Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu (1895-1967), pre-eminent Indian batsman, who was India’s first Test captain and first cricketing hero was born on this day in 1895. He played first-class cricket in six decades, from 1916 to 1963 till the age of 68. It is said that the great Ranji once remarked to C.K.’s father ‘Why doesn’t he hit the ball?’ on seeing C.K. bat as a boring school boy plodder. C.K. Took Ranji for his word. He was known as a dashing, daring and confident batsman with a penchant for big sixes.
In 1987 Indian cricketer Chetan Sharma became the first ever bowler to take a hat-trick at the World Cup when he dismissed three successive New Zealand batsmen at Nagpur. Chetan Sharma bowled Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield with the last three balls of his sixth over as India hammered New Zealand by nine wickets. Krish Srikkanth smashed 75 off 58 balls but the surprise package was at the other end, where Sunil Gavaskar matched him stroke for stroke, thrashing his only ODI hundred (103 not out) in 108 appearances, off just 85 balls.
In 1976 at 19 years 141 days, Javed Miandad became the youngest player to make a Test double century. He cracked 206 in only his third Test – he had already made 163 in his first – as Pakistan piled up 565 for 9 in their first innings – a record for any Test in Karachi. In the same match Imran Khan after bowling three bouncers at Richard Hadlee became the first person to be banned from bowling in a Test for intimidatory bowling by umpire Shuja-ud-din. The match ended in a draw and in all 1,585 runs were scored for the loss of 31 wickets, a record for Tests in the subcontinent.
In 1982 playing for Pakistan International Airways against Karachi, Zaheer Abbas scored two centuries in a first-class match for a record eighth time. In 1985 this was his last day in Test cricket – against Sri Lanka at Sialkot. He ended with 5,062 runs at an average of 44.79 in 78 Tests.
In 1984 the second ODI between Pakistan and India at Sialkot was abandoned as news came through of the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The remainder of the tour – another ODI and a Test – was cancelled.
In 1987 Indian cricketer Chetan Sharma became the first ever bowler to take a hat-trick at the World Cup when he dismissed three successive New Zealand batsmen at Nagpur. Chetan Sharma bowled Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield with the last three balls of his sixth over as India hammered New Zealand by nine wickets. Krish Srikkanth smashed 75 off 58 balls but the surprise package was at the other end, where Sunil Gavaskar matched him stroke for stroke, thrashing his only ODI hundred (103 not out) in 108 appearances, off just 85 balls.
In 1976 at 19 years 141 days, Javed Miandad became the youngest player to make a Test double century. He cracked 206 in only his third Test – he had already made 163 in his first – as Pakistan piled up 565 for 9 in their first innings – a record for any Test in Karachi. In the same match Imran Khan after bowling three bouncers at Richard Hadlee became the first person to be banned from bowling in a Test for intimidatory bowling by umpire Shuja-ud-din. The match ended in a draw and in all 1,585 runs were scored for the loss of 31 wickets, a record for Tests in the subcontinent.
In 1982 playing for Pakistan International Airways against Karachi, Zaheer Abbas scored two centuries in a first-class match for a record eighth time. In 1985 this was his last day in Test cricket – against Sri Lanka at Sialkot. He ended with 5,062 runs at an average of 44.79 in 78 Tests.
In 1984 the second ODI between Pakistan and India at Sialkot was abandoned as news came through of the assassination of the Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The remainder of the tour – another ODI and a Test – was cancelled.
