May 21 down the years
Assault and battery
Saeed Anwar makes 194 against India
Saeed Anwar's 194 was the highest individual score in ODIs till 2010 • Getty Images
1997
Saeed Anwar battered India in the Independence Cup match in Chennai, smearing 194 off only 146 balls - then the biggest individual score in ODIs - in Pakistan's 35-run victory. None of his team-mates got more than 39. It might have helped that he had Shahid Afridi as a runner from the 19th over - Anwar was free to concentrate on bashing boundaries, and he did: there were 22 fours and five sixes, three of them off consecutive deliveries from Anil Kumble.
Saeed Anwar battered India in the Independence Cup match in Chennai, smearing 194 off only 146 balls - then the biggest individual score in ODIs - in Pakistan's 35-run victory. None of his team-mates got more than 39. It might have helped that he had Shahid Afridi as a runner from the 19th over - Anwar was free to concentrate on bashing boundaries, and he did: there were 22 fours and five sixes, three of them off consecutive deliveries from Anil Kumble.
1993
Another brutal one-day display, England's highest individual score in the format at the time. Robin Smith's violent 167 not out at Edgbaston - then the highest score anyone has made on the losing side in an ODI - started fairly sedately. He went to his first one-day hundred off 136 deliveries, but then careered to 150 in another 20 balls as Paul Reiffel (11-1-70-1) disappeared to all parts. Thanks to Smith, England made 277 for 5, but Australia overhauled the total with a chilling efficiency, coasting to victory with nine balls and six wickets to spare.
Another brutal one-day display, England's highest individual score in the format at the time. Robin Smith's violent 167 not out at Edgbaston - then the highest score anyone has made on the losing side in an ODI - started fairly sedately. He went to his first one-day hundred off 136 deliveries, but then careered to 150 in another 20 balls as Paul Reiffel (11-1-70-1) disappeared to all parts. Thanks to Smith, England made 277 for 5, but Australia overhauled the total with a chilling efficiency, coasting to victory with nine balls and six wickets to spare.
1867
Birth of JJ Ferris, the deadly left-arm swing bowler who played Test cricket for Australia and England. In his eight Tests for the Aussies, Ferris wreaked havoc alongside Charlie Turner. His first act as a Test player was to bowl England out for 45, in Sydney in 1886-87, when he and Turner bowled unchanged. He later settled in England, for whom he played one Test, in Cape Town in 1891-92. Ferris took 13 for 91 in the match, and ended up with 61 wickets at the amazing average of 12.70. He was only 33 when he died of enteric fever in Durban in 1900 during the Boer War.
Birth of JJ Ferris, the deadly left-arm swing bowler who played Test cricket for Australia and England. In his eight Tests for the Aussies, Ferris wreaked havoc alongside Charlie Turner. His first act as a Test player was to bowl England out for 45, in Sydney in 1886-87, when he and Turner bowled unchanged. He later settled in England, for whom he played one Test, in Cape Town in 1891-92. Ferris took 13 for 91 in the match, and ended up with 61 wickets at the amazing average of 12.70. He was only 33 when he died of enteric fever in Durban in 1900 during the Boer War.
2016
England demolished Sri Lanka inside three days at Headingley, courtesy a ten-wicket haul by James Anderson. A young Sri Lankan batting line-up struggled against the moving ball, failing to pass 100 in the first innings, and managing only 119 in the second, to lose by an innings and 88 runs. There were signs of a fightback at 93 for 3 on the third day, but Anderson and Steven Finn had the final say, and Sri Lanka lost their last eight for just 26 runs. Local boy Jonny Bairstow made 140 in England's innings and followed it up with nine catches behind the stumps, equalling the record for the most catches in a Test in England.
England demolished Sri Lanka inside three days at Headingley, courtesy a ten-wicket haul by James Anderson. A young Sri Lankan batting line-up struggled against the moving ball, failing to pass 100 in the first innings, and managing only 119 in the second, to lose by an innings and 88 runs. There were signs of a fightback at 93 for 3 on the third day, but Anderson and Steven Finn had the final say, and Sri Lanka lost their last eight for just 26 runs. Local boy Jonny Bairstow made 140 in England's innings and followed it up with nine catches behind the stumps, equalling the record for the most catches in a Test in England.
2017
A last-ball finish in Hyderabad gave Mumbai Indians their third IPL title, this one coming against Rising Pune Supergiant, who were playing the final game of their two-year stint in the league. It had looked like Pune would have a fairy-tale finish when they restricted Mumbai to 129 - the lowest first-innings total in an IPL final. They started cautiously, and at the end of 16 overs, they needed 33 with Steven Smith and MS Dhoni at the crease. However, the 17th over, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah, proved to be the turning point - Pune lost Dhoni and managed only three runs. Smith was still around when Pune faced the final over, needing 13 to win. Mitchell Johnson conceded a four off the first ball, but then got rid of Manoj Tiwary and Smith with the next two. A dropped catch off the fifth ball meant Pune needed four off the last, but they could only manage two.
