Cricketers Born on July 31

Jimmy CookZA
Jimmy Cook

72y / 1953

Batsman

Bill BrownAU
Bill Brown

113y / 1912

Batsman

Andrew HallZA
Andrew Hall

50y / 1975

All-rounder

Player Info

1956 – Jim Laker’s 19-Wicket Miracle at Old Trafford

One of the most astonishing feats in cricket history happened today. Jim Laker claimed 19 wickets in a single Test match—still a record. After taking 9 for 37 in Australia's first innings, he followed it up with all 10 in the second, finishing with 10 for 53. That's 19 out of 20 wickets—pure magic. His spin partner Tony Lock bowled 71 overs for just 1 wicket, but the game belonged entirely to Laker. Even Aussie skipper Ian Johnson admitted: "Laker's bowling will be remembered long after the pitch is forgotten."

1919 – Birth of Hemu Adhikari

A soldier and a cricketer, Hemu Adhikari's Test debut was delayed by WWII. A gutsy middle-order batter, he played just 21 Tests due to army duties but made a significant impact—especially with a century against West Indies and a record 109-run last-wicket stand against Pakistan. Post-retirement, he mentored legends like Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Kirmani, shaping the future of Indian cricket.

1953 – Jimmy Cook is Born

South African opener Jimmy Cook had to wait until he was 39 for his Test debut due to apartheid. Unfortunately, his debut lasted just one ball—dismissed by Kapil Dev. He played only two more Tests before retiring, later captaining Transvaal and moving into coaching.

1943 – Hedley Verity’s Passing

One of Yorkshire and England's finest left-arm spinners, Hedley Verity died today in a WWII prisoner-of-war camp. He once took 10 for 10 in a county match and famously claimed 14 wickets in a day to help England beat Australia at Lord's in 1934—their only win at the venue against the Aussies that century.

1973 – Frank Hayes’ Dream Debut, Then a Fade

Frank Hayes scored a century on Test debut against the mighty West Indies, but nerves got the better of him. He never scored more than 29 again in Test cricket, finishing with an average of just 15.25. Still, he once scored 34 runs in a single over and went on to become a maths and physics teacher.

1984 – Blackwash Incoming

West Indies went 4-0 up against England, en route to a 5-0 whitewash. Gordon Greenidge smashed his second double-century of the series, but it was Winston Davis who stole headlines—blasting a career-best 77 and breaking Paul Terry's arm with a brutal short ball. Terry bravely returned to help Allan Lamb reach his third century in three Tests, but it wasn't enough.

1975 – Andrew Hall Survives a Bullet, Then Thrives

Born this day, South African allrounder Andrew Hall survived being shot at point-blank range during a mugging in 1998. The bullet lodged in his hand, but he returned to cricket and scored 163 in a marathon innings against India in 2004. Hall retired after being dropped from the 2007 T20 World Cup squad and joined the rebel ICL soon after.

2017 – Moeen Ali’s Historic Hat-Trick

Moeen Ali sealed England's big win over South Africa at The Oval with a hat-trick—the first ever in a Test at that ground and the first by an England spinner in 79 years. Ben Stokes earlier smashed a crucial hundred, and debutant Toby Roland-Jones picked up five wickets as England cruised to a 239-run victory.

1800 – Eton vs Winchester Ends in Tragedy

In a school match at Lord's, Thomas Lloyd top-scored with 81 for Eton. Sadly, he caught a chill during the game and passed away shortly after. A haunting reminder of how different life—and cricket—was then.

1902 – Gubby Allen is Born

Sir Gubby Allen played for and later led England with distinction. He famously refused to bowl Bodyline in the 1932–33 Ashes and later became a powerful figure behind the scenes at Lord's.

1912 – Bill Brown is Born

Australian opener Bill Brown scored 206* at Lord's in 1938, carrying his bat through the innings. He also holds a unique place in history as the original "Mankad" victim, controversially run out backing up in 1947–48 against India.

2014 – England Snap a Winless Streak

England thumped India by 266 runs in the third Test at Southampton, ending a 10-match winless run. Moeen Ali starred with his maiden Test five-for (6 for 67), and skipper Alastair Cook silenced critics with two fifties. A crucial series-levelling win.

2015 – Three-Day Ashes Thriller

England took a 2-1 Ashes lead with a quickfire win at Edgbaston. On a pitch prepared using heat lamps typically used to grow cannabis, 27 wickets fell in two days! James Anderson and Steven Finn ran riot, while Ian Bell's twin fifties helped seal the match inside three days.

1982 – Blessing Mahwire is Born

Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Mahwire, born today, played 10 Tests between 2002 and 2006. Though never quite a frontline star, he fought through action concerns and served as Zimbabwe's players' union chief after retirement.

Last updated on: July 30, 2025