February 15 down the years
A cracking Melbourne finish
One of the game's classic series goes down to the wire
Alan Davidson hooks Wes Hall on a nail-biting final day in Melbourne in 1961 • PA Photos/Getty Images
1961
The end of probably the greatest Test series of all. Australia needed 258 to beat West Indies in the fifth Test, at the MCG, and take the series 2-1. At 154 for 2, it looked a formality, but Frank Worrell and Alf Valentine dragged West Indies back into it, and at 236 for 6 it was anyone's game. But the Aussies had "Slasher" Mackay coming in at No. 8, and with two wickets left, he and Johnny Martin scrambled the winning leg-bye just before the close of the penultimate day. A record crowd of 90,800 watched the second day of the Test. After such a mesmeric series, West Indies were bid goodbye in fitting fashion: a new trophy, for which the countries still compete, was established, bearing Worrell's name; and the whole team was given a tickertape farewell parade through Melbourne.
The end of probably the greatest Test series of all. Australia needed 258 to beat West Indies in the fifth Test, at the MCG, and take the series 2-1. At 154 for 2, it looked a formality, but Frank Worrell and Alf Valentine dragged West Indies back into it, and at 236 for 6 it was anyone's game. But the Aussies had "Slasher" Mackay coming in at No. 8, and with two wickets left, he and Johnny Martin scrambled the winning leg-bye just before the close of the penultimate day. A record crowd of 90,800 watched the second day of the Test. After such a mesmeric series, West Indies were bid goodbye in fitting fashion: a new trophy, for which the countries still compete, was established, bearing Worrell's name; and the whole team was given a tickertape farewell parade through Melbourne.
1956
Birth of Desmond Haynes, who with Gordon Greenidge formed one of the greatest opening partnerships of all time. They put together 16 century stands in Tests, with Haynes usually playing the sedate straight man to Greenidge's slayer. Haynes was also a superb one-day batter, a master at pacing an innings (11 of his 17 ODI centuries were unbeaten, and 16 of them came in a winning cause), and no West Indian had scored more than his 8648 ODI runs till Brian Lara overtook the mark. Haynes made three fifties in his first three Test innings, and also three hundreds in a row against England and Pakistan in 1990. He was a generally happy and popular character, but in his first Test as captain, covering for the injured Viv Richards, in Trinidad in 1990, he had a shouting match with Alec Stewart and denied England victory with blatant time-wasting tactics.
Birth of Desmond Haynes, who with Gordon Greenidge formed one of the greatest opening partnerships of all time. They put together 16 century stands in Tests, with Haynes usually playing the sedate straight man to Greenidge's slayer. Haynes was also a superb one-day batter, a master at pacing an innings (11 of his 17 ODI centuries were unbeaten, and 16 of them came in a winning cause), and no West Indian had scored more than his 8648 ODI runs till Brian Lara overtook the mark. Haynes made three fifties in his first three Test innings, and also three hundreds in a row against England and Pakistan in 1990. He was a generally happy and popular character, but in his first Test as captain, covering for the injured Viv Richards, in Trinidad in 1990, he had a shouting match with Alec Stewart and denied England victory with blatant time-wasting tactics.
1932
A one-day Test may be a contradiction, but - in real terms at least - that's what happened at the MCG on this day. Australia hammered South Africa by an innings, and the match (which because of bad weather was spread over three days) lasted only five hours, 53 minutes. The South Africans were routed for just 36 and 45, with left-arm spinner Bert Ironmonger taking 5 for 6 and 6 for 18: his 11 for 24 is the cheapest ten-wicket haul in a Test. Clarrie Grimmett couldn't even get a bowl. In all, there were 234 runs scored, the lowest aggregate in Test history for a complete match.
A one-day Test may be a contradiction, but - in real terms at least - that's what happened at the MCG on this day. Australia hammered South Africa by an innings, and the match (which because of bad weather was spread over three days) lasted only five hours, 53 minutes. The South Africans were routed for just 36 and 45, with left-arm spinner Bert Ironmonger taking 5 for 6 and 6 for 18: his 11 for 24 is the cheapest ten-wicket haul in a Test. Clarrie Grimmett couldn't even get a bowl. In all, there were 234 runs scored, the lowest aggregate in Test history for a complete match.
1921
One of the most remarkable bowling performances in Tests. Australia's Arthur Mailey took 9 for 121 as England slumped to an eight-wicket defeat in the fourth Test, in Melbourne. Mailey could have had the perfect ten, but a catch off the one batter to evade him - Patsy Hendren - was dropped.
One of the most remarkable bowling performances in Tests. Australia's Arthur Mailey took 9 for 121 as England slumped to an eight-wicket defeat in the fourth Test, in Melbourne. Mailey could have had the perfect ten, but a catch off the one batter to evade him - Patsy Hendren - was dropped.
1998
A Test century from a No. 10. Pat Symcox became only the third man to achieve the feat, and the first for 96 years, when he whacked 108 against Pakistan in Johannesburg on this day. He also added a Test-record 195 for the ninth wicket with Mark Boucher.
A Test century from a No. 10. Pat Symcox became only the third man to achieve the feat, and the first for 96 years, when he whacked 108 against Pakistan in Johannesburg on this day. He also added a Test-record 195 for the ninth wicket with Mark Boucher.
