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All Today’s Yesterdays – July 20 down the yearsJuly 19| July 211981
The most amazing day of a famously amazing Headingley Test. Ian Botham scored 145 of his 149 not out to give England an outside chance of beating Australia after following on, a chance Bob Willis took with his 8 for 43 the following day. This was also the day when England’s odds slipped out to 500-1, an offer that Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh couldn’t refuse. Then Botham and Graham Dilley gave it some humpty, and the rest is history.2000
On the first day of the match at Galle, an opening partnership of 193 between Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya set Sri Lanka on the way to their first Test win over South Africa. That only tells half the story, though. Jayasuriya bashed 148 off only 156 balls – imagine an Englishman doing that on the first day of a Test series – 96 of them in a scintillating morning session. Sri Lankan reached 522 – and then came Murali, who brushed South Africa to an innings defeat with 13 for 171.1990
In a one-day international at Trent Bridge, Robin Smith scored a hundred in 101 balls, but India won to take the Texaco Trophy for the first time. It was the story of the Judge’s life: all of his one-day hundreds came in England defeats. And only two of his nine Test hundreds came in English victories.1971
Controversial seam bowler Ed Giddins was born. He received an extensive ban for drug use, but took one five-wicket haul in Test cricket, against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2000. Two Tests and one wicket later, Giddins was dropped.1900
Birth of that famously combative Yorkshireman Maurice Leyland, who saved the best till last. His final Test innings of 187 was played during a partnership of 382 with Len Hutton at The Oval in 1938, still England’s highest stand for any wicket against Australia.1909
Birth of the confident and supremely patient Eric Rowan, who was often the mainstay of South Africa’s batting. Against England at Johannesburg in 1948-49, he batted for six hours on the last day to make an unbeaten 156 that saved the match. At Headingley in 1951 he followed his Test best 236 in the first innings with 60 not out in the second. His brother Athol also played for South Africa.Other birthdays
1911 Baqa Jilani (India)
1934 Doug Padgett (England)
1975 Atiq-uz-Zaman (Pakistan)
1976 Debasis Mohanty (India)

Flintoff- off to India Photo AFP

The Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is to fly out to India to join England’s tour party.Flintoff, who is currently in Australia with the England Academy side, is expected to arrive in Hyderabad by the weekend.Following England’s two-day warm-up game in Mumbai earlier this week, Coach Duncan Fletcher has decided his side may need to go into the first Test at Mohali on December 3rd with five bowlers.There is also concern about the Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White, who is still progressing towards full fitness after a knee injury.”The process is now in motion to bring Andrew Flintoff over here,” Fletcher said.”We want to cover all bases and we feel we need five bowlers. With the inexperienced attack we have here it would be high risk to go into a Test match with just four bowlers – that could be high risk in England.”Craig didn’t want to let us down and we had intended for him to be either our second or third seamer. Flintoff was with us in Zimbabwe and he made a big impression on us, bowling very fast.”

The new points system proposed for the Ranji Trophy by the Anil Kumble-led technical committee in May will not be implemented for the 2015-16 season, as the BCCI’s working committee is yet to discuss the system. The working committee was due to look into the proposal on August 28, but then that meeting was adjourned within minutes due to N Srinivasan’s presence.The technical committee had proposed major changes to the points system, the most prominent amendment being to do away with points for the first-innings lead. That decision had raised a few eyebrows, with some of the BCCI member units expressing apprehension over the possibility of both teams earning no points after a four-day game. As a result, the proposal was to be looked into by the working committee.But the working committee meeting on August 28 was adjourned due to confusion surrounding Srinivasan’s attendance – despite being requested to stay away from the meeting due to his complicated legal status, he attended in his capacity as Tamil Nadu Cricket Association head.As a result, the BCCI now has no option but to stick to last season’s points system.Quick comment – BCCI makes its priorities clearCricketers make a proposal. Four months and ten days later, just two days before the start of a new season, it emerges nobody has even debated that proposal.At times of crisis, when you can’t possibly look after everything, your priorities become clear. The BCCI administrators, who spare no money or effort in calling “emergent” meetings and hiring high-profile lawyers to stay in power to “safeguard the interests of the game,” have made their priorities clear.In the interest of the game a technical committee, comprising men of integrity and cricketing acumen and led by Anil Kumble, suggested this change to the points system to reward positive cricket in India’s premier domestic tournament. The BCCI power struggle, though, has successfully managed to push this into the background. A meeting where the ratification of the new system would have been debated was adjourned because N Srinivasan decided to land up, but no one found it fitting to find a way to discuss the new points system before the start of the Ranji season.You won’t find such a lackadaisical approach towards finding Jagmohan Dalmiya’s successor as BCCI president. A special general meeting has already been called within the deadline. Sticklers to the BCCI constitution will point to the clause that deals with deadlines for calling such meetings, but isn’t the start of a new season a deadline for a matter as crucial as a points system? By Sidharth Monga

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has dropped a teasing injury update concerning the return of midfielder David Turnbull.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, the 56-year-old Bhoys manager revealed that the 22-year-old, who has not featured for the Hoops since the 3-1 Scottish League Cup final victory over Hibernian back in December, is finally close to recovering from his hamstring injury – with the Scotland international expected to rejoin first-team training in the not too distant future.

