October 5 is one of the most historic dates in the history of cricket. Because on this day, a World Cup-winning captain was born. Apart from that, some other special events and records were registered on this day. So let’s check out some notable facts on October 5.
1932: A test batting average of almost 50 in the first seven tests of your career is remarkable. But India’s Madhav Apte didn’t get many chances after that. Apte played seven tests between 1952 and 1953 and scored 542 runs at 49.27 with one hundred and three centuries. He didn’t play after that.
1940: Former Australian all-rounder Bob Cowper was born on this day. He was the first batter ever to score a triple century in test cricket. He made 307 against England at the MCG in 1965–66. Cowper played 27 Tests and scored 2061 runs at 46.84, with five centuries and 10 half-centuries.
1952: One of the finest all-rounders of all time was born today in Pakistan. It was none other than World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan who led this country to their maiden and only ODI World Cup win in 1992. He was a brilliant pacer and a tremendous lower-order batter who won many games for his country. Imran played 88 Tests and took 362 wickets at 22.81 and scored 3807 at 37.69, which is a difference of 15 in both averages. It put him in the category of the greatest all-rounders. In ODIs, he played 175 games, scored 3709 runs, and took 182 wickets.
1963: Former Australian bowler Tony Dodemaide was born. He was the first ODI bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut. Dodemaide made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 1988 and took 5/21. On his test debut against New Zealand in 1987, he made 50 runs batting at no. 9 and took 6/58. But despite this brilliant start, he played only 10 Tests and 24 ODIs and took 34 and 36 wickets, respectively.
1982: Pakistan registered a famous win over Australia in Faisalabad and took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Australia had six wickets in hand and needed to play the entire fifth day (follow-on) to draw the test. But Abdul Qadir’s 7/142 helped Pakistan dismiss Australia for 330, and they won by an innings and 3 runs.
1983: Bangladesh’s most successful ODI skipper, Mashrafe Mortaza, was born today. He led his country across formats, but it was in ODIs that he was at his best as captain and bowler. Mortaza took four wickets against India in the famous 2007 ODI World Cup win. He played 36 Tests, 220 ODIs, and 54 T20Is and took 390 wickets across formats.
1999: Spin all-rounder Washington Sundar was born. His first name was from his godfather, who was one of the reasons that he took up this sport. He started as a batter but later switched to off-spin. Sundar played a key role in India’s Gabba Test win over Australia.
2009: On this day, Australia won their second Champions Trophy in a row, beating New Zealand in the final in Centurion. Australia restricted New Zealand to 200/9 in the first inning and made 206/4 in 45.2 overs to win the tournament. Shane Watson made an unbeaten 105 with 10 fours and four sixes to lead his team to win.
2010: A famous 1-wicket win for India against Australia in the Kolkata Test, when VVS Laxman, suffering from a back spasm, led India to victory, India were set a target of 216 runs in one day and 17 overs. But at the end of the fourth day, India were 55/4. India kept losing wickets and were 124-8 when Laxman and Ishant Sharma (31) added 81 runs for the ninth wicket. But when India needed 11 runs, India lost Ishant, which brought Prgyan Ohja to the crease. Laxman was instructing Ohja and his runner Suresh Raina by shouting, and somehow India managed a 1-wicket win. Laxman made an unbeaten 73 off 79 balls.
2015: India registered their lowest T20I total at home. Against South Africa in Cuttack, they were bowled out for just 92 runs in 17.2 overs. Spectators started throwing bottles at the ground. The game was stopped twice, and police also got involved. Eventually, South Africa chased down the target in the 18th over and took a 2-0 lead in three T20Is.
October 5 Birthdays
1934 David Smith (England)
1961 Derek Stirling (New Zealand)
1964 Saradindu Mukherjee (India)
1968 Wayne Holdsworth (Australia)
1971 Ian Stanger (Scotland)
October 5 Debuts
1994 Damien Fleming (AUS)
2019 Bhanuka Rajapaksa (SL), Minod Bhanuka (SL)
2019 Colin Ackermann (NED)
2022 Raymon Reifer (WI), Yannick Cariah (WI)