Born on this day, VVS Laxman transformed his career forever during the iconic Kolkata Test of March 2001. Once seen as an underachiever with an average below 30, he produced a majestic 281-run masterpiece that helped India turn the tables on Australia and end their 16-match winning streak.

Born on this day in 1877, Victor Trumper is often regarded as Australia’s finest batter before Don Bradman. Blessed with natural hand-eye coordination, Trumper was elegance personified. He thrived in tough conditions, producing masterpieces like his 104 on a sticky Old Trafford pitch in 1902 and his match-winning 159 against South Africa in 1910.

In a landmark ruling, three Pakistani cricketers — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir — were handed jail sentences for their role in the 2010 Lord’s Test spot-fixing scandal. Butt received two and a half years, Asif one year, and Amir six months. The players, already banned by the ICC, were tried in a London court for accepting corrupt payments and conspiring to cheat.

Born this year, Rod Marsh became one of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history. Known initially as “Iron Gloves” during his tough first series against England in 1970–71, Marsh refined his skills to form the legendary duo “c Marsh b Lillee”, which appears 95 times in Test history.

In one of the most dramatic moments in cricket history, Angelo Mathews became the first batter ever to be timed out in international cricket — and it happened during a World Cup match in Delhi.
As Mathews prepared to face Shakib Al Hasan, he noticed his helmet strap had broken and signaled for a replacement. But before he could get ready, Shakib — Bangladesh’s captain — appealed to the umpires.

Perhaps the greatest ODI innings ever played. When Glenn Maxwell walked out to bat against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup at Mumbai, Australia were tottering at 49 for 4 in the ninth over, chasing 292. Soon, they were 91 for 7, and the game looked done.

It was the start of Australia’s dominance in world cricket. At a packed Eden Gardens, David Boon anchored the innings with a composed 75, while Mike Veletta added a quickfire 45 to push the total to 253. England were cruising at 135/2 when Mike Gatting attempted a reverse sweep off Allan Border — only to top-edge it to Greg Dyer.

A day that forever belongs to Richard Hadlee. In the first Test at Brisbane, Hadlee produced a once-in-a-lifetime performance, claiming 9 for 52 in an innings and 15 for 123 in the match — still one of New Zealand’s greatest bowling feats. He even sacrificed a possible ten-wicket haul by taking a catch to give Vaughan Brown his maiden Test wicket — a true act of team spirit.

One of the most emotional days in cricket history came when South Africa played their first international match in 21 years, facing India in Calcutta. Global resistance to apartheid had kept South African cricket in isolation since their 1969-70 win over Australia. But just four months after rejoining the ICC, they began a hastily arranged tour with this one-dayer.

Born on this day in 1910, Dudley Nourse was one of South Africa’s most courageous and powerful batters. Famous for his incredible back-foot play and massive forearms, he crushed bowlers with pure timing and strength. Across 35 Tests between 1935 and 1951, he averaged an impressive 53, even though South Africa won only two of those matches.

On this day in 2014, Rohit Sharma produced one of the most extraordinary innings in cricket history, smashing a world-record 264 runs against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens. It was his comeback match after a finger injury, and he became the first batter ever to score two ODI double centuries (later adding a third in 2017).

Born on this day in 1971, Adam Gilchrist revolutionized the role of the wicketkeeper in Test cricket. When Ian Healy retired, many thought Australia would finally show weakness — instead, they unleashed Gilchrist, who combined sharp glovework with the firepower of a top-order batter. Averaging over 40 at a blistering strike rate, he was central to Steve Waugh’s dominant Australian side.

A memorable day in cricket history — two modern greats made their Test debut in the same match between Pakistan and India at Karachi. A 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, just 205 days into his 17th year, began his legendary journey, though his debut ended modestly on 15 — bowled by another debutant, Waqar Younis, who was just 17 himself.

Few sights in cricket history were as thrilling as Waqar Younis in his prime. Alongside Wasim Akram, he revolutionized reverse swing in the early 1990s, tormenting batters with toe-crushing yorkers. After bursting onto the scene against New Zealand in 1990-91, Waqar took 109 wickets in three years at an average of 18.07 and an incredible strike rate of 33.55 balls per wicket.

