On This Day March 9th Cricket History: Barry Richards' Short but Brilliant Test Career

Barry Richards playing a cover drive in a cricket match

Barry Richards in action, showcasing his elegant batting style during a first-class match

2014 – Australia vs South Africa Series Whitewash

South Africa completed their first series whitewash with a 4-0 victory over Australia in Port Elizabeth. Their dominant wins included margins of 170 runs, an innings and 129 runs, 307 runs, and 323 runs. However, due to apartheid, South Africa was banned from international cricket, and they did not play another Test for 22 years. This strong team, featuring Barry Richards, the Pollock brothers, Eddie Barlow, Denis Lindsay, and Mike Procter, remains one of cricket’s biggest "what ifs."

1970 – South Africa's Last Test Before Isolation

South Africa crushed Australia 4-0 in their final Test series before a 22-year exile due to apartheid. In the last match, Barry Richards and Lee Irvine hit centuries, while Mike Procter took nine wickets. Peter Pollock, unfortunately, pulled a hamstring and could not complete what turned out to be his last over in Test cricket.

1974 – Lawrence Rowe's Triple Century

Lawrence Rowe scored a dazzling 302 against England in Barbados, including 36 fours and a six. It was his first century outside his native Jamaica. Rowe had an unusual career: he averaged 70 in his first 13 Tests but only 26 in his last 17. This match was drawn, and Tony Greig became the first Englishman to score a century and take a five-for in the same Test.

1982 – Saleem Malik's Record Test Debut

At just 18 years and 328 days, Saleem Malik became the youngest batter to score a Test century on debut. His 100 came against Sri Lanka in Karachi, during their first-ever overseas Test. Sri Lanka fought well but collapsed on the final day. Malik’s record was later broken by Hamilton Masakadza and Mohammad Ashraful.

2002 – Sri Lanka Crowned Asian Test Champions

Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in Lahore by eight wickets to win the Asian Test Championship. Kumar Sangakkara scored his first double-century, giving Sri Lanka a huge first-innings lead. Muttiah Muralitharan took four wickets in each innings, and though Mohammad Sami took a hat-trick, Sri Lanka chased down a small target of 32 with ease.

1938 – Birth of Ijaz Butt

Pakistan cricketer and later PCB chairman Ijaz Butt was born. His cricket career was modest, but as board president, he became infamous for his controversial remarks, player bans, and chaotic administration.

2010 – Pakistan Cricket Team Overhaul

On his 72nd birthday, Ijaz Butt led one of the biggest shakeups in Pakistan cricket history. After a disastrous tour of Australia, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf were banned indefinitely, Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan received one-year bans, and Shahid Afridi, along with the Akmal brothers, was fined.

1998 – Fanie de Villiers' Farewell Test

South African pacer Fanie de Villiers played his last Test in Port Elizabeth and made it memorable with figures of 6 for 23 in the first innings against Pakistan. He finished with 85 wickets in 18 Tests at an outstanding average of 24.

1928 – Birth of Arthur Milton

Arthur Milton, one of the few cricketers to also represent England in football, was born. He played six Tests and scored a century on debut against New Zealand in 1958. Remarkably, he became the first English cricketer to remain on the field for an entire Test match.

1971 – India's Historic Test Win vs West Indies

India defeated West Indies for the first time in Test history, winning in Port-of-Spain. Sunil Gavaskar hit the winning runs, while Dilip Sardesai's century and S. Venkataraghavan's five-wicket haul sealed a memorable victory.

1964 – Birth of Greg Campbell

Australian fast bowler Greg Campbell, the uncle of Ricky Ponting, was born. He played four Tests, including a key role in Australia's 1989 Ashes triumph, before injuries forced him to retire.

2009 – Australia Avenges Home Defeat

Australia won the return series in South Africa 2-0, after suffering a rare home series defeat. Phil Hughes, who had made a duck on debut, bounced back with centuries in both innings in Durban. Australia set South Africa a mammoth target of 546, winning by 175 runs.

1985 – India Wins World Championship of Cricket

India beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the final of the World Championship of Cricket at the MCG. Kapil Dev and Chetan Sharma ripped through Pakistan's top order, while Ravi Shastri and Kris Srikkanth guided India to victory. Shastri was awarded an Audi car as the "Champion of Champions."

1987 – Birth of Suranga Lakmal

Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal was born. He made his ODI debut in 2009 and became a key Test bowler, with notable performances against Pakistan and South Africa.

1978 – Pakistan's Victory Over England at Hyderabad

Pakistan secured a thrilling Test victory over England in Hyderabad. Sarfraz Nawaz's deadly spell and Mushtaq Mohammad's leadership ensured a famous win.

1958 – Hanif Mohammad's Marathon Innings

Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad played one of the greatest defensive innings in Test history, scoring 337 in over 16 hours to save a match against the West Indies.