Yuvraj Singh became the second batter, after Herschelle Gibbs, to hit six sixes in a single over in international cricket. This historic feat came during the World T20 match against England at Kingsmead, Durban. The unfortunate bowler on the receiving end was Stuart Broad. Motivated by a comment from Andrew Flintoff before the penultimate over, Yuvraj launched the first ball over cow corner. The second ball, measured at 111 yards, sailed over backward square leg; the third and fourth were rocketed over extra cover and point; the fifth cleared midwicket; and the sixth landed in the stands at long-on. The 36 runs from the over set the T20I record for most runs in an over, a record that stood until 2024 when Darius Visser of Samoa scored 39 off Vanuatu’s Nalin Nipiko.

One of cricket’s remarkable physical feats occurred when Dean Jones battled the extreme heat and humidity of Madras. Despite suffering nausea during his innings, he managed to score 210 runs in Australia’s first Test double-century in India, batting for eight and a half hours. In the second innings, he added 24 more crucial runs. This was part of only the second tied Test in cricket history.

Sussex ended a 103-year wait for their first Championship title, thanks to Murray Goodwin’s outstanding performance against Leicestershire at Hove. Goodwin scored a career-best 335, while Mushtaq Ahmed took 103 wickets in his debut season, driving the team’s success. Chris Adams contributed 102 runs and Tim Ambrose added 82 as Sussex amassed 614 for 4, leaving no doubt they were the season’s dominant team.

Wayne Clark, a bowler who faced suspicion for throwing during his career, was born. Despite Australia’s shortage of pace bowlers during the early Packer years, he played ten Tests, taking 44 wickets at an average of 28.72. Clark never took a five-wicket haul but claimed four wickets seven times. He later coached Yorkshire to the County Championship in 2001, their first title since 1968, and managed Western Australia until 2007.

Naimur Rahman, Bangladesh’s first Test captain, was born. In Bangladesh’s debut Test in 2000 in Dhaka, Rahman became the first Bangladeshi to take five wickets in an innings, claiming six wickets for 132 runs against India. Despite a second-innings collapse, his performance marked a milestone in Bangladesh cricket. Rahman had been playing ODIs since 1995, though with limited success.

Zimbabwean left-arm spinner Graeme Cremer was born. He debuted in the Test side at 18 and took six wickets in his first two Tests in Bangladesh in 2005. Cremer also shone in ODIs, taking 6 for 46 against Kenya on debut in 2009. He later captained Zimbabwe in limited-overs and Test matches, scored his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in 2016, and continued to achieve notable performances before moving to Dubai in 2019.

Durham won their third County Championship in six years, defeating Nottinghamshire by eight wickets at Chester-le-Street. Their tenth win of the season was dedicated to head coach Geoff Cook, who suffered a heart attack mid-season. Captain Paul Collingwood led the celebrations.

During a drawn Test in Harare, Stephen Fleming took his fifth catch in Zimbabwe’s first innings, matching a Test record set by Australia’s Vic Richardson in 1936. Fleming added two more catches in the second innings, bringing his match total to seven, equalling another record previously set by Greg Chappell in 1974.

Indian opener Aakash Chopra was born. Playing ten Tests between 2003 and 2004, Chopra was known for his stoic, watchful batting, a contrast to the attacking style of partner Virender Sehwag. Chopra scored two half-centuries in a single Test against New Zealand in Mohali, earning tours to Australia and Pakistan, though he was dropped after the 2004 home series. He later became a respected cricket commentator and writer.

Shahid Afridi’s 109 off just 94 balls set Pakistan on the path to victory over India in the Sahara Friendship Cup in Toronto. His innings helped Pakistan post 316 for 6 in 50 overs, securing a 3-1 lead in the series.