier that winter, though. In a series decider in Faisalabad, he whacked 81 and 55 before cleaning up Pakistan with 3 for 8 in the second innings to seal a famous South African victory.
Mohammad Azharuddin's run-a-ball 90 gave India their fourth successive Asia Cup title. Venkatesh Prasad took 2 for 32 to keep Sri Lanka to 230, after which Sachin Tendulkar laid the platform with a run-a-ball 41 in Sharjah. Then Azhar and Navjot Sidhu, who made his third half-century in four innings, shared an unbroken stand of 175. Apart from the trophy and the winners' cheque, Azhar was given a steel sword in a gold-plated scabbard by his admirers.
1984
Umar Gul, born today, is crucial to Pakistan's bowling attack because he has been successful in all three formats. He was the leading wicket-taker in the first two World Twenty20s and led Pakistan to success in Tests and ODIs in 2009. Gul isn't express but bowls sharp, has exceptional control and ability to extract seam movement, and manages to get plenty of bounce using his considerable height. He took a five-for in his first Test, against India - in Lahore in 2004 - and went on to take wickets in England, New Zealand and even on the dead pitches of Sri Lanka. He has the best figures in a Twenty20 - 5 for 6 against New Zealand at The Oval - and features twice more in the top ten.
1984
International cricket's first Jean-Paul is born. JP Duminy made his one-day debut for South Africa in 2004, but it was when his Test chance came three years later that he launched his career like few others have. On debut he helped guide South Africa to a successful chase of 414 in Perth with an unbeaten 50. Then he followed that with a serene 166 in Melbourne to rescue his team from the prospect of a huge deficit. Those two innings confirmed him as an integral part of South Africa's future, and he built on that with impressive performances in the subsequent limited-overs games. He was bought by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL for nearly a million dollars in 2009, and moved to Deccan Chargers in 2011
1960
Birth of Pat Symcox, South Africa's tall, in-your-face offspinner, whose 20-Test career was most notable for his lower-order biffing: Symcox became only the third No. 10 to make a Test hundred, against Pakistan in Johannesburg in 1997-98... after which he was promptly dropped. His signature performance came earlier that winter, though. In a series decider in Faisalabad, he whacked 81 and 55 before cleaning up Pakistan with 3 for 8 in the second innings to seal a famous South African victory.
