1972

The beginning of Massie’s match. When the Lord’s Test between England and Australia began, Bob Massie was just another nervous debutant – and one who had been rejected by Northants after a trial two years previously. Four days later he achieved cricketing immortality. Swinging the ball fiendishly in helpful conditions, Massie took 8 for 84 and 8 for 53, the best figures by a debutant until Narendra Hirwani destroyed West Indies in 1987-88. England simply had no answer. Massie’s figures were almost as impressive as his enormous sideburns. He was the talk of the town for the next few weeks, but he only played five more Tests. And within 18 months of his Test debut he was dropped by his state side, Western Australia.

1996

Almost five years after making his one-day debut, SouravGanguly stroked a sumptuous 131 on his Test debut, for India against England at Lord’s

1983

World Cup semi-final day,

surprise for England at Old Trafford, where India beat them by six wickets. England were restricted to 213 on a poor pitch – nobody topped Graeme Fowler’s 33 – and India cantered home with five overs to spare. Sandeep Patil, with what Wisden Cricket Monthly described as “a cascade of volatile drives”, was the match-winner; he completed a 32-ball fifty with the winning hit.

1983

In the other semi-final, Clive Lloyd won the toss – and West Indies the match. The two events weren’t entirely unrelated. Pakistan wobbled to 184 for 8 on a typically bouncy Oval surface, and West Indies eased home by eight wickets with 11 overs to spare.

 

 

SPORTSNASHA