Aaron Finch, born this year, would become one of Australia’s most explosive limited-overs batters. He holds two of the top three T20I scores: 172 against Zimbabwe (2018) and 156 against England (2013), smashing 14 sixes in each innings. Later that week in 2013, he scored 148 off 114 balls against Scotland. Finch played a pivotal role in Australia’s 2015 World Cup-winning campaign, scoring a big hundred in the opening game.

The year 2000 marked the start of one of the most remarkable runs in Test cricket history. Andy Flower smashed an unbeaten 183 for Zimbabwe in the first Test against India in Delhi, and over the next 13 months, he accumulated 1,466 runs at an astonishing average of 133.27, including five hundreds and seven fifties.

Australia secured their sixth Men’s World Cup title with a thrilling six-wicket win over an unbeaten India in front of over 90,000 fans in Ahmedabad. Opener Travis Head was the hero, taking a match-turning diving catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma and then crafting a superb century in a recovery from 47 for 3.

On the final day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricketer to score 30,000 international runs. In the 44th over, he clipped an inswinger from Chanaka Welegedara to deep square leg for a single, bringing together his 12,777 Test runs, 17,178 ODI runs, and ten runs from his lone T20I to reach the record.

Joe Darling, born in 1870, went on to become one of Australia’s finest cricket captains, leading the team to victories in England in 1899 and 1902, and at home in 1901-02. Under his leadership, Australia lost only four of 21 Tests.

Mushtaq Mohammad, born in 1943, became the youngest Test player at 15 years and 124 days and the youngest Test centurion at 17 years and 82 days. A talented allrounder, he averaged nearly 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball. His finest performance came in Trinidad in 1976-77, scoring 121 and 56 and taking 5 for 28 and 3 for 69 to secure victory over the West Indies.

Gary Kirsten, born today, became one of the finest openers of his era through determination and skill. He debuted for South Africa in Australia in 1993, making 67 and 41 in a thrilling Sydney Test. His first Test century came two years later, but he soon showed his appetite for big scores, including a record-equalling 275 against England in 1999. Kirsten was also the first South African to surpass 5,000 Test runs.

Ian Terence Botham, born on this day, remains one of the most iconic figures in English cricket. His career was filled with unforgettable highs and notable lows, but nothing shines brighter than his legendary exploits in the 1981 Ashes — a series he practically won on his own. While his power hitting often gets the spotlight, Botham was also technically excellent.

One of the greatest women cricketers of all time, Jhulan Goswami was once the fastest bowler in the women’s game, regularly touching 120 kph. She played a huge role in India’s first-ever series win over England in 2006. Her career-best moment came in the Taunton Test, where she claimed a stunning 10 for 78.

A heartbreaking moment in Australian cricket unfolded when Kim Hughes resigned as captain in tears after West Indies crushed Australia by eight wickets in the Brisbane Test. His record — four wins in 28 matches — looked grim, but facing a West Indies side in the midst of ten straight Test victories was no shame.

The cricket world was shaken to its core when Phillip Hughes passed away at just 25. During a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney, Hughes was struck on the side of his head by a bouncer while attempting a hook shot. The blow caused a severe cerebral haemorrhage, and although he underwent emergency surgery after being rushed from the SCG, he never regained consciousness.

Australia welcomed one of its finest allrounders, Keith Miller, whose brilliance with both bat and ball made him a central figure in any all-time Australian XI. A dynamic batter who mostly played at No. 5 but could bat as high as No. 3, Miller was also a genuinely fast bowler, most dangerous off a short run. In only his second Test, he took 7 for 60 as Australia crushed England by an innings and 332 runs in Brisbane in 1946-47.

Pakistan’s highest run-getter, Younis Khan, was born today. He surpassed Javed Miandad’s record in 2015 against England in Abu Dhabi. Khan made a century on Test debut in 2000 and cemented his position at No. 3 four years later. Particularly prolific against India, he averaged nearly 90 and scored four hundreds in consecutive Tests, including a double-century. In 2009, he became the third Pakistani to hit a triple-century against Sri Lanka in Karachi.

Don Bradman made his Test debut against England in Brisbane, scoring just 18 and 1. At 20, he was a young newcomer alongside 46-year-old Bert Ironmonger, Australia’s oldest Test debutant at the time. Australia were heavily beaten by 675 runs, managing only 122 and 66 in their innings.