Australia

Aussie spinner hogs the wickets...

On this day in 1930 Australian spinner Clarrie Grimmett took ten wickets for 37 runs off 22.3 overs during part of his Australian side’s tour against Yorkshire. This feat of taking all the wickets in an innings has only been achieved by a small number of players in history. This wasn’t a one-off for Grimmett who took a grand total of 1424 wickets in 248 matches between 1911 and 1941, including five wicket bags on over 120 occasions.

Today in 1969 also saw the start the legendary Vietnam battle of Hamburger Hill. This ten day campaign was the last major ground assault by the US during the war. The death American death toll was so high it led to changes in their strategy and the first troop withdrawals.

Also in 1994 began a new era for South Africa as Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the nation’s first black president after serving 27 years in prison for campaigning against the country’s apartheid. Although only serving as president for five years, he had received more than 50 awards.

It’s Andre Cornelius Botha as they say in Ireland! to Pakistani off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed (48), Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp (39), not quite Arsenal legend Sylvain Wiltord (34), Senegal striker Henri Camara (31), German F1 driver not named Schumacher, Nick Heidfeld (31) and annoying pub landlord Al Murray (40).

Aussie batsman given compassionate leave

Australia will be without Michael Clarke during their upcoming tour of the West Indies after the new Test vice-captain was given compassionate leave to stay in Australia.

His fiance’s father is in a serious condition and Clarke has opted to stay in Oz to stay with the family.

Michael Hussey has been handed the vice-captaincy in Clarke’s absence, while Brad Hodge has been called up to the squad to replace him.

"I will never get a duck to a bunch of students again. I will never..."

And it's only a ruddy student who does it...

Known to the cricket world as 'the Don' and widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, with a Test batting average of 99.94, and a first class average of 95.14, it's fair to say Donald Bradman didn't have too many off days with his bat. So imagine being the Cambridge University student who bowled him out for a duck today in 1934, when Australia played the university as part of their tour of England. We know only that the young bowler was named Davies, and that it was Bradman's first duck in England, and he was only at the crease for four minutes. We can make a reasonable assumption that said Davies probably dined out on this feat for years. And why wouldn't you...

Elsewhere, jubilation today in 1994 in South Africa, as Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first black president of the country where apartheid had been dismantled only years before. While in 1974, the House Judiciary Committee opened hearings on whether to recommend the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, the start of the official process that led to his downfall. A few years down the line, in 1998, sex changed singer Dana international won the Eurovision Song Contest for Israel, while the free-living, sexual revolution of the sixties started today in 1960 when the birth control pill went on the market.

And we say Corey Collymore! as they say in Barbados to former Sri Lanak opener Asantha De Mel (49), talking head Alan Bennett (74), piano playing man Billy Joel (59) and Beautiful South frontman Paul Heaton (46).

Bradman smashes 185 against Lancs...

On this day in 1930, some player by the name of Donald Bradman nonchalantly knocked an impressive 185 for Australia against Lancashire and in 2003, Scotland, bless their kilts, defeated Durham in their first game in the English National League. On this day in 1962, Ernest Tyldesley, Lancashire's most prolific run-getter of all time, passed away. Despite being much more defensive than his elder brother, Johnny, Ernest’s excellent range of scoring strokes and a quick-footed technique already put him at the top of large crop of top-class professional batsmen who were to raise English batting to an unequalled level in the 1920s. Ernest's elder brother JT named the Tyldesley family home in Lancashire “Aigburth”, to commemorate his younger brother's Lancashire debut at the Liverpool ground where Lancashire Cricket Club occasionally play their matches. The home still stands today and a plaque telling Ernest’s story has been erected; take a peek if you’re ever in the area.

Elsewhere in the world, on this day in 1980, SAS commandos put end to the siege of the Iranian Embassy in London, as millions of British viewers watched the events unfold live n TV. They don’t make reality TV like they used to, do they? Over the pond in Northern Ireland, prisoner and hunger striker Bobby Sand’s life came to an unnecessary end after 66 day of refusing to eat. Probably not the kind of diet you’d see in Heat magazine, but even so, Rick Waller would do well to take note.

It’s Ravishankar Puvendran! as they say in Canada to New Zealand ODI batter Karen Le Comber (39), legendary British comedian and doyen of travel documentaries, Michael Palin (65), “the new Amy Winehouse” (how can that be a good thing?) Adele (20), and that British R&B star with the stupid goatee beard, Craaaaaaaaaaaaaig David (27). It were propa Bo I tell thee.

Aussie Wickie is born...

On this day in 1964, in the Brisbane suburb of Spring Hill, the world welcomed one of the greatest wicketkeepers ever to park his ass behind the stumps; Ian Healy. An integral part of the of the all-conquering Australia side of 1990s, Healy formed a superb partnership with Shane Warne, and was selected ahead of the likes of Rod Marsh in Australia’s team of the 20th century.  

Known for his energy and optimism behind the stumps, Healy’s encouraging words towards the rest of the team could often be heard on microphone, the most famous of which aimed at Shane Warne; 'Bowling, Shane'. Most impressive of all, however, is the fact that despite breaking all of his fingers during his thirteen-year career, he only ever missed one Test match, replaced by Phil Emery in Pakistan. Let that be a lesson to you all the next time you contemplate an early walk back to the pavilion because of a headache.

And on this day in 1945, things weren’t looking so rosy for Adolf Hitler. Despite marrying his mistress, Eva Braun, in a Berlin bunker (romantic) the previous day, the pair committed suicide after refusing to surrender to Allied forces at the end of World War II. Talk about not taking your marriage vows seriously. And on the same depressing note, it was on this day in 1993 that world number one women’s tennis player, Monica Seles, was stabbed in the back during a quarter-final match in Hamburg.

It’s Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau! as they say in Fiji to medium-pacer Darren Stevens (32), legendary country singer Willie Nelson (75), recently admitted to rehab (we thought you may like to know that) actress Kirsten Dunst (26) and the most annoying, talentless artist in music history Akon (35).