20 Aug 1930. Bradman hits 232
Read MoreAshes 1884: The Lyttelton Levity
August 12, 1884. Frustrated by the long Australian innings, Lord Harris asked the wicketkeeper, Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, to have a go. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the curious way lob bowling achieved its first ever success in Test cricket.
Read MoreAshes 1953: Robert Menzies hosts a party full of steaks, wine and poetry
June 27, 1953. On the evening of the third day of the Lord’s Test, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies threw a memorable party at The Savoy. Arunabha Sengupta takes a look at the fascinating evening that witnessed Menzies reading out his poetry about the Australian cricketers and captain Lindsay Hassett responding in kind.
Read MoreAshes 1956: Jim Laker takes 19 for 90
On 31 July 1956, in Manchester, Jim Laker single-handedly routed the Australians, taking 10 wickets in the second innings, making it 19 for the match. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the day that can be bettered by no bowler however hard he tries.
Read MoreAshes 1930: Bradman's 309 in a day
11 July 1930. Bradman scores 309 in a day
Read MoreAshes 1921: Lionel Tennyson bats one handed
4 July 1921. Lionel Tennyson bats one-handed in a Test match
Read MoreAshes 1972: Bob Massie's dream debut
26 June 1972. Bob Massie swung the ball prodigiously on debut to pick up eight wickets in the first innings. He followed it up with eight in the second. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the spectacular entry into Test cricket of a man who played at the top level for just seven months.
Read MoreAshes 1938: McCabe miracle at Trent Bridge
13 June 1938. McCabe miracle at Trent Bridge
Read MoreAshes 1932-33: Eddie Paynter steps out of the hospital to play a match winning innings
On February 13, 1933, Eddie Paynter got up from his hospital bed, took a taxi to the ground, got into the dressing room in his pyjamas, changed into his cricketing whites and proceeded to score a valiant 83. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at one of the most incredible tales of cricketing valour of all time.
Read MorePre-Ashes 1881-82: Betting and fixing as far back as that
December 20, 1881. Sensational events took place in the background as Victoria and the touring England sides played out a thriller on a sticky wicket. Arunabha Sengupta relates the story of allegations of match-fixing and rampant betting during the ‘pristine’ early years of international cricket.
Read More
Amar Singh bowling in Blackpool against the Australians. Note the leg-trap. Photo courtesy: Barry Valentine
Ashes 1938: The day Amar Singh shot the Australians out at Blackpool
August 31, 1938. A landmark day in the history of Indian cricket which no one remembers. The champion all-rounder Amar Singh was drafted from Lancashire League cricket to take on the might of the visiting Australians in a First-Class game and brought the visitors down on their knees. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the fantastic feat of fast bowling that is never recounted in the pages of history of Indian cricket.
Read MoreAshes 1924-25: Eight balls used before the score reaches 200
Melbourne 1924-25.The second Test of the series saw some splendid cricket over seven days. However, it was made unique by a peculiar mistake on the part of match officials. Arunabha Sengupta has the story behind the day eight new balls were used before the score had reached even 200.
Read MoreAshes 1948: The Don's final innings
August 14, 1948. England were skittled out for 52 by a lethal Ray Lindwall, following which Don Bradman fell for the most infamous duck in the history of cricket. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the day when the great man played his last Test innings, stopping short of 7,000 Test runs and an average of 100 by 4 runs.
Read MoreAshes 1958-59: England's pre-tour troubles with Jim Laker and Johnny Wardle
Even before the Marylebone Cricket Club(MCC) team set out for Australia, captain Peter May was plagued by multiple problems — especially in the spin department. Jim Laker almost withdrew after severe altercation with the skipper. And after the team was announced, Johnny Wardle’s name had to be erased in the after-shock of his issues with the Yorkshire management. Arunabha Sengupta traces the domestic problems before the foreign venture.
Read MoreAshes 1909: Warwick Armstrong keeps debutant Frank Woolley waiting for 19 minutes by bowling trial balls
August 10, 1909. As Frank Woolley waited to face his first ball in Test cricket at The Oval, Warwick Armstrong kept bowling trial deliveries for 19 minutes. Arunabha Sengupta relives the tactics that kept the young Kent batsman on tenterhooks leading to his cheap dismissal and prompted a change in the laws.
Read MoreAshes 1884-85: It was always about the money
The Australians wanted 50 per cent of the gate fee. The English thought it was preposterous. The first ever Test match to be played at Adelaide was almost called off. Arunabha Sengupta relates one of the darkest tales in Ashes history.
Read MoreAshes 1903-04: Plum Warner's Ashes conquering team defeated by ladies on a ship
October 29, 1903. Plum Warner’s England team would go on to win The Ashes 3-2 and triumph in 6 of the 9 First-Class tour games, drawing the other three. However, on this day, on board the Orontes, they were overcome by an eleven of lady passengers in a game of deck cricket. Arunabha Sengupta recounts the great match that was contested with a bishop performing the role of an umpire.
Read More