February 26 down the years
Australia win their sixth T20 World Cup title
The unstoppable women's team beat South Africa in the 2023 final in Cape Town
Australia have won the 2018, 2020 and 2023 T20 World Cups • Gallo Images/Getty Images
2023
Australia won their sixth Women's T20 World Cup - and third in a row - beating South Africa by 19 runs in the final in Cape Town. Opener Beth Mooney, who top-scored in the 2020 final, was at it again, making an unbeaten 74 that took Australia to 156, after which their bowlers kept a stranglehold on the chase, conceding only 22 runs for a wicket in the powerplay. South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt led the fightback with 61 and a half-century partnership with Chloe Tryon but the chase lost steam after both batters fell in consecutive overs.
Australia won their sixth Women's T20 World Cup - and third in a row - beating South Africa by 19 runs in the final in Cape Town. Opener Beth Mooney, who top-scored in the 2020 final, was at it again, making an unbeaten 74 that took Australia to 156, after which their bowlers kept a stranglehold on the chase, conceding only 22 runs for a wicket in the powerplay. South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt led the fightback with 61 and a half-century partnership with Chloe Tryon but the chase lost steam after both batters fell in consecutive overs.
1925
The second of the Three Ws is born, in Barbados. Everton Weekes was a tremendously prolific batter for West Indies after making his debut against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48. He had a charming array of strokes all round the wicket. In 1948-49 he made a record five consecutive Test hundreds, and was only denied a sixth when he was rather controversially run out for 90 in Madras. Weekes got three in a row later in his career as well, against New Zealand in 1955-56, and ended with a mighty average of 58.62, which only George Headley among West Indians surpasses. He was knighted in 1995.
The second of the Three Ws is born, in Barbados. Everton Weekes was a tremendously prolific batter for West Indies after making his debut against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48. He had a charming array of strokes all round the wicket. In 1948-49 he made a record five consecutive Test hundreds, and was only denied a sixth when he was rather controversially run out for 90 in Madras. Weekes got three in a row later in his career as well, against New Zealand in 1955-56, and ended with a mighty average of 58.62, which only George Headley among West Indians surpasses. He was knighted in 1995.
1930
Talking of the great George Headley, his twin hundreds helped West Indies to their first Test win today, a thumping 289-run demolition of England in Georgetown. Headley cracked 114 and 112, while Learie Constantine finished England off with nine wickets.
Talking of the great George Headley, his twin hundreds helped West Indies to their first Test win today, a thumping 289-run demolition of England in Georgetown. Headley cracked 114 and 112, while Learie Constantine finished England off with nine wickets.
2024
A five-wicket win in an absorbing Test in Ranchi gave India a 3-1 series lead over England with a match to go. England had the upper hand two days in, with Joe Root's unbeaten hundred taking them to 353 - ominous for the conditions - after which they reduced India to 219 for 7, thanks to 20-year-old offspinner Shoaib Bashir, playing in his second Test. Then India's 23-year-old keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, also playing his second Test, batted out of his skin on a pitch with variable bounce. He scored 90 and his eighth-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav hauled India to within striking distance of England's total. R Ashwin and Kuldeep then bowled England out for 145. Even so, India's target of 192 was no easy task. Although their openers set up the chase, they lost five wickets for 36 runs before Jurel came to the rescue again, this time adding an unbroken 72 runs with Shubman Gill to seal the series.
A five-wicket win in an absorbing Test in Ranchi gave India a 3-1 series lead over England with a match to go. England had the upper hand two days in, with Joe Root's unbeaten hundred taking them to 353 - ominous for the conditions - after which they reduced India to 219 for 7, thanks to 20-year-old offspinner Shoaib Bashir, playing in his second Test. Then India's 23-year-old keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, also playing his second Test, batted out of his skin on a pitch with variable bounce. He scored 90 and his eighth-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav hauled India to within striking distance of England's total. R Ashwin and Kuldeep then bowled England out for 145. Even so, India's target of 192 was no easy task. Although their openers set up the chase, they lost five wickets for 36 runs before Jurel came to the rescue again, this time adding an unbroken 72 runs with Shubman Gill to seal the series.
1980
He's always included in that great bracket of 1980s allrounders, but Richard Hadlee actually only made two Test hundreds (compared to Botham's 14, Kapil's eight and Imran's six), and one of those was against Sri Lanka in Colombo. But the ton Hadlee scored against West Indies in Christchurch today was the real deal. He careered to his first Test hundred off 88 balls of the cleanest hitting against an attack that included Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft. It was the fifth bowler, Collis King, who really bore the brunt, though: he was left to nurse figures of 9-0-70-0.
