The man who retrieved the Ashes
1916 In Pudsey, one of England's greatest batsmen is born
Wisden Cricinfo staff
18-Jun-2013
All Today's Yesterdays - June 23 down the years
1916
In Pudsey, one of England's greatest batsmen is born. Len Hutton will always be remembered for his 364 against Australia at The Oval in 1938 - the highest score in Ashes Tests, and the highest in any Test at the time. He was a stylish, technically impeccable opener who could switch easily between attack and defence as the situation demanded. He established himself after a poor start - 0 and 1 on debut - and played arguably his finest innings at Lord's in 1953, a flashing 145 against Australia. That summer Hutton led England to regain the Ashes - in a coronation year as well - and he was the first professional to be regularly appointed as England captain. In 1956 he became only the second cricketer (after Jack Hobbs) to be knighted. In the first innings of a Test he averaged a mighty 65, with 17 of his 19 centuries. Hutton injured his left arm badly during the Second World War, spending eight months in hospital and emerging with one arm two inches shorter than the other. He later became an England selector. He died in Kingston-upon-Thames in 1990.
In Pudsey, one of England's greatest batsmen is born. Len Hutton will always be remembered for his 364 against Australia at The Oval in 1938 - the highest score in Ashes Tests, and the highest in any Test at the time. He was a stylish, technically impeccable opener who could switch easily between attack and defence as the situation demanded. He established himself after a poor start - 0 and 1 on debut - and played arguably his finest innings at Lord's in 1953, a flashing 145 against Australia. That summer Hutton led England to regain the Ashes - in a coronation year as well - and he was the first professional to be regularly appointed as England captain. In 1956 he became only the second cricketer (after Jack Hobbs) to be knighted. In the first innings of a Test he averaged a mighty 65, with 17 of his 19 centuries. Hutton injured his left arm badly during the Second World War, spending eight months in hospital and emerging with one arm two inches shorter than the other. He later became an England selector. He died in Kingston-upon-Thames in 1990.
1979
A World Cup final at Lord's - and an unforgettable toe-crushing interrogation from Joel Garner. West Indies retained their crown with a 92-run victory over England, with Garner wrapping things up in blistering style with a spell of 5 for 4 in 11 balls. Four were bowled, three yorked, and four of them also bagged ducks. Geoff Boycott and Mike Brearley had laid a platform with an opening partnership of 129, but they did so too slowly, and England crumbled from 183 for 2 to 194 all out. Earlier Viv Richards lashed a regal 138 - an innings that is third in the Wisden 100 - and Collis King had his moment in the sun with a thumping 66-ball 86.
A World Cup final at Lord's - and an unforgettable toe-crushing interrogation from Joel Garner. West Indies retained their crown with a 92-run victory over England, with Garner wrapping things up in blistering style with a spell of 5 for 4 in 11 balls. Four were bowled, three yorked, and four of them also bagged ducks. Geoff Boycott and Mike Brearley had laid a platform with an opening partnership of 129, but they did so too slowly, and England crumbled from 183 for 2 to 194 all out. Earlier Viv Richards lashed a regal 138 - an innings that is third in the Wisden 100 - and Collis King had his moment in the sun with a thumping 66-ball 86.
1957
Zimbabwe's first captain is born. Dave Houghton was also their first centurion, after making a painstaking 121 against India in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test, at Harare in 1992-93. Then, Houghton's approach was dictated by the weight of the occasion, but ordinarily he was an attacking batsman of real quality. Against Sri Lanka at Bulawayo two years later, he smashed a massive 266, but his most famous innings came before Zimbabwe were granted Test status. In the 1987 World Cup, Houghton made a glorious 142 against New Zealand at Hyderabad - only one other Zimbabwean scored more than 12 - and led his side from 104 for 7 to within three runs of New Zealand's 242 for 7. He later became national coach, and is now a TV commentator.
Zimbabwe's first captain is born. Dave Houghton was also their first centurion, after making a painstaking 121 against India in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test, at Harare in 1992-93. Then, Houghton's approach was dictated by the weight of the occasion, but ordinarily he was an attacking batsman of real quality. Against Sri Lanka at Bulawayo two years later, he smashed a massive 266, but his most famous innings came before Zimbabwe were granted Test status. In the 1987 World Cup, Houghton made a glorious 142 against New Zealand at Hyderabad - only one other Zimbabwean scored more than 12 - and led his side from 104 for 7 to within three runs of New Zealand's 242 for 7. He later became national coach, and is now a TV commentator.
