2002 – Shoaib Akhtar breaks the 100mph barrier
On this day, Shoaib Akhtar etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first bowler to officially breach the 100mph speed barrier. Clocked at 100.04mph (161kph) while bowling to Craig McMillan in an ODI against New Zealand in Lahore, it was a milestone moment. However, the ICC did not sanction the record due to lack of standardized measurement tools.
1996 – Robert Samuels scores maiden Test ton in style
West Indies’ Robert Samuels made his mark by reaching his maiden Test century in memorable fashion, smashing a straight six off Dipak Patel in Antigua. This landmark knock came in only his second Test and turned out to be his only hundred in a short career of just six Tests, making the moment all the more special and cherished by West Indies fans.
1993 – West Indies crush Pakistan to seal series
Pakistan's dreams of conquering the Caribbean were dashed as West Indies completed a 2-0 series whitewash with a dominant ten-wicket win in Barbados. Phil Simmons' explosive 87 and Desmond Haynes' century powered the hosts. Despite Basit Ali’s defiant unbeaten 92, it was West Indies’ 12th straight Test win at Bridgetown, a fortress of Caribbean cricket glory.
1989 – Birth of Hamish Rutherford
Hamish Rutherford, born on this day in 1989, burst onto the Test scene with a stunning 171 against England in Dunedin in 2013, one of the highest debut scores in Test history. Though hailed as a future star, consistency eluded him. He struggled to replicate his early success, managing just one more fifty before fading from the international arena.
1966 – Birth of Peter McIntyre
Australian legspinner Peter McIntyre was born today. Overshadowed by the legendary Shane Warne, McIntyre had limited opportunities but left a mark by dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in his final Test. He debuted in 1994-95 and returned for a one-off Test in India in 1996, but competition from Stuart MacGill meant his international career never quite took off.
1908 – Birth of Bill Copson
Bill Copson, born in 1908, was a red-haired fast-medium bowler known for dismissing Andy Sandham with his first ball in first-class cricket. A former coal miner, Copson was pivotal in Derbyshire’s only County Championship win in 1936, taking 160 wickets. He played three Tests across wartime and later became a respected umpire in English cricket.
1875 – Birth of Frederick Fane
Born today in 1875, Frederick Fane captained England in Tests during early tours to Australia and South Africa. Known for his stylish front-foot play, he scored a century in Johannesburg and partnered with Jack Hobbs in the latter’s debut Test. Fane played for Essex with distinction, amassing nearly 20,000 first-class runs over a long, celebrated career.
