December 27, 1929. A young Don Bradman was nearing his century against Victoria when he was bowled by Harry ‘Bull’ Alexander. The legendary all-rounder Keith Miller had just turned 10, but was, by his own account, present in the ground that day. And also according to Miller that was the day the superstition surrounding 87 was born. Arunabha Sengupta looks at the facts and figures and tries to deduce what took place.