May 12 down the years
When Trumble made 'em tumble
Birth of a two-trick man
Hugh Trumble took 141 wickets in just 32 Tests • Getty Images
1867
Birth of the first man to take two Test hat-tricks. Australian offspinner Hugh Trumble managed them both on his home ground in Melbourne - and both against England too, in 1901-02 and 1903-04. An extremely tall man who made the ball rip spitefully on wet wickets, Trumble's finest performance came in defeat, when he took 12 for 89 against England at The Oval in 1896. After Trumble's efforts, Australia were left chasing 111 to win; they collapsed to 19 for 8 and were eventually all out for 44. He also bowled England to defeat with 7 for 28 in his final first-class match, the Melbourne Test of 1903-04, when he took his second hat-trick. Trumble died in Melbourne in 1938.
Birth of the first man to take two Test hat-tricks. Australian offspinner Hugh Trumble managed them both on his home ground in Melbourne - and both against England too, in 1901-02 and 1903-04. An extremely tall man who made the ball rip spitefully on wet wickets, Trumble's finest performance came in defeat, when he took 12 for 89 against England at The Oval in 1896. After Trumble's efforts, Australia were left chasing 111 to win; they collapsed to 19 for 8 and were eventually all out for 44. He also bowled England to defeat with 7 for 28 in his final first-class match, the Melbourne Test of 1903-04, when he took his second hat-trick. Trumble died in Melbourne in 1938.
1987
Though he made a century on first-class debut Kieron Pollard, born today, is better known for his T20 batting exploits, and some eye-popping catches on the boundary. In fact, that first hundred included 11 fours and seven sixes. Pollard made his one-day debut in the 2007 World Cup and then secured a US$750,000 IPL contract with Mumbai Indians. But for all his big hitting he only scored his first one-day hundred in his 51st match, in 2011. The year before that Pollard, along with Dwayne Bravo, did as many feared, and turned down a West Indies central contract so he could play in T20 leagues around the world. He was part of West Indies' World T20-winning squad in 2012 but not 2016. Apart from the IPL, Pollard looks in at the CPL, the Big Bash, England's T20 Cup, the BPL, and the PSL.
Though he made a century on first-class debut Kieron Pollard, born today, is better known for his T20 batting exploits, and some eye-popping catches on the boundary. In fact, that first hundred included 11 fours and seven sixes. Pollard made his one-day debut in the 2007 World Cup and then secured a US$750,000 IPL contract with Mumbai Indians. But for all his big hitting he only scored his first one-day hundred in his 51st match, in 2011. The year before that Pollard, along with Dwayne Bravo, did as many feared, and turned down a West Indies central contract so he could play in T20 leagues around the world. He was part of West Indies' World T20-winning squad in 2012 but not 2016. Apart from the IPL, Pollard looks in at the CPL, the Big Bash, England's T20 Cup, the BPL, and the PSL.
2019
With two runs to defend off the last ball, Lasith Malinga bowled a slower yorker and trapped Shardul Thakur leg before to give Mumbai Indians a record fourth IPL title, in their fourth final against perennial finalists Chennai Super Kings. There had been more drama earlier in the final over. Shane Watson, the hero of Super Kings' 2018 title win, had carried them from a position where they needed 62 off the last five overs to nine off the 20th. After taking four runs off the first three balls of the over, Watson was run out attempting a risky second run. New man Thakur managed two off the fifth ball before Malinga, who had gone for 42 runs in his first three overs and dropped a catch, brought the tournament to a thrilling end.
With two runs to defend off the last ball, Lasith Malinga bowled a slower yorker and trapped Shardul Thakur leg before to give Mumbai Indians a record fourth IPL title, in their fourth final against perennial finalists Chennai Super Kings. There had been more drama earlier in the final over. Shane Watson, the hero of Super Kings' 2018 title win, had carried them from a position where they needed 62 off the last five overs to nine off the 20th. After taking four runs off the first three balls of the over, Watson was run out attempting a risky second run. New man Thakur managed two off the fifth ball before Malinga, who had gone for 42 runs in his first three overs and dropped a catch, brought the tournament to a thrilling end.
1978
Thomas Odoyo, born today, was the first player from a non-Test playing team to achieve the double of 1500 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs. For several years he formed a reliable new-ball partnership with Martin Suji, and in 1997-98 he shared in a then-world record ODI stand of 119 for the seventh-wicket with his brother Tony against Zimbabwe. His consistent performances led to him winning the inaugural ICC Associate ODI Player of the Year in 2007.
Thomas Odoyo, born today, was the first player from a non-Test playing team to achieve the double of 1500 runs and 100 wickets in ODIs. For several years he formed a reliable new-ball partnership with Martin Suji, and in 1997-98 he shared in a then-world record ODI stand of 119 for the seventh-wicket with his brother Tony against Zimbabwe. His consistent performances led to him winning the inaugural ICC Associate ODI Player of the Year in 2007.
1979
Birth of Robert Key, who was marked for great things ever since he helped England win the Under-19 World Cup in 1998, but with a top score of 47 from his first eight Tests (in 2002 and 2003), he didn't live up to the expectations. In 2004, however, he burst back into the limelight, scoring 1000 first-class runs by the second day of June, and cracking a magnificent 221 against West Indies at Lord's, in his first Test appearance for over a year. The jury was still out after a hit-and-miss winter in South Africa in 2004-05 and Key lost his place in the Test side, but he continued scoring for Kent, for whom he was appointed captain in 2006. He quit first-class cricket in 2016.