2014
After England, it was South Africa's turn to get blown away by the Mitchell Johnson menace. He took 12 for 127 - Australia's second-best match figures in South Africa - in the first Test, in Cape Town, to bowl them out for 206 and 200. Shaun Marsh, replacing the injured Shane Watson, made 148 on his comeback, and Steven Smith, also continuing his fine form from the Ashes, made 100. South Africa were inept not only against Johnson's pace but also in the field, giving David Warner four lives in his double-century stand with debutant Alex Doolan (89) in the second innings.
After England, it was South Africa's turn to get blown away by the Mitchell Johnson menace. He took 12 for 127 - Australia's second-best match figures in South Africa - in the first Test, in Cape Town, to bowl them out for 206 and 200. Shaun Marsh, replacing the injured Shane Watson, made 148 on his comeback, and Steven Smith, also continuing his fine form from the Ashes, made 100. South Africa were inept not only against Johnson's pace but also in the field, giving David Warner four lives in his double-century stand with debutant Alex Doolan (89) in the second innings.
1965
Birth of the niggardly South African seamer Craig Matthews, part of the fearsome foursome (Allan Donald, Fanie de Villiers and Brian McMillan were the others) who demolished England for 99 at Lord's in 1994. Matthews took 3 for 25 in that innings, and earlier in the match flashed an initiative-seizing 41 off 36 balls. His record was a good one - 52 wickets at 28 - but he played his last Test at the age of 30, against England in 1995-96. His final figures - 1 for 29 off 19 overs - summed up his thriftiness.
Birth of the niggardly South African seamer Craig Matthews, part of the fearsome foursome (Allan Donald, Fanie de Villiers and Brian McMillan were the others) who demolished England for 99 at Lord's in 1994. Matthews took 3 for 25 in that innings, and earlier in the match flashed an initiative-seizing 41 off 36 balls. His record was a good one - 52 wickets at 28 - but he played his last Test at the age of 30, against England in 1995-96. His final figures - 1 for 29 off 19 overs - summed up his thriftiness.
1993
Another thrashing for England on their horror tour of the subcontinent. They went down to India by an innings and 22 runs in the second Test, in Madras. Their captain, Graham Gooch, pulled out after eating a dodgy prawn curry, and England were never in the game once India piled up 560 for 6 declared. As in the first Test, there were 17 wickets for India's three spinners, Anil Kumble, Venkatapathy Raju and Rajesh Chauhan. There was also a first, and only, Test hundred for Chris Lewis - on his 25th birthday - but that was about all England had to cheer.
Another thrashing for England on their horror tour of the subcontinent. They went down to India by an innings and 22 runs in the second Test, in Madras. Their captain, Graham Gooch, pulled out after eating a dodgy prawn curry, and England were never in the game once India piled up 560 for 6 declared. As in the first Test, there were 17 wickets for India's three spinners, Anil Kumble, Venkatapathy Raju and Rajesh Chauhan. There was also a first, and only, Test hundred for Chris Lewis - on his 25th birthday - but that was about all England had to cheer.
1978
And moving further south, Geoff Boycott's second match in charge of England (Mike Brearley was at home nursing a broken arm) ended in their first-ever defeat by New Zealand, bowled out for 64 chasing 137.
And moving further south, Geoff Boycott's second match in charge of England (Mike Brearley was at home nursing a broken arm) ended in their first-ever defeat by New Zealand, bowled out for 64 chasing 137.
1992
Ian Botham's highest one-day score. Thrust up the order for the pre-World Cup one-day series in New Zealand, Botham belted a strapping 79 off 73 balls in the third match, in Christchurch, as England put the seal on an impressive clean sweep. Botham was one of the first pinch-hitters, and England carried their plan into the World Cup, although he only made one fifty. Typically enough, it was against Australia.
Ian Botham's highest one-day score. Thrust up the order for the pre-World Cup one-day series in New Zealand, Botham belted a strapping 79 off 73 balls in the third match, in Christchurch, as England put the seal on an impressive clean sweep. Botham was one of the first pinch-hitters, and England carried their plan into the World Cup, although he only made one fifty. Typically enough, it was against Australia.
1979
Hamish Marshall, who was born today, made his Test debut in 2000 in a rain-disrupted match in Johannesburg, but his second chance only came four years later. He made his one-day debut in between. His maiden Test hundred came against Australia in Christchurch in March 2005. Later in that series, in Auckland, his twin brother James made his Test debut, marking the first time identical twins have featured together in a Test XI. A month later, Hamish scored another hundred, against Sri Lanka in Napier. However, he struggled to keep his place in the ODI side, and though he got three games in the World Cup, he refused a national contract in 2007 to play domestic cricket in England as a local player. James' international career was even briefer, but he, too, had a robust domestic career.
Hamish Marshall, who was born today, made his Test debut in 2000 in a rain-disrupted match in Johannesburg, but his second chance only came four years later. He made his one-day debut in between. His maiden Test hundred came against Australia in Christchurch in March 2005. Later in that series, in Auckland, his twin brother James made his Test debut, marking the first time identical twins have featured together in a Test XI. A month later, Hamish scored another hundred, against Sri Lanka in Napier. However, he struggled to keep his place in the ODI side, and though he got three games in the World Cup, he refused a national contract in 2007 to play domestic cricket in England as a local player. James' international career was even briefer, but he, too, had a robust domestic career.