Saturday 8 MarchThe squad will depart Johannesburg at 0915 on South African Airways flight SA 405, arriving into Port Elizabeth at 1030.There is no practice scheduled following the squad’s arrival. Media access will be co-ordinated upon request.Sunday 9 MarchThe squad will practice at St.George’s Park, Port Elizabeth from 1400. A media opportunity will follow that session.Monday 10 MarchSome members of the team will practice at St.George’s Park, Port Elizabeth from 1000. This is an optional session. A pre-match media conference will follow practice.Tuesday 11 MarchAustralia takes on New Zealand at St.George’s Park, Port Elizabeth in its second Super Six match of the tournament.Play commences at 1000.For further information please contact (in South Africa): – Jonathan Rose, ACB Media Manager, on +27 (0) 833 107 662.

BERBICE – Horrendous!That’s how Barbados captain Courtney Browne described the tactics of Guyana after a combination of rain, faulty covers, the hosts’ slow over-rate and fading light denied Barbados the opportunity of completing their first first-class victory in this country in 23 years.The tournament leaders were 17 runs away from victory, but with only two wickets in hand, when they accepted the umpires’ offer to go off because of fading light at 5:49 p.m. at the Albion Community Development Centre.Given almost the entire day to make 138, Barbados were 66 for three when play resumed at 4:30 p.m. following two significant interruptions for rain that accounted for the loss of 200 minutes on the final day of their fourth-round Carib Beer Series match.On resumption, the visitors needed another 72 runs from 24 overs, but the Guyanese bowled a mere 11 overs in an hour and 20 minutes, even with a spin bowler operating.At a rate of four minutes an over, 20 overs should have been bowled in that time.With the Guyanese seemingly delaying the game, Barbados’ batsmen took several risks and wickets fell at regular intervals.They were 121 for eight when umpires offered "light"."The sort of cricket the Guyanese displayed here was horrendous," Browne told NATIONSPORT."You can’t play cricket like that. It is supposed to be impossible to bowl nine overs in an hour, bowling with a fast bowler and a spinner. That is total madness."The Guyanese constantly made several field changes, held countless discussions among themselves, and leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo was often delayed by with mud on his boots or an apparent stomach ailment."I would say it wasn’t conducive to good cricket," Barbados coach Hendy Springer said."It is a matter for them, if they want to bowl four overs in an hour. Unsportsmanlike is not a word I want to use, but it was very negative."It’s not conducive to good West Indies cricket and that’s what the people participating in this tournament are aspiring to."Even so, both Browne and Springer felt Barbados should have long wrapped up the match to achieve their third win."We should have won the game in three days," Browne said. "We had a very poor third day – batting, bowling, fielding, whatever."Springer said the batsmen did not do well enough in the run-chase."It should not have come down to the fact that light was involved."We should have knocked the runs off a lot earlier. We lost some very soft wickets badly chasing those runs," he said.With the knowledge that the light would have been a factor, Barbados’ batsmen were drawn into aggressive strokes that caused their downfall.After Floyd Reifer and Ryan Hinds extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 59 in between the stoppages, Reifer (39) was bowled playing across a full-length ball from Nagamootoo.By now, it was 5:13 p.m. and 42 runs were required with six wickets in hand.Browne soon lifted a catch to long-off and Hinds, on the backfoot, was lbw for 29 to one that kept low from Nagamootoo.Once Ryan Hurley gave a catch to backward point and Ian Bradshaw was run out, the Bajans decided it would be a tall order for Dwayne Smith in the company of Sulieman Benn and with only Tino Best to come."I thought I did the best thing. I’ve played this cricket long enough and I knew that if we had batted any further on, we would have lost the game," Browne said, explaining why they accepted the umpires’ offer for light.The first sign of rain surfaced during the lunch break and light, persistent showers delayed the resumption after the break until 2:20 p.m.Only one over was bowled before a heavy shower drove the players off the field. When the covers were removed, there were wet spots on the pitch that required the use of fire and the application of grass to dry the affected areas.When it was all set for resumption, there was the unusual sight of batsmen emerging from the pavilion before the fielders. It was a sign that the Guyanese were going to take their time.At no stage did the hosts appear to have been cautioned or warned about their over-rate.Yet, when Barbados emergency fielder Antonio Thomas came out to middle to say something to Barbados’ ninth-wicket pair, he was stopped.