Speaking about the current condition of Turnbull, Postecoglou said: “Turnbull is almost back training.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how important a part of Postecoglou’s side Turnbull had proven to be earlier this season, the news that the 22-year-old is finally close to making a return to first-team action is sure to have left the Parkhead faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 18 Premiership appearances in the current campaign, the £5.85m-rated attacking midfielder has been in breathtaking form for the Bhoys, scoring five goals, registering four assists and creating seven big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 4.1 key passes – the most of any player in the league – and taking 3.7 shots – the second-most in the division – per game.

These returns have seen the £14k-per-week Scotsman average an almost unbelievable SofaScore match rating of 7.87, ranking him as the best player in the top flight of Scottish football.

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As such, while Celtic have been on an incredibly impressive run of form without the former Motherwell midfield maestro – remaining undefeated in their last 21 league fixtures, only three of which have been draws – it is clear for all to see that the return of Turnbull will undoubtedly provide the Hoops’ hopes of going on to reclaim their Premiership crown with a major boost.

In other news: Forget Scales: “Really Poor” Celtic dud with 30 touches made Ange look foolish vs Bodo

Justin Langer struggled as he watched Matthew Hayden bat with a new partner © Getty Images

Justin Langer has revealed watching Phil Jaques head out to bat against Sri Lanka with his former Test opening partner Matthew Hayden was painful. Langer quit in January after the Ashes and he revealed that seeing Jaques take his place was “quite emotional”.”It was the first time since I’d announced my retirement that I realised that that was it, particularly the moment I saw Haydos and Phil Jaques walk across the white line,” Langer said during Western Australia’s Pura Cup match against South Australia in Adelaide. “That was quite an emotional time for me, but life goes on and I’m sure the decision I made was the right one. But having done it for so long – people know how passionate I was about playing for Australia – that was an emotional first morning.”However, he took pleasure in seeing the heat on Jaques and Chris Rogers, who were vying for the opener’s spot, and it was a relief for Langer not to be in the media spotlight for the first time in 10 years. “That was quite nice for me,” he said. “It was interesting to see both of them struggling [in domestic cricket] and I’m sure it was because they were putting so much pressure on themselves. Having lived through that, I was watching with a smile rather than having to worry too much about it.”Jaques has reserved his place for now, with two centuries and a fifty in his three innings against Sri Lanka. He has impressed his predecessor, too. “His insatiable hunger for runs – that’s the thing that strikes me most about him,” he said. “He’s shown it in Test cricket, but whether he plays club cricket or state cricket or county cricket, he makes so many runs. You see the great sportsmen – [Roger] Federer playing tennis – and Phil Jaques watches the ball so closely, and that’s the sign of a very good player.”Langer, meanwhile, is happy to be enjoying domestic cricket away from the Test arena. He captained Somerset to promotion in the County Championship over the winter, and is happy in the Warriors’ set-up. Tom Moody, Langer’s new coach and old friend, who is godfather to his third daughter, has helped change the mood of the squad.”We’ve been mates a long time and we’ve played together, so it’s nice to be playing in this very professional environment again,” he said. “It’s been something Western Australian cricket has probably lacked for a long time, and it’s just brilliant to be playing in this environment again.”

Langer and Hayden both scored hundreds at The Oval in 2005. © Getty Images

A new year will not neccessarily bring a new dawn for England, but it does mean that five lucky readers are filling their boots with our fantastic competiton prizes. There’s something for everyone, with DVD highlights (or lowlights depending where you’re from) of the Adelaide Test, EA’s Cricket 07, and, of course, those stalwarts of the Ashes competiton world Beefy and Boony.To win these two jokers, the DVD and the game all you had to do was answer correctly our exceedingly simple question:As at January 2, when was the last time hundreds were made by both openers in an Ashes Test – and which pair struck them? The answer of course was Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden at The Oval in 2005.Here are the lucky five.Greg Chaff, Charlestown, Queensland, Australia
Melanie Beer, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia
Chandru Boopalam, Michigan, USA
Darren Thompson, Adelaide, South Australia
David Nethery, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Well done to those five – prizes are on their way quicker than you can say ‘Skippy the bush kangaroo’ . Thankyou all for playing, good night and good luck.But don’t worry if you didn’t win this time … there’ll be more competitions coming up during the one-day series which also includes New Zealand. Well done everyone.

