August 19 down the years
England win the Ashes after close to two decades
The home side take the prize in the first Ashes series to be won under a professional captain
The Oval was packed after England's win • Getty Images
1953
"Is it the Ashes... yes, England have won the Ashes." So blurted Brian Johnston as, after a record wait of 18 years 362 days, and despite losing the toss in all five Tests, England regained the ultimate Anglo-Australian prize. Fittingly, famous Middlesex partners Denis Compton and Bill Edrich were at the crease when the winning runs were hit at The Oval, a boundary off part-time bowler Arthur Morris. It was the first Ashes series to be won by a professional captain (Len Hutton) - and the last Test appearance of Australia's captain Lindsay Hassett, who first played against England in 1938.
"Is it the Ashes... yes, England have won the Ashes." So blurted Brian Johnston as, after a record wait of 18 years 362 days, and despite losing the toss in all five Tests, England regained the ultimate Anglo-Australian prize. Fittingly, famous Middlesex partners Denis Compton and Bill Edrich were at the crease when the winning runs were hit at The Oval, a boundary off part-time bowler Arthur Morris. It was the first Ashes series to be won by a professional captain (Len Hutton) - and the last Test appearance of Australia's captain Lindsay Hassett, who first played against England in 1938.
1992
Three players hit hundreds on the same day before Sri Lanka declared at 547 for 8 against Australia at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club. Asanka Gurusinha made 137, captain Arjuna Ranatunga 127, and new cap Romesh Kaluwitharana 132 not out. But in the second innings Sri Lanka's last eight wickets fell for 37 runs and they lost the match by 16.
Three players hit hundreds on the same day before Sri Lanka declared at 547 for 8 against Australia at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club. Asanka Gurusinha made 137, captain Arjuna Ranatunga 127, and new cap Romesh Kaluwitharana 132 not out. But in the second innings Sri Lanka's last eight wickets fell for 37 runs and they lost the match by 16.
1975
Quite a memorable day in Test cricket - considering no play was possible. What promised to be an exciting final day of the Ashes Test didn't take place after the Headingley pitch was vandalised by supporters of prisoner George Davis. Australia needed 225 to win with seven wickets left. The draw, and another in the next Test, gave them the series 1-0.
Quite a memorable day in Test cricket - considering no play was possible. What promised to be an exciting final day of the Ashes Test didn't take place after the Headingley pitch was vandalised by supporters of prisoner George Davis. Australia needed 225 to win with seven wickets left. The draw, and another in the next Test, gave them the series 1-0.
1985
Bouncing back from a career-threatening hand injury as a teenager, Craig Ervine, born today, went on to represent Zimbabwe in international cricket, like his older brother Sean. He made a memorable ODI debut in 2010, scoring an unbeaten half-century in a win over India in Bulawayo. His Test debut came a year later and he made his first hundred in the format in 2016, frustrating a quality New Zealand attack for nearly seven hours, again in Bulawayo. Two Tests later, he was resisting Sri Lanka's spinners to post 160 in Colombo. In 2022, he was appointed Zimbabwe's white-ball captain and led them to the Super 12s of the T20 World Cup in Australia later that year.
Bouncing back from a career-threatening hand injury as a teenager, Craig Ervine, born today, went on to represent Zimbabwe in international cricket, like his older brother Sean. He made a memorable ODI debut in 2010, scoring an unbeaten half-century in a win over India in Bulawayo. His Test debut came a year later and he made his first hundred in the format in 2016, frustrating a quality New Zealand attack for nearly seven hours, again in Bulawayo. Two Tests later, he was resisting Sri Lanka's spinners to post 160 in Colombo. In 2022, he was appointed Zimbabwe's white-ball captain and led them to the Super 12s of the T20 World Cup in Australia later that year.
1976
The tragic death from skin cancer of Ken Wadsworth, who was only 29. Fair-haired and talented, he kept wicket in 33 Tests for New Zealand, making 96 dismissals. He averaged 59 with the bat in the Caribbean series of 1971-72, when New Zealand surprised everyone by drawing all five Tests. But his crucial dropped catch cost New Zealand their first ever win over England, at Lord's in 1973. Sadly, by the time New Zealand achieved that long-awaited victory, in 1977-78, Wadsworth wasn't around to share in the joy.
The tragic death from skin cancer of Ken Wadsworth, who was only 29. Fair-haired and talented, he kept wicket in 33 Tests for New Zealand, making 96 dismissals. He averaged 59 with the bat in the Caribbean series of 1971-72, when New Zealand surprised everyone by drawing all five Tests. But his crucial dropped catch cost New Zealand their first ever win over England, at Lord's in 1973. Sadly, by the time New Zealand achieved that long-awaited victory, in 1977-78, Wadsworth wasn't around to share in the joy.
2023
UAE's first win over New Zealand in any format was set up by 17-year-old left-arm spinner Aayan Afzal Khan, who took 3 for 20 to restrict New Zealand to 142 in a T20I in Dubai. Opener Muhammad Waseem got the chase off to a flying start with a 29-ball 55, and Asif Khan and Basil Hameed took them to the seven-wicket win with more than four overs to spare. For New Zealand, it was their first loss in 39 matches against non-Test-playing nations across formats.