The 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup is behind us and Australia has captured its third title with an awesome, clinical and professional performance to blow India out of the final, almost as early as the first over bowled.By far the most professional team, and that includes management and administration, at the tournament, the Australians have shown everyone how the game should be played and run. Organised at all times they never showed any of the pressure that was obviously on them. They came to South Africa to play, enjoy and win playing a game almost unfamiliar to most of the other teams who from day one fought hard for second place.For the organisers it was a huge success that will benefit cricket worldwide and more so in South Africa where the game will, due to the exposure and hype around the country, grow in all areas.As ICC President Malcolm Gray said during the presentation ceremony at the final: “Forty-three days ago we placed the spirit of cricket in the hands of southern Africa. I thank you, the people of this outstanding country and enchanting continent for upholding and enhancing that spirit. You have helped write a glorious chapter, not only in the history of our sport but also in the history of southern Africa.”There were moments and memories during the tournament that will long stay with us. Five centuries in the first four games assured those that had been waiting in anticipation that they were in for something special.The opening ceremony was dwarfed by the brilliance of the Brian Lara hundred in the opening match against South Africa, a blow from which the hosts never recovered.In total 21 centuries were scored with Sourav Ganguly scoring three while 89 fifties were registered with Sachin Tendulkar scoring six.Batting records fell by the dozen. John Davison scored the fastest World Cup 100 in a 67-ball onslaught against West Indies, who replied with first Wavell Hinds scoring the fastest World Cup fifty in 24 balls, only to be eclipsed by Brian Lara getting there in 23 balls. It was a feast of runs that entertained the Centurion and SuperSport Park faithful.Sachin Tendulkar broke his own tournament record in scoring 673 runs at an average of 61.18 which included one century and six fifties.Australia also scored the highest total for a World Cup final when they destroyed the India attack, posting 359 for two wickets at the Wanderers.Surprisingly only one partnership record fell, that of the seventh wicket going to Ramnaresh Sarwan and Ridley Jacobs putting on 98 for West Indies against New Zealand.The South African pitches were not just made to order for the batsmen. The feast of runs was complemented by some brilliant bowling performances and groundstaff countrywide should be applauded for the pitches that were prepared.Who will forget the first three-ball innings hat-trick for Chaminda Vaas against Bangladesh or the Brett Lee hat-trick against Kenya?Glenn McGrath taking 7/15 for Australia against Namibia was nearly surpassed by compatriot Andy Bichel taking 7/20 as England capitulated, taking the two Australians to the top of the all-time World Cup bowling figures list.They were joined in the top ten by Shane Bond and Ashish Nehra, who shared figures of 6/23, and Vaas with 6/25. Vaas took 23 wickets during the tournament and was followed by Lee (22) and McGrath (21) as they eclipsed the previous World Cup record of 20 wickets.In the field Adam Gilchrist took six catches in the match against Namibia while Mohammad Kaif claimed four against Sri Lanka to go to the top of the record-fielding table.The spectators helped to make the tournament the success that it was. Who will forget the scenes as a full house of fanatical supporters from India and Pakistan filled SuperSport Park, keeping up relentless support for their respective teams?The full house at the Wanderers for the final built up an atmosphere that pictures can never describe. Flag-waving supporters from both India and Australia left local organisers hoping that it would soon be repeated.The minnows came to learn and left with a wealth of information and experience. They also left some scars on some of the more fancied teams as players like Canada’s Davison left massive dents in some bowling egos.The Netherlands will be remembered for the way they enjoyed the experience of playing on a stage that they knew they were not going to conquer. Maybe they were the only team to learn how to enjoy playing the game from the Australians.The disappointments of the tournament must be the South Africans. Starting as second favourites, and fancied to give the Australians a run for their money, they fell by the wayside with some tense, uninspiring, mediocre cricket. Given a last minute lifeline in the last first round match against Sri Lanka they even failed to accept the heavenly assistance that could have seen them through to the semi-finals.Apart from all the records and performances the most outstanding feature of the tournament to me was the way the Australians played this wonderful game of cricket. Winning makes it easy to enjoy the game, and at no stage did they panic. They smiled and encouraged each other in times of joy and despair as each player appeared to know exactly what was expected of him. Not even the loss of Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie could put them off their stride as they walked over all the opposition.Well done Australia, and thank you for a truly professional, enjoyable and memorable performance.