He's always included in that great bracket of 1980s allrounders, but Richard Hadlee actually only made two Test hundreds (compared to Botham's 14, Kapil's eight and Imran's six), and one of those was against Sri Lanka in Colombo. But the ton Hadlee scored against West Indies in Christchurch today was the real deal. He careered to his first Test hundred off 88 balls of the cleanest hitting against an attack that included Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft. It was the fifth bowler, Collis King, who really bore the brunt, though: he was left to nurse figures of 9-0-70-0.
1922
Bill Johnston, who was born today, often played second fiddle to Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller in the post-war Australian side, but with 160 wickets at an average of 23, this was some back-up. Johnston flitted between left-arm seam and occasional spin, and set the tone for the Invincibles' all-conquering 1948 tour with 5 for 36 in the first innings of the first Test, at Trent Bridge. Johnston didn't have many pretensions to being a batter of quality, but he hung around long enough with Doug Ring to win a thriller by one wicket against West Indies at the MCG in 1951-52. And in England in 1953, thanks to 16 not-outs in 17 innings, he topped the averages with a lofty 102, despite a top score of 28.
Bill Johnston, who was born today, often played second fiddle to Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller in the post-war Australian side, but with 160 wickets at an average of 23, this was some back-up. Johnston flitted between left-arm seam and occasional spin, and set the tone for the Invincibles' all-conquering 1948 tour with 5 for 36 in the first innings of the first Test, at Trent Bridge. Johnston didn't have many pretensions to being a batter of quality, but he hung around long enough with Doug Ring to win a thriller by one wicket against West Indies at the MCG in 1951-52. And in England in 1953, thanks to 16 not-outs in 17 innings, he topped the averages with a lofty 102, despite a top score of 28.
1943
Alimuddin top-scored with 13 on his debut for Rajputana against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy semi-final. Nothing remarkable there, except that he was only 12 years and 73 days old at the time, the youngest person to play first-class cricket. He made 27 - the second-best effort by any of his side - second time round but Rajputana were hammered by an innings and 356 runs. Alimuddin went on to appear 25 times for Pakistan.
Alimuddin top-scored with 13 on his debut for Rajputana against Baroda in the Ranji Trophy semi-final. Nothing remarkable there, except that he was only 12 years and 73 days old at the time, the youngest person to play first-class cricket. He made 27 - the second-best effort by any of his side - second time round but Rajputana were hammered by an innings and 356 runs. Alimuddin went on to appear 25 times for Pakistan.
1993
At 1.51pm in the first Test in Christchurch on this day, Allan Border pulled Dipak Patel for four and became the top scorer in Test history, overtaking Sunil Gavaskar's aggregate of 10,122. He'd been made to wait after bagging the only pair of his first-class career in Australia's previous Test, against West Indies in Perth. Here, Border's 88 anchored Australia's 485, the third-highest Test total not to include a century, and it was enough for an innings win. Shane Warne took seven wickets, while Merv Hughes nailed the big one - Martin Crowe - in both innings. Border retired in 1994 with 11,174 runs, a record broken by Brian Lara in 2005.
At 1.51pm in the first Test in Christchurch on this day, Allan Border pulled Dipak Patel for four and became the top scorer in Test history, overtaking Sunil Gavaskar's aggregate of 10,122. He'd been made to wait after bagging the only pair of his first-class career in Australia's previous Test, against West Indies in Perth. Here, Border's 88 anchored Australia's 485, the third-highest Test total not to include a century, and it was enough for an innings win. Shane Warne took seven wickets, while Merv Hughes nailed the big one - Martin Crowe - in both innings. Border retired in 1994 with 11,174 runs, a record broken by Brian Lara in 2005.
1887
The first eight-for in Test history, by the great George Lohmann. His 8 for 35 helped demolish Australia for 84 at the SCG today, and in a match where all the other totals were bunched between 150 and 154, it was the key element in England's 71-run victory. In this short series Lohmann took 16 wickets at an average of 8.56: a fairy tale for most bowlers, but for him it was only just above (or below) average.
The first eight-for in Test history, by the great George Lohmann. His 8 for 35 helped demolish Australia for 84 at the SCG today, and in a match where all the other totals were bunched between 150 and 154, it was the key element in England's 71-run victory. In this short series Lohmann took 16 wickets at an average of 8.56: a fairy tale for most bowlers, but for him it was only just above (or below) average.
1992
South Africa's first World Cup match following their return to the international cricket fold, and they quickly confirmed they'd be no pushovers, by hammering the co-hosts Australia by nine wickets at the SCG. For Australia - whose World Cup defence was fast turning into a farce - nobody passed 27, and South Africa, with debutants Hansie Cronje and Jonty Rhodes playing a part with a run-out apiece, had no problems at all in getting to their target of 171.
