1963
The inaugural Gillette Cup final was also the first major one-day final to be played at Lord's. Sussex captain Ted Dexter took to the new form of the game like a bee to honey: the Wisden Almanack referred to his "superior tactics" in the final. A soft pitch restricted Sussex to 168 all out, but falling rain hampered Worcestershire even more: all out for 154, they lost by 14 runs. Sussex retained the cup the following year.

1871
One of the greatest allrounders, George Hirst, was born. Hirst did some yeoman work for England, hitting five fifties and taking five wickets in an innings four times, all against Australia, often away from home. He and his Yorkshire bowling partner Wilfred Rhodes won the 1902 Oval Test with a last-wicket stand of 15, although there may be no truth in the famous old story that they said "We'll get 'em in singles." Hirst is probably better known for his feats at county level, where he and Rhodes helped Yorkshire win the Championship three years in a row. He completed a unique double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets in 1906, when he was also the only player to achieve two hundreds and two five-wicket hauls in the same first-class match.

1894
Birth of the debonair batsmen Vic Richardson, whose Ronald Colman moustache was as conspicuous as his batting and fielding. Although he scored only one century and averaged just 23.53 in Test cricket, he played several valuable innings and was as brave as anyone against England's Bodyline bowling in 1932-33. He captained Australia to victory in the 1935-36 series in South Africa. At Durban, in his final Test, he held five catches in an innings, a world record that has been equalled but never broken. His six catches in the match was another Test best until one of his own grandsons bettered it. Greg Chappell took seven catches against England at Perth in 1974-75.

1959
Respected allrounder Kevan Curran was born. He was an important player with Gloucestershire and Northants, and although Test cricket passed him by, he was in the Zimbabwe team that played in the 1983 World Cup. In their opening match, their first official ODI, they shocked Australia at Trent Bridge. Curran scored 27 and took the vital wicket of Allan Border as Zimbabwe won by 13 runs.

1976
Birth of exciting but frustrating West Indies left-hander Wavell Hinds, whose Test career so far has been a real curate's egg. Some good scores, some irritating dismissals, and bad luck with umpiring decisions in the 2000 series in England. Against Pakistan at Bridgetown in 1999-2000, his 165 in only his fourth Test gave a glimpse of a potential that hasn't been fulfilled. Yet.

1945
Gritty allrounder and lay preacher Vic Pollard was born. Fiercely opposed to playing cricket on Sundays, he was a determined competitor on any other day. In his 32 Tests for New Zealand, he was an important member of a side fighting to establish itself as a force in the game. In his debut series, in England in 1965, he headed the batting averages with 56.20. In his last series, back in England in 1973, he averaged 100.66, scoring 116 at Trent Bridge, when New Zealand were set 479 to win and made a brave 440. An excellent fielder in the covers, he also took 40 Test wickets with his offspin.

1967
Dependable county batsman Steve James was born. Although he had a top score of only 36 in his two Tests for England, both in 1998, he made the highest score by any Glamorgan batsman - 309 not out - against Sussex at Colwyn Bay in 2000. He was made county captain in 2001.

1864
One man's meat was no-one's poison. South African wicketkeeper Ernest Austin "Barberton" Halliwell was born. He had an undistinguished Test career (11 dismissals in eight matches) but gave relief to fellow stumpers everywhere by introducing the habit of putting raw steak in his gloves to protect the hands.

Other birthdays
1857 John McIlwraith (Australia)
1914 Norman "Mandy" Mitchell-Innes (England)
1955 Azhar Khan (Pakistan)
1964 Nurul Abedin (Bangladesh)
1974 Alpesh Vadher (Kenya)

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