There’s just 20 days to go before the first brand new cricket competition for over thirty years, the Twenty20 Cup, hits off at The Rose Bowl, Southampton on Friday, 13th June.Billed as `twice the action , half the time’ , the new competition looks set to provide an entertaining evening of high scores plus some hard and fast action. With the honour of hosting the inaugural match, the Hampshire Cricket squad are in serious training to ensure that the competition gets off to a spectacular start.Here’s 20 things you may not know about the Twenty20 Cup:1. This is the first time a pop band has played at a county cricket match2. The 2 hours 45 minutes is precisely half the length of the previouslyshortest game in this country3. Over 200 first-class cricketers will take part in the competition4. A TV audience of 3 million is expected for the competition5. The batsmen will have just 90 seconds to get to the crease after awicket falls6. 48 matches will be played using 96 white balls7. The overall winners will receive £42,000 in prize money8. Mis-Teeq and D’Side will be playing live at The Rose Bowl’s opening match9. The Hampshire Hawks will face The Sussex Sharks in the opening match10. The competition theme tune `I don’t like cricket, I love it’ is a remakeof the 10cc `Dreadlock Holiday’ hit11. All Hampshire home games will start at 5.30pm12. Atomic Kitten will be playing live at the Trent Bridge final13. The best batsman, bowler and all-rounder in the competition will win,£500 each14. 250,000 spectators are expected overall15. Sky TV will have live coverage of The Rose Bowl match16. 1,920 overs are being scheduled for the whole competition17. Hampshire will be playing in their new black one-day clothing18. Fancy dress and face painting are being encouraged at the matches19. Tickets for the opening match at The Rose Bowl are £15 for adults and£10 for over 60s and under 16s20. United Colours of Sound’s leader singer’s auntie was the interiordesigner on Brian Lara’s house!Press contact: Jane Kerr – 07976 549705John Hughes – 07973 705773

The first NatWest Challenge match at Old Trafford went right down to the wire, but Pakistan just came out on top after quite a scare. Pakistan were cruising towards their target of 205, but the middle order capsized, as so often, under pressure from resolute bowling while chasing a total.The most impressive part for Pakistan was the commitment and attitude on the field, thanks to all the charged-up youngsters in the team. Except for the odd lapse, the overall fielding was outstanding. A brilliant catch by Yasir Hameed and Mohammad Sami’s direct hit were just two of the highlights. On top of all that, Rashid Latif managed his men astutely – the decision to bring on Mohammad Hafeez so early was one of many bold decisions.Past Pakistan sides have looked lost if the opposition got off to a quick start as England did at Old Trafford, but there was none of that this time as the youngsters fought back in style. Umar Gul was particularly impressive, which made the decision to give Azhar Mahmood the new ball even harder to understand. In Shoaib Akhtar’s absence Umar should have been the automatic choice as Sami’s new-ball partner, as he can make good use of the prominent seam early on.What was pleasing for Pakistan followers was the good show put up by the allrounders. Abdul Razzaq’s axing from the original squad seems to have fired him up, and he bowled a tight spell, something that had been lacking recently. Mahmood did better in his second spell, cutting down the loose balls and sticking to the basics. It will be tough if one of them has to step down now to accommodate Akhtar, who is eligible again after his two-match ban.The early-order batting – ironically the most inexperienced part of the line-up – was the most solid. Imran Nazir and Hafeez batted well, showing the right application at the start. Imran showed his usual flamboyance: he has not fully sorted out his footwork, but his good eye and timing were evident in all his strokes.It was refreshing to watch a Pakistan opening pair post a fifty partnership at last. And then came Yasir Hameed, well organised and orthodox at the crease, although he got out to a poor stroke against Ashley Giles. Yousuf Youhana’s disappointing run continued. He showed only a glimpse of a return to form before being run out. His running has always been poor, with a terrible habit of setting off without calling. His wicket is too valuable to be thrown away, and this is definitely an area for Javed Miandad, the coach, to work on.Pakistan’s batsmen have done well post-World Cup, but they now need to start converting promising beginnings into eighties, nineties and hundreds.

Sri Lanka’s Caribbean tour started under a cloud of criticism. The failureto qualify for the final of the Sharjah Cup and the Bank Alfalah Cup hadprompted a media bashing. Some of the more sleazy columnists felt soempowered that they even had the audacity to print wild (and whollyinaccurate) stories of player sex orgies in Dambulla.

