Historic Cricket Moments on November 12

Historic Cricket Moments on November 12

Cricketers Born on November 12

Shadab KabirPK
Shadab Kabir

48y / 1977

Batsman

Shakeel AhmedPK
Shakeel Ahmed

54y / 1971

Wicket-keeper batsman

Bharath ReddyIN
Bharath Reddy

71y / 1954

Wicket-keeper batsman

Ryan WatsonSCO
Ryan Watson

49y / 1976

Batsman

Dudley NourseZA
Dudley Nourse

115y / 1910

Batsman

Player Info

1910 – Birth of Dudley Nourse, South Africa’s Gritty Run-Machine

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. His finest moment came at Trent Bridge in 1951, where, batting with a pinned broken thumb, he fought for nearly ten hours to score a heroic 208 — a knock that ended South Africa’s 16-year wait for a Test victory. Dudley was the son of Dave Nourse, who also represented South Africa in 45 consecutive Tests. Dudley passed away in Durban in 1981.

2018 – Mushfiqur Rahim Creates History for Bangladesh

On this day in Dhaka, Mushfiqur Rahim etched his name in the record books by scoring an unbeaten 219, the highest individual Test score by a Bangladesh batter. He became the first wicketkeeper in Test history with two double centuries to his name. Mushfiqur faced a record 421 balls during Bangladesh’s massive total of 522/7 declared, leading his side to a dominant 218-run victory over Zimbabwe.

1995 – Hirwani’s Comeback Heroics in a Rain-Hit Test

After nearly five years out of the side, Narendra Hirwani made a dream return, taking 6 for 59 against New Zealand in Cuttack. Unfortunately, persistent monsoon rain allowed only 11 hours of play, forcing a draw. A side note from that match: Roger Twose finally got his first chance to bat in Test cricket — ten days into the match! He made a determined 36 from 170 balls, showing real grit even in a rain-affected game.

1984 – Miandad and Zakir Shine on a Tricky Peshawar Pitch

A poor surface in Peshawar set the stage for a Javed Miandad masterclass. In a rain-reduced 39-over match, Miandad anchored Pakistan with an unbeaten 80 as his team beat New Zealand by 46 runs. The debutant Zakir Khan was equally impressive, taking 4 for 19 to destroy New Zealand’s top order. Despite this memorable start, Zakir’s international career didn’t flourish — he ended with only 12 wickets from 16 more ODIs.

1993 – McGrath’s Debut and Slater’s Near-Century

The world saw a glimpse of greatness when Glenn McGrath made his Test debut in Perth against New Zealand. He bowled tirelessly, finishing with 2 wickets for 92 runs in 39 overs. The match was evenly contested — Andrew Jones scored 143 to give New Zealand a first-innings lead, but Australia hit back through Michael Slater (99) and Mark Taylor, who added 198 for the opening stand. In the end, the game ended in a draw, but McGrath’s journey to becoming one of the greatest fast bowlers had begun.

1976 – Birthday of Ryan Watson, Scotland’s Reliable All-Rounder

Born today, Ryan Watson became a key player for Scotland, particularly remembered for his 80 on ODI debut against Pakistan. Over his career, he scored one century and averaged 30 across 35 ODIs. In 2009, he stepped away from professional cricket to focus on his career outside the game, leaving behind a solid legacy as one of Scotland’s dependable middle-order batters.

1875 – “Ripe Strawberries Found in Wales”

Yes, you read that right! The Wisden Almanack once published this peculiar note back in 1877 to humorously counter the idea of climate change — even in the 19th century. Wisden was full of fascinating trivia then, like another gem from November 3, 1871, when explorer Henry Morton Stanley famously found Dr. David Livingstone in Africa. Cricket wasn’t the only discovery worth reporting in those days!

Last updated on: November 10, 2025