Birth of Robert Key, who was marked for great things ever since he helped England win the Under-19 World Cup in 1998, but with a top score of 47 from his first eight Tests (in 2002 and 2003), he didn't live up to the expectations. In 2004, however, he burst back into the limelight, scoring 1000 first-class runs by the second day of June, and cracking a magnificent 221 against West Indies at Lord's, in his first Test appearance for over a year. The jury was still out after a hit-and-miss winter in South Africa in 2004-05 and Key lost his place in the Test side, but he continued scoring for Kent, for whom he was appointed captain in 2006. He quit first-class cricket in 2016.
1903
Jim Parks, who was born today, was an outstanding allrounder for Sussex, and in first-class cricket he scored over 20,000 runs and took more than 800 wickets. In 1937 he scored 3003 runs and took 101 wickets, a unique performance. He only played one Test, though, against New Zealand at Lord's that year, when he trapped the great Martin Donnelly for 0 in Donnelly's first Test innings. Parks' son Jim also played for England, and his grandson Bobby for Hampshire. Parks died in Sussex in 1980.
Jim Parks, who was born today, was an outstanding allrounder for Sussex, and in first-class cricket he scored over 20,000 runs and took more than 800 wickets. In 1937 he scored 3003 runs and took 101 wickets, a unique performance. He only played one Test, though, against New Zealand at Lord's that year, when he trapped the great Martin Donnelly for 0 in Donnelly's first Test innings. Parks' son Jim also played for England, and his grandson Bobby for Hampshire. Parks died in Sussex in 1980.
1890
Against MCC, Sussex's Jesse Hide became only the fourth man to take four wickets in four balls - and the first to do so at Lord's. He was not the last to do so at Lord's, though: Frederick Martin achieved the feat for MCC against Derbyshire in 1895, and 12 years later Albert Trott did it in his benefit game, for Middlesex and Somerset (a game in which he also took another hat-trick in the same innings).
Against MCC, Sussex's Jesse Hide became only the fourth man to take four wickets in four balls - and the first to do so at Lord's. He was not the last to do so at Lord's, though: Frederick Martin achieved the feat for MCC against Derbyshire in 1895, and 12 years later Albert Trott did it in his benefit game, for Middlesex and Somerset (a game in which he also took another hat-trick in the same innings).
1946
A debut centurion is born. Guyanese opener Len Baichan was unfortunate not to play more than three Tests for West Indies, having made a match-saving 105 not out on his debut, against Pakistan in Lahore in 1974-75. But with Roy Fredericks and Gordon Greenidge on the scene, Baichan struggled to bed down a place. He was inked in for the opener's role on West Indies' tour of India in 1974-75, but a car crash put paid to his participation. Greenidge stepped into the breach, scoring 93 and 107 on debut, and never looked back. Baichan ended with a Test average of 46, a first-class average of 51, and plenty of thoughts as to what might have been, had Greenidge taken the chance to play for England.
A debut centurion is born. Guyanese opener Len Baichan was unfortunate not to play more than three Tests for West Indies, having made a match-saving 105 not out on his debut, against Pakistan in Lahore in 1974-75. But with Roy Fredericks and Gordon Greenidge on the scene, Baichan struggled to bed down a place. He was inked in for the opener's role on West Indies' tour of India in 1974-75, but a car crash put paid to his participation. Greenidge stepped into the breach, scoring 93 and 107 on debut, and never looked back. Baichan ended with a Test average of 46, a first-class average of 51, and plenty of thoughts as to what might have been, had Greenidge taken the chance to play for England.
1962
Birth of Karen Gunn, who played nine Tests and 45 ODIs for New Zealand women. Primarily a bowler, Gunn took 53 ODI wickets at 21.00 apiece, with a tidy economy rate of 2.42. A highlight of her career came right at the very end, when she was an integral part of the New Zealand team that made an unprecedented run to the Women's World Cup final in 1993.
Birth of Karen Gunn, who played nine Tests and 45 ODIs for New Zealand women. Primarily a bowler, Gunn took 53 ODI wickets at 21.00 apiece, with a tidy economy rate of 2.42. A highlight of her career came right at the very end, when she was an integral part of the New Zealand team that made an unprecedented run to the Women's World Cup final in 1993.
1909
Birth of Frank de Caires, the right-hand middle-order batter who made 80 and 70 in the first Test played in the Caribbean, against England in Barbados in 1929-30. De Caires played only three Tests, though, the last of them in Jamaica in the same series. He died in British Guiana in 1959.
Birth of Frank de Caires, the right-hand middle-order batter who made 80 and 70 in the first Test played in the Caribbean, against England in Barbados in 1929-30. De Caires played only three Tests, though, the last of them in Jamaica in the same series. He died in British Guiana in 1959.
2001
The day Mark Lavine, a Barbadian-born allrounder, died after he suffered a heart attack in the Birmingham League. A cousin of Gordon Greenidge, Lavine made his first-class debut for Barbados in 1992-93. He later settled in South Africa.
The day Mark Lavine, a Barbadian-born allrounder, died after he suffered a heart attack in the Birmingham League. A cousin of Gordon Greenidge, Lavine made his first-class debut for Barbados in 1992-93. He later settled in South Africa.
Other birthdays
1894 Donald Knight (England)
1970 Steve Palframan (South Africa)
1978 Anna Smith (New Zealand)
1894 Donald Knight (England)
1970 Steve Palframan (South Africa)
1978 Anna Smith (New Zealand)