Fickle advertisers sensed this despondent mood and slashed their cricketbudgets. Broadcasters did their sums and realised that to buy the televisionrights for the West Indies would be a huge financial gamble, surmising that no one wanted to advertise and few people would watch. They were better off showing their prime-time soap operas.But the Sri Lanka team responded. Thousands of kilometers away from home,they pulled together as a team. An indifferent batting performance wasfollowed by an inspired bowling effort in the first game. West Indies,cock-a-hoop after a trio of wins against Australia, lost the first game emphatically.

Then came Sri Lanka’s finest one-day run chase for years. This time thebowlers were collared, leaking 312 runs their 50 overs as Brian Lara cutloose. On the basis of recent form only the mentally unstable would havebetted their rupees on a Sri Lanka victory. But Sri Lanka marched home withfour wickets and three balls to spare thanks to a splendid 89 from UpulChandana and a hardworking fifty from Mahela Jayawardene.The third one-day international was lost but that matters little – who caresabout dead rubbers? After a post-World Cup slump, confidence had returned.The team was smiling once more. Of course, there were still areas ofconcern, particularly the batting and fielding, but there was light at theend of the tunnel.

It helped, of course, that Sri Lanka had settled upon the right combination.At Sharjah the selection – just five batsmen – was suicidal. During the BankAlfalah Cup it improved, with Tillakaratne Dilshan slipping into the middleorder and Romesh Kaluwitharana moving back up to the top. The introductionof Chandana in the West Indies, a move that stiffened the batting and perkedup the fielding, was the icing on the cake.Marvan Atapattu breathed a sign of relief afterwards, admitting that he hadbeen under real pressure since the unfathomable decision to spilt thecaptaincy. Finally, he felt more at ease and he celebrated in the openingTest, compiling his 11th hundred – another knock of high-elbowed eleganceand unflappable concentration.

Sri Lanka finished the first day in the box seat on 250 for 4. But althoughthey finished the Test on a high, as Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya knockedup an unbroken 126 run stand in the second innings, the middle three dayswere disappointing: the middle order crumbled on day two, the supportbowling lacked penetration, the fielding was sloppy, and Kaluwitharana’sglovework was erratic. Fortunately, the rains tipped down on day four,condemning the match to a draw.

So all is not entirely rosy, although the top order batting is gelling againwith the top four all in good form. Nevertheless, assuming the rains cloudssteer clear of Sabina Park, Sri Lanka can make history and win their firstCaribbean Test series. This Test marks the end of a grueling 14-month run ofnon-stop cricket and Sri Lanka’s players will hold nothing back as theycontemplate a four-month break from international action. They will want tosunbathe in glory not defeat.

Changes are being considered. Some radical. Kaluwitharana, who missed Laraon 94 and Omari Banks on 0, could be axed to allow Tillakaratne Dilshan intothe middle order. Kumar Sangakkara would then re-take the gloves. With sixspecialist batters in the side the management would then be more inclined tobolster the bowling, ditching Thilan Samaraweera for a third seamer -probably Dharshana Gamage. That would provide the bowling more teeth.But to win, of course, they must dismiss Lara early – the bete noire of SriLanka’s bowlers having scored 897 runs in the last four Tests between thetwo sides. If they can do that then they can win the series and take anotherimportant step up the confidence ladder.

Close Australia 121 for 2 (Langer 40*, Lehmann 51*) lead Bangladesh97 (Ashraful 23, McGrath 3-20, Lee 3-23) by 24 runs
Scorecard

