Cricket News

Ryan Sidearse: It just makes sense...

Meanwhile, in 1969, John Lennon left The Beatles but did not make a public announcement. This further weakened the relationship between him and Paul which was already strained after John had borrowed Paul's duvet and painted all over it in preparation for a later event.

And it's, Cherd Songsri! As they say in the Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, to; Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis (28), Colombian F1 star Juan Pablo Montoya (32) and Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson (36). Today was also the day that Old Big 'Ead, Brian Clough died of stomach cancer in 2004.

"Hey ladies..."

Today in 1970 saw the birth of one of English cricket's cheeky chappies. Darren Gough was born in Barnsley and would go on to become England's leading strike bowler of the 90's. Popular with crowds thanks to his beaming smile, down-to-earth craic and everyman looks (i.e. a bit fat), Dazza could also play a bit. On his Test  debut in 1994 he hit 65 and took 6 wickets against New Zealand at Old Trafford.

While his batting would exactly continue in that form, he would nonetheless go on to claim over 200 Test wickets. Then he started dancing on TV and stuff, and now not only does he remain popular in the cricket world, but he's cemented his place as a housewives favourite too...

Also on this day, in 1830, a horse beat the first American made locomotive in a race near Baltimore. Meanwhile, in 1970, Jimi Hendrix, ever the showman, died a totally rock 'n' roll death after asphyxiating on his own vomit following a drug overdose at a party.

And it's Aires de Ornelas! as they say in Goa to former West Indian pace bowler Winston Davis (50), Page 3's Keeley Hazell (22) and Portsmouth's Sol Campbell (33). Today would also have been Dee Dee Ramone's 56th birthday had it not been “Hey! Ho! Let's go!” for him in 2002.

Big Frank: Popular...

Today in 1988 West Indian all rounder Franklyn Stephenson achieved something that only Richard Hadlee could match in County cricket since the amount of County Championship matches were reduced in 1969. Stephenson completed a rare double of taking 100 wickets and scoring 1000 runs in the same season, thanks to a tremendous performance in the final match of the season. Having already claimed 100 wickets that season, he needed 210 runs against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge to take the double. The Nottinghamshire star scored 111 in his first innings and 117 in his second to join Hadlee with the record.

Also on this day, in 1908, The Wright Flyer captained by Orville Wright crashes, killing the passenger Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, who becomes the first aeroplane fatality.

Meanwhile, in 1956, television was first broadcast in Australia. Originally, programmes were shipped over from the BBC but they all appeared upside down on Australian TV sets, leading to the development of their own top-quality shows such as Neighbours and Prisoner Cell Block H.

And it's Ndumbu Nsungu! as they say in the Gillingham and Bradford areas to India paceman Vikram Singh (24), and Prodigy dancer turned frontman Keith Flint (39). On this day in 2000, Paula Yates was found dead following an accidental heroin overdose.

The day out fishing with Yuvraj wasn't quite what everyone expected...

If you think those chaps in Dubai are only interested in ploughing money into some of the Premier League's biggest clubs, then you'd be wrong. So stop thinking that. No, those wealthy chaps also love a good game of cricket, as we saw last week when the fifth annual ICC awards was held there.

One of the big winners, India's Yuvraj Singh, who collected the ICC Twenty20 Performance of the Year award, was invited to plant an Indian flag on the "India" island at "The World". And when we say "The World", we mean the collection of islands off the coast of Dubai. The private and resort islands are sold by invitation only to chosen individuals who fancy owning a slice of one of the most exclusive addresses on the planet. After his phenomenal six sixes against Stuart Broad last year, it seems Singh is only happy to reap the rewards of that audacious over.

The 300 islands form the shape of the world map and were revealed by Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2003. About 90% of the islands have been sold so if you want one you'd better get a move on....

"Have you tried texting her?"

If Marmite was a cricketer, it would be Shane Warne. You either love him or you hate him. And some people love hating him, while others hate loving him. Either way, he's never boring. The man born today in 1969 claimed 708 Test wickets, which isn't bad for someone who bowls legspin. Mind, it wasn't bad legspin, as Mike Gatting found out in 1993 when he was bowled the "ball of the century" in Warney's first ever ball in Ashes history. Sadly, that would not be the end of England's torment at the hand of the blonde bombshell.

