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July 19 down the years

A rare old day

Fred tucks into India... again

July 20 | July 18

Fred Trueman continued his reign of terror over the Indian batsmen © The Cricketer International

1952
A young and very fiery Fred Trueman continued his personal assault on India's batsmen. Trueman had grabbed 15 wickets in his first two Tests, and this time added a further 8 for 31 in the first innings at Old Trafford, as India crumbled to 58 all out. Tony Lock, making his debut, started the rot with a stunning catch at short leg to remove Vinoo Mankad, the first time Lock had touched the ball in Test cricket. He was then instrumental in bowling India out for 82 in the second innings, taking 4 for 36 in 9.3 overs as 22 wickets fell in the day. It would be 49 years until England next played Test cricket on July 19.

2003
The birth of a phenomenon. The Twenty20 Cup was still seen as a gimmick when it burst onto the English domestic scene in the summer of 2003. Bouncy castles, face-painting and speed-dating were some of the sideshows required to goad the punters through the county turnstiles, but for the first finals day at Trent Bridge, it was the cricket that reclaimed centre stage. Not even the appearance of the pop trio, Atomic Kitten, could distract from the totality of Surrey's victory. Adam Hollioake's men saw off Gloucestershire in the semis and Warwickshire in the final, and cricket - arguably - has never quite been the same since.

1993
The last day of first-class cricket for Ian Botham. Halfway through Durham's tour match against the Australians, Beefy announced that it would be his last. After terrorising them on and off the field for 15 years, it wouldn't have been right if he'd bowed out against anyone else. He made 32 and went wicketless, but Botham had another way of stealing the limelight: he kept wicket for the last over of the match without gloves or pads.

1993
While Botham was finishing up, Glen Chapple was flaying a century in 21 minutes and 27 balls - the fastest in first-class history. But you won't see it any record books. Chapple's hundred came against joke bowlers, Tony Cottey (6-0-121-0) and Matthew Maynard (6-0-110-1).

1955
Birth of the first Anglo-Indian to play for India. And fittingly, Roger Binny was at his best in English conditions. A steady medium-pacer and a capable batsman who opened in India's Golden Jubilee Test, Binny made little impact in his first four years of international cricket. But his career took off when he was selected for the World Cup in 1983. He saved India from elimination with a match-winning display against Australia at Chelmsford, and conceded just 23 runs from ten overs to help India to a stunning victory over West Indies in the final. Three years later, Binny was instrumental in England's Test series defeat, taking 5 for 40 in India's victory at Headingley.

1979
An injury-plagued fast bowler is born. When Dilhara Fernando burst onto the international scene, young and raw, he inspired hope that he would be the long-term replacement for Chaminda Vaas as the cutting edge of the pace attack. He has a well-disguised slower ball and can reverse-swing the ball as well but two stress fractures in 2004 hampered his career. One of his finest performances was when he took 6 for 27 to skittle England out for in an ODI at the Premadasa Stadium in 2007.

1982
England beat Pakistan by 73 runs in a one-day international to win the series 2-0. Mike Gatting top-scored with 76 and Ian Botham hit four sixes off Iqbal Qasim.

1877
Birth of fast bowler Arthur Fielder, who played six Tests for England, all against Australia. He took an heroic 6 for 82 (9 wickets in the match) in the narrow defeat at Sydney in 1907-08. In 1906 he became the only person to take all ten wickets in an innings for Players against Gentlemen at Lord's.

1876
John Gunn was born, another whose six Tests were all against Australia. A hard-working allrounder, he bowled 42 overs in taking 5 for 76 at Adelaide in 1901-02. His uncle William and brother George also played for England.

1899
No Ashes cricket whatsoever was played on July 19 in the entire 20th century. Before 2001, you have to rewind 102 years to Old Trafford, and the final day of a three-day draw. Earlier in the match, Tom Hayward top-scored with 130, Bill Bradley took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, and Australia's Monty Noble became the only batsman to score two Test match fifties on the same day.

Other birthdays
1899 John Nicolson (South Africa)
1920 Robert Christiani (West Indies)
1977 Ed Smith (England)
1979 Dilhara Fernando (Sri Lanka)
1981 David Bernard (West Indies)