The Australian crawl used to be the style that powered their swimmers to the top of the world rankings, but it was never a term meant to describe theirbatting against the minnows of world cricket. But that was what happened today in Darwin, when Australia cold-footed it to 121 for 2 by stumps – a lead of 24 – after Bangladesh had become the first Test side to score less than 100 at Test cricket’s newest outpost.For all but the last dozen or so overs, the Australian run rate sputtered along at around 2.5 an over, before climbing to 2.69. Coming from a side that has made scoring at a fast clip one of the cornerstones of their success – since the Ashes series of 2001, they have scored at 3.96per over – it was bizarre to watch.However, despite the loss of Matthew Hayden (11) and Ricky Ponting (10), Australia were in a formidable position with Justin Langer and Darren Lehmann at the crease, and the threat of Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and Martin Love to follow. Bangladesh will be thankful that the Marrara Oval has such a painfully slow outfield. While it denied them more runs, it frustrated the Australians as much, if not more.The Australians walked out to field wearing black armbands, in memory of Victoria stalwart John Scholes, who died earlier this week aged only 53.The Bangladeshis, as expected, struggled to cope with the experienced bowling attack when asked to bat first on a pitch of variable bounce. Poor techniquewas ruthlessly exposed, with several dismissals attributable to failing toget in line, leaving gaps between bat and pad or playing down the wrong line. Glenn McGrath added three scalps to lift his career haul to 428, while Brett Lee, despite an inconsistent spell, took 3 for 23.Mohammad Ashraful briefly suggested that he could provide the necessary solidity to the Bangladesh innings, but then, in the vital moments before lunch, he miscued a hook off the last ball of the first over of Glenn McGrath’s second spell, chipping it up for Jason Gillespie to take the catch behind square leg.The seventh-wicket pairing of the two Khaleds, Mashud and Mahmud, achievedthe highest partnership of the innings, adding 27. Mahmud relished successive fours off McGrath – a pull and a hook – but the bowler had the last word, breaking the stand by having Mashud leg before wicket.Mahmud followed soon after for 21, when an attempted cut off Stuart MacGill was top-edged to Adam Gilchrist. Gillespie and Brett Lee polished off the lower order. The Australian bowling bore the hallmarks of an out-of-season campaign but it was still too much for Test cricket’s newest boys.Lehmann’s half-century was his fifth in Tests, coming off 93 balls, whileLanger – who edged one from Kapali between Mashud and Habibul Bashar, at first slip, when he had made 35 – was unbeaten on 40 at the close.It proved a slow first day, and the tourists – after an embarrassing batting display – could feel well pleased about having forced the Australian batsmen to treat them with respect. How long that respect lasts will be the story of the second day.

India’s Board of Control for Cricket has confirmed that Ahmedabad will be the venue for the first Test against New Zealand, starting on October 8.As had earlier been anticipated, the game has been shifted from Green Park in Kanpur due to poor ground conditions there.There is doubt whether the recently re-laid pitch could be made ready in time while the outfield had been damaged by trucks clearing debris after a wall collapsed at the stadium.Kanpur will not feature on the international programme again until the problems at the ground had been sorted out, Indian cricket boss Jagmohan Dalmiya said yesterday.

Players, coaches and administrators querying umpiring decisions will be slapped with a code of conduct charge under changes made to local rulings in the code by New Zealand Cricket for the season of 2003-04. As reported by Wisden CricInfo recently it is part of a crackdown after players abused a privilege extended by umpires.Martin Snedden, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, said the change tothe code was necessary because the questioning of umpires’ decisions hadbecome standard practice in recent seasons and this had been having anegative effect on the game. “Over the last few years a trend has come into the game at all levels inwhich captains, players and coaches demand explanations from umpires inrelation to decisions made after appeals.”This practice of demanding explanations from umpires is usedextensively by players to build pressure on umpires and to sway futuredecision making. It’s fair to say that some umpires have encouraged this practice byproviding explanations and, at times, do so without even being asked.”To some extent this development has occurred in the belief that ithelps with player-umpire relationships and communications. However, this is often not the case and these explanations havefrequently led to displays of dissent, disagreement or dissatisfaction.”We have the support of the CPA and the first-class coaches who agreethat it is a fundamental principle of the rules of cricket and theSpirit of Cricket that the umpire is the sole and final arbiter and thattheir decisions must be accepted without question. The next part of the process is for us to properly educate the umpiresand the players, which we will do through their coaches, so that theyare aware of the new expectations before the season starts,” he said.Snedden also said that the new law would be applicable at all levels ofthe game, particularly club cricket. We are aware that poor on-field treatment and by player abuse leadsdirectly to a number of umpires being lost to the game every year. We are determined that this trend will not continue at any level of thegame and we will be working with our major associations to ensure thatthe new expectations of on-field behaviour will be upheld at all levelsof the game.”

