On This Day -- August 24, 1971: India Register First Test Win in England at The Oval

 

Zak Crawley's 267 second-highest maiden century by an England batsman

Zak Crawley's score 267, the second-highest maiden century by an England batsman and the seventh-highest overall. Only Tip Foster's 287 is a higher maiden hundred by an England player than Crawley's 267. Karun Nair's 303 not out is the only higher maiden century in the last 25 years.

Mohammad Azam Khan (born March 1, 1969, Karachi, Sindh) is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in one Test and 6 ODIs from 1996 to 1998.

Mohammad Azam Khan (born March 1, 1969, Karachi, Sindh) is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in one Test and 6 ODIs from 1996 to 1998. He also appeared in 120 first-calss matches and scored more than 6,000 runs at 36.37 average. 

 

Manny Martindale and Derek Sealy walk off at the end of the drawn Oval Test on August 22, 1939

This would rank in my top five cricket photos. Manny Martindale and Derek Sealy walk off at the end of the drawn Oval Test on August 22nd, 1939. There is something poignant in the lengthening shadows as this was to be the last Test for seven and a half years. The start of WW2 was less than a fortnight away and the West Indies tourists canceled the rest of their tour and returned home, Neither Martindale nor Sealy played Test cricket again, and this was Martindale's final first-class match.

Willie Watson Takes the Wicket of Chris Lewis in 1992 World Cup

 

1938 Old Trafford Test Match was washed out

Two diehard optimists finally prepare to head home after another day washed out during the 1938 Old Trafford Test where not a ball was bowled during the five days. In those times people paid to get in with no refunds and no guarantee of play. Few tickets were sold in advance. This was only the second Test to have been abandoned without a ball being bowled. The first was also between England and Australia and was also at Old Trafford in 1890. 

Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford

The News heading of Sunday Fictorial On August 18th, 1934 Bill Ponsford (266) and Don Bradman (244) added a world record 451 for Australia's 2nd wicket at The Oval, breaking their own record set at Leeds a month earlier. Newspaper speculation was rife that they could go on to total 1000 as it was they made 701.

Jim Laker Coming Back after Record Bowling Performance at Old Trafford in 1956

KS Ranjitsinhji - The Stylish Man

On August 22nd, 1896 KS Ranjitsinhji scored two hundred in a day for Sussex against Yorkshire at Hove. He made 100 in the first innings (resuming on 0* after a rain-affected second day) and when Sussex followed on saved the match with 125*.  Ranji, 23, who had made his Test debut the previous month, scored his first hundred in 90 minutes and his second in just under two hours. His achievement has never been matched. Matthew Elliott completed two hundred on the same day in 1995 but had resumed his first innings on 98, Stylish Man. We still have Ranji Trophy named after him. 

Pakistan Tour to England 1954

Pakistan's inaugural tour of England was a success for them as they drew the four-Test series 1-1 but it was a dreadfully wet summer with no fewer than seven days of the Test series completely washed out - three at Lord's, three at Old Trafford and one at The Oval in 1954.