South Africa's first World Cup match following their return to the international cricket fold, and they quickly confirmed they'd be no pushovers, by hammering the co-hosts Australia by nine wickets at the SCG. For Australia - whose World Cup defence was fast turning into a farce - nobody passed 27, and South Africa, with debutants Hansie Cronje and Jonty Rhodes playing a part with a run-out apiece, had no problems at all in getting to their target of 171.
2000
Not many teams beat India in a Test series in India. Today South Africa took a giant step towards becoming the first side to do so for 13 years with victory in the first Test, in Mumbai. It was a tense, low-scoring affair, and looked to be going India's way when they took a first-innings lead of 49. But Hansie Cronje dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for the fifth time in his career as India collapsed to 113. Chasing 163, South Africa were rocking at 128 for 6 when Mark Boucher seized the day: with Jacques Kallis a rock-solid anchor, Boucher whacked six boundaries in a 32-ball 27.
Not many teams beat India in a Test series in India. Today South Africa took a giant step towards becoming the first side to do so for 13 years with victory in the first Test, in Mumbai. It was a tense, low-scoring affair, and looked to be going India's way when they took a first-innings lead of 49. But Hansie Cronje dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for the fifth time in his career as India collapsed to 113. Chasing 163, South Africa were rocking at 128 for 6 when Mark Boucher seized the day: with Jacques Kallis a rock-solid anchor, Boucher whacked six boundaries in a 32-ball 27.
1982
Matt Prior, born in Johannesburg on this day, became the first England wicketkeeper to score a century on debut, in the drawn Test against West Indies at Lord's in 2007. Poor form after the series meant he was fighting for his spot, but Prior returned and played a big role in England's Ashes triumph in 2009, providing momentum-shifting cameos at No. 6, and pulling off a series of impressive catches and stumpings. He bettered that effort on the tour of Australia in 2010-11, claiming 23 catches in the series, and he went on to make 271 runs at 67.75 during England's 4-0 home triumph against India the following summer. His most memorable efforts came on the tour of New Zealand in 2013, especially when he saved the final Test, in Auckland, and the series, with a defiant, four-and-a-half hour 110.
Matt Prior, born in Johannesburg on this day, became the first England wicketkeeper to score a century on debut, in the drawn Test against West Indies at Lord's in 2007. Poor form after the series meant he was fighting for his spot, but Prior returned and played a big role in England's Ashes triumph in 2009, providing momentum-shifting cameos at No. 6, and pulling off a series of impressive catches and stumpings. He bettered that effort on the tour of Australia in 2010-11, claiming 23 catches in the series, and he went on to make 271 runs at 67.75 during England's 4-0 home triumph against India the following summer. His most memorable efforts came on the tour of New Zealand in 2013, especially when he saved the final Test, in Auckland, and the series, with a defiant, four-and-a-half hour 110.
2016
Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy for the 41st time, beating Saurashtra by an innings and 21 runs on a grassy pitch in Pune in three days. Dropped catches cost Saurashtra dear, as both Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad capitalised on their reprieves to score 117 and 88 respectively to build a first-innings lead that proved beyond Saurashtra. Shardul Thakur sealed the deal for Mumbai with a five-wicket haul to send the opposition crashing to 115.
Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy for the 41st time, beating Saurashtra by an innings and 21 runs on a grassy pitch in Pune in three days. Dropped catches cost Saurashtra dear, as both Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad capitalised on their reprieves to score 117 and 88 respectively to build a first-innings lead that proved beyond Saurashtra. Shardul Thakur sealed the deal for Mumbai with a five-wicket haul to send the opposition crashing to 115.
1991
Sri Lanka batter Kithuruwan Vithanage is born. The left-hander made his Test debut in Galle against Bangladesh in 2013, hitting 59 in a high-scoring draw. He scored his maiden Test century, against the same opposition the following year, in Mirpur. He was the vice-captain of the Under-19 side for the 2010 World Cup.
Sri Lanka batter Kithuruwan Vithanage is born. The left-hander made his Test debut in Galle against Bangladesh in 2013, hitting 59 in a high-scoring draw. He scored his maiden Test century, against the same opposition the following year, in Mirpur. He was the vice-captain of the Under-19 side for the 2010 World Cup.
Other birthdays
1851 Mordecai Sherwin (England)
1867 Charles Coventry (England)
1934 Ron Gaunt (Australia)
1941 Keith Thomson (New Zealand)
1965 Ross Dykes (New Zealand)
1971 Noel David (India)
1978 Louise Broadfoot (Australia)
1982 Venugopal Rao (India)
1851 Mordecai Sherwin (England)
1867 Charles Coventry (England)
1934 Ron Gaunt (Australia)
1941 Keith Thomson (New Zealand)
1965 Ross Dykes (New Zealand)
1971 Noel David (India)
1978 Louise Broadfoot (Australia)
1982 Venugopal Rao (India)