All Today’s Yesterdays – September 21 down the yearsSeptember 20 | September 221963
In Swetes Village, Antigua, one of the great fast bowlers was born. Curtly Ambrose came into one of the finest teams in cricket history and left one of the most desperate, but throughout his 12 years at the top level he set the highest standards. With unrelenting accuracy allied to considerable seam movement and at times chilling hostility, Ambrose was the ultimate quick bowler, combining the mechanical virtues of a McGrath with the irresistible force of a Gillespie. He was the author of some of Test cricket’s most devastating spells: 8 for 45 to break England’s will at Bridgetown in 1990; 7 for 1 in 32 balls in the series decider at Perth in 1992-93; and most memorably of all, when the Wisden Almanack said he came “rampaging in as if on springs,” 6 for 24 as England were routed for 46 in Trinidad in 1994, stumps flying everywhere as a frenzied, cacophonous crowd bayed for English blood. In the summer of 2000 he became the fourth man to take 400 Test wickets before leaving Test cricket to a guard of honour and a standing ovation at The Oval.1902
The birth of cricket’s first real box-office allrounder, the West Indian Learie ‘Connie’ Constantine. A virile, muscular hitter, a bowler who in his prime was capable of fearsome pace, and a wonderfully elastic fielder – perhaps the greatest cover point in the history of the game – Constantine, the only man to clear the lime tree at Canterbury, was the prototype for the likes of Sobers and Botham. His Test record was modest – he averaged 19.24 with the bat and 30.10 with the ball – but, as is often the case with true entertainers, statistics do not tell half the story. He was idolised in Nelson, who he guided to an unprecedented eight Lancashire League titles in 10 years. But Constantine was more than just a mesmerizing cricketer: he wrote books; he was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple; he became an MP; he returned to England as High Commissioner for Trinidad and was awarded the MBE, knighted in 1962 and created a Life Peer before dying in Hampstead in 1971; posthumously he was awarded the Trinity Cross, his country’s highest honour.1959
He only played 11 Tests but Richard Ellison, who was born today, was the key man the last time England regained the Ashes, in 1985. Ellison took 10 for 104 at Edgbaston – memorably castling Allan Border in a spell of 4 for 1 late on the fourth evening – and 7 for 81 at The Oval as England clinched a 3-1 win with consecutive innings victories. With his military-medium pace and gentle late swing Ellison seemed to be the ultimate horse for an English course, but he would only play one more Test on home soil. His Test career was over at 26, just two months after he had become one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year and just nine after he had been England’s Ashes darling.1971
When John Crawley, who was born today, charmed the cricketing cognoscenti with a magnificent 109 to inflict on the touring 1993 Australians their only first-class defeat, he was just 21 and looked set for great things, but his Test career fell by the wayside. There were times when Crawley seemed to have cracked it – a brace of mature 70s in Australia in 1994-95, hundreds in consecutive Tests in 1996 and a thumping unbeaten 156 in Murali’s match at The Oval in 1998 – but a penchant for playing almost exclusively to leg left him exposed in the corridor, a weakness ruthlessly and predictably exploited by the likes of Ambrose and McGrath. He returned to the side in 2002 and made a century against India at Lord’s, and did not fare too badly on the winter tour of Australia, averaging 40 in three Tests.1893
Despite Steve Waugh’s best efforts there has still only been one Ashes whitewash in history, in 1920-21, and one of the key components of that triumph was born today. An aggressive right-hander, Clarence `Nip’ Pellew made successive hundreds in that series: 116 in Melbourne and 104 in Adelaide, both times batting at No. 7. He made 319 runs in the five Tests at 53.16 but a poor tour of England the following summer – he made only one fifty in seven innings despite Australia’s enduring omnipotence – meant he had played his last Test in Australia. Another failure in South Africa in 1921-22 was the last act of his 10-Test career.1996
Muttiah Muralitharan ended with match figures of 7 for 134 as Sri Lanka wrapped up a 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe with a comprehensive ten-wicket win in the second Test at the SSC in Colombo.1997
Pakistan flayed their way to a consolation five-wicket victory over India in the fifth one-day international in the Sahara Cup in Toronto, but the Indians still claimed the series 4-1. It was a good day for Ijaz Ahmed, who smashed a brutal 42-ball 60; less so for Indian seamer Abey Kuruvilla, who bore the brunt of Ijaz and Shahid Afridi’s new ball assault – they put on 109 for the first wicket in 11 overs – and conceded 80 from 9.5 wicketless overs.Other birthdays
1971 Adam Huckle (Zimbabwe)
1979 Chris Gayle (West Indies)