November 18 down the years
A Bradmanesque year
Andy Flower's amazing run
Andy Flower couldn't be touched during his golden run in 2000-01 • Getty Images
2000
The start of one of the most amazing runs in Test history. Andy Flower lashed an unbeaten 183 for Zimbabwe in the first Test against India in Delhi, and in the following 13 months he scored 1466 runs with an average of 133.27, including five hundreds and seven fifties. Flower ended the year as the world's No. 1 batter in the PWC ratings, but he returned to mortality as his first four innings in 2002 produced just 20 runs.
The start of one of the most amazing runs in Test history. Andy Flower lashed an unbeaten 183 for Zimbabwe in the first Test against India in Delhi, and in the following 13 months he scored 1466 runs with an average of 133.27, including five hundreds and seven fifties. Flower ended the year as the world's No. 1 batter in the PWC ratings, but he returned to mortality as his first four innings in 2002 produced just 20 runs.
1989
Dinesh Chandimal, born today, made his international debut when only 21, and scored 111 in his second ODI. His Test career also had a promising start: he scored fifties in each innings in Durban as Sri Lanka won their first Test in South Africa. A dip in form saw Chandimal dropped from the XI in 2012. He returned to the Test side in 2013, and six weeks later became Sri Lanka's youngest ever captain, at 23, when he led the T20I side. He was also named Angelo Mathews' deputy in Tests and ODIs and celebrated his elevation with back-to-back Test hundreds against Bangladesh at home. In Sri Lanka's memorable Test win at Headingley in 2015, Chandimal scored an important first-innings 45 and took four catches. Later in the year made a manic second-innings 162 not out (from 168 balls) in a victory over India in Galle. He replaced Angelo Mathews as the Test captain in 2017 and led Sri Lanka to a historic 2-0 win in UAE against Pakistan - in Abu Dhabi, Chandimal batted for over nine hours to make 155. Four Tests later, he played another marathon innings in a draw in Delhi. In June 2018, Chandimal was suspended for a Test for ball-tampering in St Lucia, and later the penalty was extended to two Tests and four ODIs because of Sri Lanka's refusal to take the field after the umpires informed them that they were changing the ball because they suspected it had been tampered with. In 2022, Chandimal became the first Sri Lankan batter to score a Test double-hundred against Australia, in an innings victory in Galle.
Dinesh Chandimal, born today, made his international debut when only 21, and scored 111 in his second ODI. His Test career also had a promising start: he scored fifties in each innings in Durban as Sri Lanka won their first Test in South Africa. A dip in form saw Chandimal dropped from the XI in 2012. He returned to the Test side in 2013, and six weeks later became Sri Lanka's youngest ever captain, at 23, when he led the T20I side. He was also named Angelo Mathews' deputy in Tests and ODIs and celebrated his elevation with back-to-back Test hundreds against Bangladesh at home. In Sri Lanka's memorable Test win at Headingley in 2015, Chandimal scored an important first-innings 45 and took four catches. Later in the year made a manic second-innings 162 not out (from 168 balls) in a victory over India in Galle. He replaced Angelo Mathews as the Test captain in 2017 and led Sri Lanka to a historic 2-0 win in UAE against Pakistan - in Abu Dhabi, Chandimal batted for over nine hours to make 155. Four Tests later, he played another marathon innings in a draw in Delhi. In June 2018, Chandimal was suspended for a Test for ball-tampering in St Lucia, and later the penalty was extended to two Tests and four ODIs because of Sri Lanka's refusal to take the field after the umpires informed them that they were changing the ball because they suspected it had been tampered with. In 2022, Chandimal became the first Sri Lankan batter to score a Test double-hundred against Australia, in an innings victory in Galle.
1988
A familiar story on the first morning of the Australia-West Indies series in Brisbane, where Australia were demolished for 167 inside 70 overs. The wiles of Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh were all too much for the Aussies, while Carl Hooper chipped in with the wicket of top scorer Mike Veletta. Gordon Greenidge and Des Haynes put things in context by adding 135 for the first wicket, their 13th century opening partnership in Tests. West Indies cruised to a nine-wicket win with a day and a half to spare.
A familiar story on the first morning of the Australia-West Indies series in Brisbane, where Australia were demolished for 167 inside 70 overs. The wiles of Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh were all too much for the Aussies, while Carl Hooper chipped in with the wicket of top scorer Mike Veletta. Gordon Greenidge and Des Haynes put things in context by adding 135 for the first wicket, their 13th century opening partnership in Tests. West Indies cruised to a nine-wicket win with a day and a half to spare.
1995
A deluge in Centurion meant that no play was possible on the third day of the first Test - the inaugural one at the venue - between England and South Africa. And there was none on the last two days either. It was all very frustrating for England, who had worked themselves into a good position (381 for 9) on a lively surface. Their dominance was thanks mainly to a majestic 141 from Graeme Hick, perhaps his best Test innings.
A deluge in Centurion meant that no play was possible on the third day of the first Test - the inaugural one at the venue - between England and South Africa. And there was none on the last two days either. It was all very frustrating for England, who had worked themselves into a good position (381 for 9) on a lively surface. Their dominance was thanks mainly to a majestic 141 from Graeme Hick, perhaps his best Test innings.
2018
Spinning to win worked a treat for England, who clinched their first Test series in Sri Lanka in close to two decades when they won the Kandy Test comfortably. Their heroes were spinners Jack Leach and Moeen Ali, who took 14 wickets between them (and all but one in the second innings), complementing Joe Root's masterful second-innings hundred, which came after Sri Lanka had taken a handy lead. It was England's first series win in Asia in six years.
Spinning to win worked a treat for England, who clinched their first Test series in Sri Lanka in close to two decades when they won the Kandy Test comfortably. Their heroes were spinners Jack Leach and Moeen Ali, who took 14 wickets between them (and all but one in the second innings), complementing Joe Root's masterful second-innings hundred, which came after Sri Lanka had taken a handy lead. It was England's first series win in Asia in six years.
1993
A one-day tie. Zimbabwe needed 249 to beat India in their Hero Cup match in Indore, but they looked dead in the water at 212 for 8. Then Stephen Peall and Heath Streak (batting right down at No.10) took them to within 12 of victory, and Streak and John Rennie were left needing 10 off Manoj Prabhakar's final over. Two were needed off the final ball, but Streak was run out going for a second leg-bye. It was only the seventh tied ODI.
A one-day tie. Zimbabwe needed 249 to beat India in their Hero Cup match in Indore, but they looked dead in the water at 212 for 8. Then Stephen Peall and Heath Streak (batting right down at No.10) took them to within 12 of victory, and Streak and John Rennie were left needing 10 off Manoj Prabhakar's final over. Two were needed off the final ball, but Streak was run out going for a second leg-bye. It was only the seventh tied ODI.
Other birthdays
1862 George Wood (England)
1892 Rustomji Jamshedji (India)
1922 Una Paisley (Australia)
1933 Joan Hawes (England)
1937 Rajinder Pal (India)
1954 Evan Gray (New Zealand)
1973 Nic Pothas (South Africa)
1862 George Wood (England)
1892 Rustomji Jamshedji (India)
1922 Una Paisley (Australia)
1933 Joan Hawes (England)
1937 Rajinder Pal (India)
1954 Evan Gray (New Zealand)
1973 Nic Pothas (South Africa)