Cricketers Born on January 20

Robiul IslamBD
Robiul Islam

39y / 1986

Bowler

Aavishkar SalviIN
Aavishkar Salvi

44y / 1981

Bowler

Fazl-e-AkbarPK
Fazl-e-Akbar

45y / 1980

Bowler

David SewellNZ
David Sewell

48y / 1977

Bowler

Mark WaghENG
Mark Wagh

49y / 1976

Batsman

Shane GeorgeAU
Shane George

55y / 1970

All-rounder

Suru NayakIN
Suru Nayak

71y / 1954

Batsman

Ken CranstonENG
Ken Cranston

108y / 1917

Batsman

Younis AhmedPK
Younis Ahmed

78y / 1947

Batsman

Chris CowdreyENG
Chris Cowdrey

68y / 1957

Batsman

Mitchell MarshAU
Mitchell Marsh

34y / 1991

All-rounder

Navjot SidhuIN
Navjot Sidhu

62y / 1963

Batsman

Allan DonaldZA
Allan Donald

59y / 1966

Bowler

Virender SehwagIN
Virender Sehwag

47y / 1978

Batsman

Player Info

1977 – Birth of Paul Adams

Paul Adams, South Africa’s unorthodox left-arm spinner, was born. Known for an action famously described as “a frog in a blender”, Adams bamboozled England in a 1995–96 tour match and soon became South Africa’s youngest Test cricketer. However, Australia found a way to neutralize him a year later, and a lack of variation limited his effectiveness on even helpful pitches. He retired from first-class cricket in 2008 and later moved into coaching.

2014 – Pakistan’s Record Chase in Sharjah

In a dramatic Sharjah Test, Pakistan chased 302 — the fastest 300-plus run chase at the time — in just 57.3 overs to draw the series 1–1 with Sri Lanka. After four days of near-stagnation by Sri Lanka, Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed accelerated the scoring on day five, supported by Misbah-ul-Haq. Pakistan finished at a rate of 5.25 runs per over. Earlier, Sri Lanka had taken the second Test in Dubai, bowling Pakistan out cheaply for 165 in the first innings and winning by nine wickets.

1883 – England’s First Test Hat-Trick

Billy Bates became the first Englishman to claim a Test hat-trick, dismissing Australia’s Percy McDonnell and two Georges — Giffen and Bonnor — in consecutive deliveries at the MCG. Bates’s brilliance extended beyond the hat-trick: he took seven wickets in each innings and finished with match figures of 59.2–28–102–14, seven bowled. England secured an innings and 27-run victory, marking their first innings win in Test cricket.

1980 – Gavaskar and Kapil Lead India to Series Win

Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev powered India to their first series victory over Pakistan in 27 years. In the fifth Test in Madras, Gavaskar batted just under ten hours for 166, while Kapil Dev added a thumping 84, taking match figures to 11 for 136. India won by ten wickets, sealing an unassailable 2–0 lead with one match remaining.

1967 – Debut of Michael John Procter

Michael John Procter made his Test debut for South Africa, taking 3 for 27 and 4 for 71 as South Africa dominated Australia by eight wickets in Durban. Political restrictions limited him to just seven Tests, but he still claimed 41 wickets at an astonishing average of 15.02. Procter enjoyed a prolific first-class career with Gloucestershire, finishing with 1,417 wickets at an average of 19.

1968 – Birth of Junior Murray

Junior Murray, the first Grenadian to play Test cricket, was born. A talented wicketkeeper-batsman, he once scored a rapid 88-ball century against New Zealand in 1994–95 and was occasionally used as a Test opener without gloves. However, competition from Ridley Jacobs limited him to just two Tests for the West Indies, in 2002.

1908 – Birth of Ian Peebles

Ian Peebles, a rare Scottish leg-spinner, was born in Aberdeen. He played for Oxford University, Middlesex, and England in 13 Tests between 1927 and 1931. Peebles famously dismissed Don Bradman for 14 at Old Trafford in 1930, giving Bradman “a most unhappy experience”, according to Wisden. Later, Peebles became a respected cricket correspondent for the Sunday Times before passing away in Buckinghamshire in 1980.

Last updated on: February 2, 2026