A last-ball finish in Hyderabad gave Mumbai Indians their third IPL title, this one coming against Rising Pune Supergiant, who were playing the final game of their two-year stint in the league. It had looked like Pune would have a fairy-tale finish when they restricted Mumbai to 129 - the lowest first-innings total in an IPL final. They started cautiously, and at the end of 16 overs, they needed 33 with Steven Smith and MS Dhoni at the crease. However, the 17th over, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah, proved to be the turning point - Pune lost Dhoni and managed only three runs. Smith was still around when Pune faced the final over, needing 13 to win. Mitchell Johnson conceded a four off the first ball, but then got rid of Manoj Tiwary and Smith with the next two. A dropped catch off the fifth ball meant Pune needed four off the last, but they could only manage two.
1985
England medium-pacer Isa Guha is born. Guha made her international debut in 2001, aged 16, and three years later she starred in England's one-day series win against New Zealand in 2004, taking 5 for 22 in the fourth match. Her most memorable performance came in the Bowral Test in 2007-08, when she took a match-winning 9 for 100 to help England retain the Ashes. Guha was part of a successful side that won the Women's World Cup and World T20 tournaments in 2009, and the Ashes in 2005. She retired from international cricket at 26, before embarking on a career in the media and broadcasting.
England medium-pacer Isa Guha is born. Guha made her international debut in 2001, aged 16, and three years later she starred in England's one-day series win against New Zealand in 2004, taking 5 for 22 in the fourth match. Her most memorable performance came in the Bowral Test in 2007-08, when she took a match-winning 9 for 100 to help England retain the Ashes. Guha was part of a successful side that won the Women's World Cup and World T20 tournaments in 2009, and the Ashes in 2005. She retired from international cricket at 26, before embarking on a career in the media and broadcasting.
1893
An England captain is born. Arthur Carr led England against Australia in 1926, when he pulled out of the fifth Test with tonsillitis and lost his job to Percy Chapman, and then South Africa three years later. He was a staunch advocate of Bodyline - he captained Harold Larwood and Bill Voce at Nottinghamshire - and his support for Larwood brought his career as a player and administrator to an early close in 1934. He died in Yorkshire in 1963.
An England captain is born. Arthur Carr led England against Australia in 1926, when he pulled out of the fifth Test with tonsillitis and lost his job to Percy Chapman, and then South Africa three years later. He was a staunch advocate of Bodyline - he captained Harold Larwood and Bill Voce at Nottinghamshire - and his support for Larwood brought his career as a player and administrator to an early close in 1934. He died in Yorkshire in 1963.
1863
Birth of the fleet-footed Australian opener Jack Lyons, who played 14 Tests in the 19th century. A handsome driver but vulnerable against the spinners - England's slow left-armer Johnny Briggs nailed him seven times - he made his only Test hundred in Sydney in 1891-92, when England were beaten by 72 runs. But his best innings came against MCC on Australia's 1893 tour, when he cracked 149 not out in just 90 minutes. He died in Adelaide in 1927.
Birth of the fleet-footed Australian opener Jack Lyons, who played 14 Tests in the 19th century. A handsome driver but vulnerable against the spinners - England's slow left-armer Johnny Briggs nailed him seven times - he made his only Test hundred in Sydney in 1891-92, when England were beaten by 72 runs. But his best innings came against MCC on Australia's 1893 tour, when he cracked 149 not out in just 90 minutes. He died in Adelaide in 1927.
2000
Hoodoo, what hoodoo? England had only won four of their previous 23 Tests at Lord's, but they demolished Zimbabwe by an innings and 209 runs - their biggest victory for 26 years - as the first seven-Test summer in England got under way. Zimbabwe never recovered from being reduced to 8 for 3 by Andy Caddick on the first morning, and Ed Giddins took 5 for 15 in only his second Test. Within a month Giddins was dropped.
Hoodoo, what hoodoo? England had only won four of their previous 23 Tests at Lord's, but they demolished Zimbabwe by an innings and 209 runs - their biggest victory for 26 years - as the first seven-Test summer in England got under way. Zimbabwe never recovered from being reduced to 8 for 3 by Andy Caddick on the first morning, and Ed Giddins took 5 for 15 in only his second Test. Within a month Giddins was dropped.
Other birthdays
1891 Harry Smith (England)
1906 Keith Rigg (Australia)
1929 Paul Winslow (South Africa)
1930 Kit Raymond (Australia)
1955 Liaqat Ali (Pakistan)
1958 Monte Lynch (England)
1891 Harry Smith (England)
1906 Keith Rigg (Australia)
1929 Paul Winslow (South Africa)
1930 Kit Raymond (Australia)
1955 Liaqat Ali (Pakistan)
1958 Monte Lynch (England)