1947
A monstrous partnership at Lord's, as Bill Edrich and Denis Compton, in the middle of their greatest year, punished a modest South Africa attack. The pair added 370, with Edrich cracking 189 and Compton 208. At the time it was the highest partnership for the third wicket in a Test. It remains England's highest for the third wicket, and is the highest for any wicket in a Lord's Test.
A monstrous partnership at Lord's, as Bill Edrich and Denis Compton, in the middle of their greatest year, punished a modest South Africa attack. The pair added 370, with Edrich cracking 189 and Compton 208. At the time it was the highest partnership for the third wicket in a Test. It remains England's highest for the third wicket, and is the highest for any wicket in a Lord's Test.
1980
Given the maturity and serenity of his strokeplay, it is startling to think that the Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan is only 23 today. He was only 19 when he made a cool, classy 84 not out in his first Test innings, against Pakistan in Barbados in 1999-2000. He struggled horribly in Australia the following winter - making only three runs in five innings - but since then Sarwan has been startlingly consistent. For a long while it seemed as if Sarwan would claim an unwanted record held by India's Chetan Chauhan, who made 16 Test fifties but no century. Sarwan made 14 half-centuries before notching up his first hundred, against Bangladesh at Dhaka. But the crowning moment in his career so far came in the fourth Test against Australia at St John's in May 2003, when he gave as good as he got in a verbal barrage with Glenn McGrath, and scored a magnificent 105 as West Indies successfully chased a record 418 runs in the fourth innings.
Given the maturity and serenity of his strokeplay, it is startling to think that the Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan is only 23 today. He was only 19 when he made a cool, classy 84 not out in his first Test innings, against Pakistan in Barbados in 1999-2000. He struggled horribly in Australia the following winter - making only three runs in five innings - but since then Sarwan has been startlingly consistent. For a long while it seemed as if Sarwan would claim an unwanted record held by India's Chetan Chauhan, who made 16 Test fifties but no century. Sarwan made 14 half-centuries before notching up his first hundred, against Bangladesh at Dhaka. But the crowning moment in his career so far came in the fourth Test against Australia at St John's in May 2003, when he gave as good as he got in a verbal barrage with Glenn McGrath, and scored a magnificent 105 as West Indies successfully chased a record 418 runs in the fourth innings.
1932
Nineteen Tests for Bob Blair, the Wellington fast bowler who was born today, but he played in a poor New Zealand side. They lost 13 and won none of those 19 Tests, and Blair failed to take a five-for. As a lower-order batsman he was extremely erratic. He bagged three pairs, reached double figures in only two of his 34 Test innings, but managed to slap 64 not out against England at Wellington in 1962-63. Blair also famously held up an end against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1953-54, just after hearing that his fiancee had been killed in a train crash.
Nineteen Tests for Bob Blair, the Wellington fast bowler who was born today, but he played in a poor New Zealand side. They lost 13 and won none of those 19 Tests, and Blair failed to take a five-for. As a lower-order batsman he was extremely erratic. He bagged three pairs, reached double figures in only two of his 34 Test innings, but managed to slap 64 not out against England at Wellington in 1962-63. Blair also famously held up an end against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1953-54, just after hearing that his fiancee had been killed in a train crash.
1928
The beginning of West Indies' life as a Test-playing nation. They were hammered by England by an innings, with Ernest Tyldesley hammering 122 in his only innings at Lord's. But they proved to be quick learners. In their sixth Test, the following winter, they recorded their first win.
The beginning of West Indies' life as a Test-playing nation. They were hammered by England by an innings, with Ernest Tyldesley hammering 122 in his only innings at Lord's. But they proved to be quick learners. In their sixth Test, the following winter, they recorded their first win.
1904
Birth of Quintin McMillan, the South African legspinner who played 13 Tests between 1929 and 1932. After 20 wickets in 11 Tests he took 16 in his last two, including two five-fors as South Africa beat New Zealand at Christchurch and Wellington. McMillan then retired to pursue a business career, and was only 44 when he died in his native Transvaal in 1948.
Birth of Quintin McMillan, the South African legspinner who played 13 Tests between 1929 and 1932. After 20 wickets in 11 Tests he took 16 in his last two, including two five-fors as South Africa beat New Zealand at Christchurch and Wellington. McMillan then retired to pursue a business career, and was only 44 when he died in his native Transvaal in 1948.
Other birthdays
1925 Trevor Barber (New Zealand)
1940 Mike Shrimpton (New Zealand)
1925 Trevor Barber (New Zealand)
1940 Mike Shrimpton (New Zealand)