West Indies

A masterclass from Curtley Ambrose...

And boy did he enjoy it...

And a day for record breaking...

Today’s the day in 1992 that South Africa played their first test in 22 years following their imposed exile from the game as a result of the government’s policy of apartheid. The game against the West Indies, played in the Kensington Oval in Barbados, saw South Africa throw away a winning position of 123-3 chasing 201 to win, to 148 all out. Also on this day in 1994, Brian Lara broke the record for the highest score in test cricket hitting 375 against England in Antigua. Matthew Hayden later broke the record with 380 against Zimbabwe only for Lara to reclaim his crown, this time 400 not out, again feasting himself on generous English bowling.  

Elsewhere on this day in 1906, over 1000 people were killed and a quarter of a million left homeless after an earthquake destroyed large amounts of San Francisco. 1949 saw the Republic of Ireland Act come into force with Southern Ireland leaving the British Commonwealth and becoming a republic. In 1955, world famous scientist and originator of the Theory of Relatively, Albert Einstein, died in New Jersey. While in 1988, a retired U.S. car worker John Demjanjuk, dubbed ‘Ivan the Terrible’ was found guilty of committing Nazi war crimes.

Finally we say Glenn Rogers! as they say in Scotland to West Indian all-rounder Phil Simmons (35), British Formula One star Anthony Davidson (29), the Doctor David Tennant (37), American horror director Eli Roth (36) and long-distance specialist Haile Gebrselassie (35), whle the great West Indian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall would be 50 today had he not died in 1999.

Ey Mon! I has just returned from mi Caribbean cruise ya now...

Well you can stop speaking like that for starters...

I kind of liked it...

Well I didn't, so what was the cricket like?

Amazing. The West Indies squared the series, their first win at Queen's Park since 2000, and the third highest run chase in Trinidad ever, leaving the Sri Lankans still searching for that elusive Caribbean triumph.

Wow! Some game. Who got the Windies runs?

Ramnaresh Sarwan ended his quest for a series century with an exemplorary 102 - he could've played Murali with his co..

[coughs] Now now keep it clean!

Sorry. Well Sarwan was man-of-the-match, series and general legend. He hit 57 in the first innings but more pleasingly was the return to form of Shivnarine Chanderpaul whose unbeaten 86 saw them home.

So Murali couldn't weave his magic once more then?

He never gave up but how ever many revs he gave his wrist or as big as his smile got, the West Indian batsmen combatted his devilish spin with assured accord, which was in stark contrast to the first innings when he picked up his 63rd five-wicket Test haul.

Any other highlights?

Apart from the exotic dancing, cocktails and late-night moonwalking then Thilan Samaraweera's hundred wasn't all that bad considering the amount of damage Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor did to the Lions top order.

What's your plans now then... Any other cricket trips?

I'm staying at home until the IPL starts in May but i'll be at Lords for the County Championship curtain raiser between the MCC & Sussex so we'll catch up then.... One Love, Every-ting is ganna be arie!

Windies legend makes test debut...

Sir Garfield St Auburn “Garry” Sobers is considered by many to the greatest all-rounder the game of cricket has ever seen. With a Test batting average of 57.78, a total of 8,032 runs and 235 Test wickets, it’s not hard to see why. But if you had to guess which team he made his debut against on this day in 1954, you know you’d get it right first time. Correct, the opponents that have helped launch a thousand talents. At the tender age of 18, Sobers earned his first cap against England, and would earn his 84th and final cap against them too almost 20 years later to the day. Elsewhere in cricket, today in 1997 a New Zealand first class record was being set as Canterbury scored a somewhat daunting 777 against Otago.

And as French President Nicolas Sarkozy makes his first visit to this Island he may not want to be reminded about today in 1814, when European forces allied against Napoleon and his French empire marched into and captured Paris. Elsewhere the Queen Mother died today in 2002 aged 101, prompting millions of people to mourn a little old woman they’d never met before. And on a day of drama President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley in 1981. It was later revealed that he was motivated by an obsession with Jodie Foster and a desire to impress her. Which, let’s be honest, is just silly.

We say Tim Southee as they say in New Zealand to Australian batsman Martin Love (34), Greg Blewett’s (65), former Manchester United and Czech Republic star Karol Poborsky (36), legendary strummer Eric Clapton (63) and loose-trousered rapper MC Hammer (45).