Cricketers Born on November 2

Irfan FazilPK
Irfan Fazil

44y / 1981

Batsman

Robert HaynesWI
Robert Haynes

71y / 1954

Batsman

Mohammad MunafPK
Mohammad Munaf

90y / 1935

All-rounder

Harry ElliottENG
Harry Elliott

134y / 1891

Wicket-keeper batsman

Paul HarrisZA
Paul Harris

47y / 1978

Bowler

Gerry AlexanderWI
Gerry Alexander

97y / 1928

Wicket-keeper batsman

Fred BakewellENG
Fred Bakewell

117y / 1908

Batsman

Mitchell JohnsonAU
Mitchell Johnson

44y / 1981

Bowler

Victor TrumperAU
Victor Trumper

148y / 1877

Batsman

Player Info

1877 – Birth of Victor Trumper, the Graceful Australian Genius

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. Though his Test average of 39 from 48 matches might not seem extraordinary, his timing, poise, and consistency under pressure defined his greatness. Deeply admired by fans, Trumper’s untimely death at 37 from Bright’s Disease drew an astonishing 250,000 mourners to his funeral.

1981 – The Fiery Mitchell Johnson is Born

Left-arm speedster Mitchell Johnson, born on this day in 1981, was handpicked for greatness by Dennis Lillee at just 17. Renowned for his blistering pace and aggression, Johnson became the fourth Australian left-arm pacer to surpass 100 Test wickets. His most iconic performance came during the 2013–14 Ashes, where he terrorized England’s batters, claiming 37 wickets at an incredible average of 13.97. He carried that form to South Africa, bagging 22 wickets in three Tests. Johnson retired in 2015 as one of Australia’s most feared fast bowlers.

2013 – Rohit Sharma’s Record-Breaking Double Century

On this day in 2013, Rohit Sharma stunned the cricketing world with a breathtaking 209 in Bangalore, leading India to a series-clinching win over Australia in a high-scoring ODI series. It was the third ODI double century by an Indian, following Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Australia’s James Faulkner nearly pulled off a miracle with a blazing 116 from 73 balls, but India prevailed. The match, which featured 38 sixes between both teams, perfectly summed up a series dominated by fearless batting.

1908 – The Unorthodox Fred Bakewell is Born

Fred Bakewell, born on this day in 1908, had one of the most unusual batting stances ever seen — hands wide apart on the handle and his body turned almost towards mid-on. Despite the odd style, he was an exceptional stroke-maker. In only his third Test, he scored a classy hundred against the West Indies. Sadly, his career ended prematurely after a car accident in 1936, just after scoring an unbeaten 241 for Northamptonshire. Bakewell was only 27 and passed away in 1983.

1928 – Birth of Gerry Alexander, the Keeper-Captain of West Indies

Gerry Alexander, born in 1928, was a skilled wicketkeeper and aggressive batter who captained the West Indies in 18 of his 25 Tests between 1957 and 1961. His finest performances came in the legendary 1960–61 series in Australia, where he scored a half-century in each Test and even struck his maiden century in Sydney. With 484 runs at 60.50, Alexander topped the West Indies averages for that series. A Cambridge graduate and talented footballer, he also represented England’s amateur football team.

1997 – South Africa Edge Pakistan in a Chaotic Thriller

In one of the most dramatic ODIs ever, South Africa defeated Pakistan by nine runs in Lahore during the Wills Golden Jubilee tournament. The match saw incredible collapses on both sides — South Africa were 192/3 before faltering, and Pakistan were reduced to 9/4 in reply after Shaun Pollock’s devastating spell. Despite heroic efforts from Inzamam-ul-Haq (85) and Azhar Mahmood (59*), Pakistan fell just short.

1978 – Birth of Paul Harris, South Africa’s Steady Left-Arm Spinner

Born in 1978, Paul Harris was one of South Africa’s few left-arm spinners to make a mark in Tests. Debuting in 2007 against India at age 28, he immediately impressed with four wickets in his first innings. His consistency that year earned him South Africa’s Player of the Year honors. However, with Imran Tahir’s emergence, Harris eventually lost his spot and retired in 2013.

1993 – Farewell Abdul Qadir, Hello Sanath Jayasuriya

A memorable ODI in Sharjah in 1993 marked two milestones — the retirement of Pakistan’s legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir and the rise of Sri Lanka’s explosive batter Sanath Jayasuriya. While Qadir signed off with 368 international wickets, Jayasuriya smashed a rapid 27-ball fifty, giving a glimpse of the fireworks that would define his future career.

1990 – Saleem Malik Spins Pakistan to Victory

In Lahore in 1990, Saleem Malik produced an unlikely match-winning spell of 5 for 35 against New Zealand in an ODI. His clever off-spin triggered repeated stumpings — three in total, a first in ODI history. Despite scoring just 17 runs, Malik’s bowling turned the match decisively in Pakistan’s favor.

2014 – Central Zone’s Duleep Trophy Comeback

The 2014 Duleep Trophy final in Delhi was one for the ages. Central Zone, despite conceding a 103-run first-innings lead, defeated South Zone by nine runs. On the final day, South Zone needed just 117 with nine wickets in hand, but a stunning collapse — triggered by Pankaj Singh’s early breakthroughs and superb spin from Jalaj Saxena, Ali Murtuza, and Piyush Chawla — saw them lose seven wickets for just 39 runs. It was Central Zone’s first title in a decade.

Last updated on: October 31, 2025