He was a bit of a bombshell off the field too though, with some of his more controversial exploits including being suspended for a year after testing positive for banned diuretics at the 2003 World Cup, and he's also had a few issues with women, we'll put diplomatically.

Still, we'll miss him. That is unless he comes out of retirement for next year's Ashes, in which case we certainly won't...

Meanwhile, in 1996, Tupac Shakur was gunned down in a drive-by shooting as the result of a dispute with a rival. Tupac subscribed to Cantor's theory of infinite sets, whereas his shooter found Liebniz's theory of actual infinity philosophically more appealing.

And it's Lavoslav Ruzicka! As they say in Croatia, to; American songstress Fiona Apple (31) and World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro (35). It would also have been Roald Dahl's 94th birthday today had he not been struck with the rare blood disease, myelodysplastic anaemia at the age of 74.

As they shell out nearly $1bn on the inaugral Twenty20 Champions League...

Despite the silly hair...

But Broady missed out...

Today is a good day to be Sri Lankan. Back on this very day in 1985 in Colombo, they recorded one of their greatest days in Test cricket. In only their 14th ever Test match they recorded their first win. Thanks largely to Rumesh Ratnayake's five wickets for 49 runs, they dismissed India in their second innings for just 198, winning by 149 runs. A draw in the following Test saw them claim their first series ever.

Remember Jim Sims? Might've been before your time, but on this day in 1948, the Middlesex leggie, took all ten for ninety off a paltry 18.4 overs in the West's second innings,  clinching victory by 223 runs for the East at Kingston-on-Thames.

Meanwhile, on this day in 1858, George Searle discovered his first and only asteroid, calling it Pandora after the first woman in Greek mythology. It has since been identified as the second largest of the E-type asteroids.

And it's Jeppe Aakjær! as they say in Denmark to Pakistan paceman Mohammad Akram (34), Sri-Lanka's number two Jayawardene, Prasanna (29) golfing icon Arnold Palmer (80), mockney icon Guy Ritchie (50) while England's Indian Prince, Ranji, would've been 146 - at least there's still a trophy named after him.

If i'm in then so is Gary Pratt...

Central contracts: James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan.

Increment contracts: Tim Ambrose, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Graeme Swann, Luke Wright.

The contents of the safe was a shock to the cast of Ocean's 11...

Born on this day in 1853, Fred Spofforth was nicknamed “The Demon”. Let’s be honest, there can be few nicknames cooler than that. But ol’ Fred warranted it. And more specifically, his fast bowling did. No more so than during the Ashes of 1882, when he almost single-handedly won the Oval test for Australia with bowling that came straight from the book of Dark Arts. Set just 85 to win, England seemed on course for a famous victory.

Only for Spofforth to follow up his first innings figures of 7 for 46 by recording 7 for 44. Meaning the Aussies won the match by seven runs. It’s just never been fair has it?

Mohammad regretted his mother getting in touch with EatCricket...

Test history was made today back in 2001, when Bangladesh’s headline-writer-friendly Mohammad Ashraful became the youngest player ever to make a Test century. At the tender age of 16 years and 351 days, when most of us were still trying to persuade our elder siblings to buy our White Lightning, Ashraful made 114 against Sri Lanka, overtaking Pakistan’s Mushtaq Mohammad’s record of 17 years and 82 days.

The Gillette Cup Final wasn't the best time to play human dominoes...

Today in 1963 saw the first ever major One Day final to be played at Lord's. The Gillette Cup, which would go on to be called the C&G Trophy, the NatWest trophy and now the Friends Provident Trophy, was a one day knockout trophy involving the eighteen first class counties.

We're not sure if it was the best a man could get, but we know that the final was played today between Sussex and Worcestershire, with Sussex captain Ted Dexter the first man to life the trophy after they bowled Worcestershire out for 154 to win by 14 runs.

He used to dance a bit you know...

Today in 1969, the man who would go on to become an England cricketing great was born. Well, at least he was supposed to. Mark Ravin Ramprakash was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, and despite a magnificient record at county level, he joined Graeme Hick at being unable to reproduce his form at Test level, despite repeated chances.