UAE's first win over New Zealand in any format was set up by 17-year-old left-arm spinner Aayan Afzal Khan, who took 3 for 20 to restrict New Zealand to 142 in a T20I in Dubai. Opener Muhammad Waseem got the chase off to a flying start with a 29-ball 55, and Asif Khan and Basil Hameed took them to the seven-wicket win with more than four overs to spare. For New Zealand, it was their first loss in 39 matches against non-Test-playing nations across formats.
1898
John Brown and John Tunnicliffe set a new world-record opening stand of 554 for Yorkshire against Derbyshire in Chesterfield. Resuming on 503 for 0, the pair added another 51 before Tunnicliffe, who had been dropped in the first over, was caught in the slips. The stand took only five hours and five minutes.
John Brown and John Tunnicliffe set a new world-record opening stand of 554 for Yorkshire against Derbyshire in Chesterfield. Resuming on 503 for 0, the pair added another 51 before Tunnicliffe, who had been dropped in the first over, was caught in the slips. The stand took only five hours and five minutes.
2021
Glamorgan won the Royal One-Day Cup title after they beat Durham by 58 runs in the final, at Trent Bridge . Their 23-year-old captain Kiran Carlson's 59-ball 82 took them to 296 after which offspinner Andrew Salter, who had already chipped in with some lower-order runs, took 3 for 42. Durham were bowled out in just over 45 overs.
Glamorgan won the Royal One-Day Cup title after they beat Durham by 58 runs in the final, at Trent Bridge . Their 23-year-old captain Kiran Carlson's 59-ball 82 took them to 296 after which offspinner Andrew Salter, who had already chipped in with some lower-order runs, took 3 for 42. Durham were bowled out in just over 45 overs.
1985
Opening batter Tim Robinson (148) and his captain, David Gower, (215) completed their partnership of 331 in only 343 minutes at Edgbaston. Gower, enjoying the high summer of his Test career, hit the highest score by an England captain against Australia since Wally Hammond's 240 at Lord's in 1938. England won by an innings to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Opening batter Tim Robinson (148) and his captain, David Gower, (215) completed their partnership of 331 in only 343 minutes at Edgbaston. Gower, enjoying the high summer of his Test career, hit the highest score by an England captain against Australia since Wally Hammond's 240 at Lord's in 1938. England won by an innings to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
1958
Johnny Wardle's invitation to tour with MCC to Australia was withdrawn following a number of articles he wrote criticising the running of Yorkshire, their captain, and several of their players. Yorkshire announced that Wardle would be sacked at the end of the season, and MCC subsequently threw him off the tour, citing the "grave disservice" he had done to the game. Wardle admitted that he was to blame, and despite offers from several other counties, he withdrew to the Lancashire leagues.
Johnny Wardle's invitation to tour with MCC to Australia was withdrawn following a number of articles he wrote criticising the running of Yorkshire, their captain, and several of their players. Yorkshire announced that Wardle would be sacked at the end of the season, and MCC subsequently threw him off the tour, citing the "grave disservice" he had done to the game. Wardle admitted that he was to blame, and despite offers from several other counties, he withdrew to the Lancashire leagues.
1957
Birth of Ian Gould, who kept wicket for England in the 1983 World Cup. Although he never won a Test cap, he did have one moment of glory at that level, coming on as substitute in Melbourne in 1982-83 and taking the catch that removed Greg Chappell for two. England sealed a famous victory by just three runs. Gould captained Sussex when they won the 1986 NatWest Trophy. After the final, his winning speech consisted of "Watch out, Soho". He joined the first-class umpires panel in 2002, and was promoted to the International Umpires Panel in April 2006. He retired in 2019 after standing in his fourth 50-over World Cup.
Birth of Ian Gould, who kept wicket for England in the 1983 World Cup. Although he never won a Test cap, he did have one moment of glory at that level, coming on as substitute in Melbourne in 1982-83 and taking the catch that removed Greg Chappell for two. England sealed a famous victory by just three runs. Gould captained Sussex when they won the 1986 NatWest Trophy. After the final, his winning speech consisted of "Watch out, Soho". He joined the first-class umpires panel in 2002, and was promoted to the International Umpires Panel in April 2006. He retired in 2019 after standing in his fourth 50-over World Cup.
1957
Birth of Hampshire's Dutch seamer Paul-Jan Bakker. His best moment came in the 1996 World Cup, against England in Peshawar, when he bowled Alec Stewart for five. Holland weren't disgraced in a 49-run defeat.
Birth of Hampshire's Dutch seamer Paul-Jan Bakker. His best moment came in the 1996 World Cup, against England in Peshawar, when he bowled Alec Stewart for five. Holland weren't disgraced in a 49-run defeat.
Other birthdays
1841 Lord Acheson (England)
1950 Graeme Beard (Australia)
1966 Sarah-Jane Cook (England)
1973 Carl Bulfin (New Zealand)
1841 Lord Acheson (England)
1950 Graeme Beard (Australia)
1966 Sarah-Jane Cook (England)
1973 Carl Bulfin (New Zealand)