Honours were even on the first day of the second-round Patrons Trophy Cricket Championship Quadrangular Stage match between Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday.With Hasan Raza, the captain, having to retire hurt early in the innings, Habib Bank were lifted by useful partnerships along the way before their last wicket fell at 261. In nine balls, the National Bank openers had scored two runs at stumps.Abdur Rehman, the left-handed allrounder from Sialkot, hit 96 off 140 balls in just over three hours with 10 fours and a six. Rafatullah Mohmand, the opener, scored 41 while Farhan Adil scored 38. Humayun Farhat chipped in with a quick 34 off 46 deliveries that included six fours.The National Bank bowlers, on the other hand, also did themselves proud. Wasim Khan took 4 for 44 while Mansoor Amjad, the legspinner, picked up 3 for 63. Two wickets were taken by Imran Javed, the allrounder who is playing in his first match of the season.Asif Mujtaba and Faisal Iqbal, the captain, came to the rescue of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), on the opening dayof their second-round match against Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), at the Khan Research Laboratories Stadium on Saturday.After being two wickets down with only nine on the board PIA, having been put in to bat, reached a comfortable score of 243 for 4 at stumps. Faisal was still at the crease with an unbeaten 80,made off 145 balls in just over three hours, with 10 boundaries.Kamran Sajid and Bazid Khan, the openers, were dismissed by PTCL’s in-form pace bowler Tahir Mughal. PIA were then lifted by the 82-run third-wicket partnership between Ghulam Ali and Asif Mujtaba, who contributed 44 and 65 respectively. Faisal and Mujtaba then added an invaluable 102 runs for the fourth wicket. After Mujtaba’s dismissal, Faisal found an able partner in Mahmood Hamid, as the unbroken fifth-wicket stand realised 50 runs.

Duncan Fletcher: happy as England coach© Getty Images

Duncan Fletcher says he has no thoughts of applying for the role of South Africa coach, which will be advertised this week. Fletcher, who has coached England for more than five years, rejected the notion of applying for the role currently held by Ray Jennings.”I’m not applying for it,” Fletcher told a news conference in East London, where he is preparing England for the fifth ODI. “I’m with England and I’m happy to be with them.”Jennings took charge of South Africa on a temporary basis after Eric Simons stepped down in October 2004. Jennings will remain in the post until South Africa have finished touring West Indies in May, when a permanent coach will be appointed.It has been rumoured that Jennings may not apply for the post in the light of reports that the captain Graeme Smith favours the Australian Steve Waugh to take up the role. But Jennings insisted that an application could be on the cards if he won the backing of his players.”I will speak to the players and if they want me as a leader I will re-apply,” Jennings said. “It’s all about the players.” He rejected suggestions that he and Smith had issues. “He’s young and exciting, I challenge him and he challenges me,” he added. “He sent me a text message yesterday saying: ‘Coach, you’re a champion’.”

England 111 for 3 (Solanki 50) beat South Africa 107 (Anderson 3-50, Gough 2-9) by seven wickets

Darren Gough: too good for a distracted Jacques Kallis

England added the NatWest Series trophy to their cabinet with a crushing seven-wicket win over a demoralised South Africa at Lord’s. England’s bowlers skittled a sorry South Africa for only 107 – their fourth-lowest score in one-day internationals and their lowest against England – as what promised to be a classic turned out to be a cake-walk.Michael Vaughan’s decision to field first proved to be a masterstroke as James Anderson and Darren Gough again led from the front for England, making the best of the early bowling conditions in a display fit for any final. The pitch held no demons, but South Africa never recovered from a disastrous start, showing no fight against controlled and disciplined bowling from England – in which even Ashley Giles took a wicket. It was an unworthy display from South Africa, as the pressure and the big-match nerves got the better of them.The tone of the day was set as early as the third over when Smith, who was dropped second ball of the match, edged a beauty of an awaycutter to Marcus Trescothick at first slip (10 for 1). It’s been a nightmare series for Herschelle Gibbs – 117 runs from seven innings, even allowing for a 93 not out – and he again looked as if he had two left feet as his touch and timing still eluded him. And Gough put him out of his misery in the eighth over when he nicked a full outswinger to Chris Read, the wicketkeeper, for 9 (30 for 2).Morne van Wyk, making his international debut, came in at No. 3 and was understandably a touch nervy. And after he gave Anderson a bit of stick, he was cleaned up with a fullish ball which cut back and beat his expansive drive (39 for 3).England had dug South Africa in to a deep hole, and not even South Africa’s man of the moment, Jacques Kallis, could get them out of it. Kallis is to fly back to South Africa tonight for family reasons and his mind looked to be elsewhere in his short and subdued stay at the crease. Gough continued his controlled line in a remarkable opening spell of 2 for 9 from seven overs, and he got one to leave Kallis, who edged it through for Read to take a good tumbling catch (43 for 4). It was a forgettable 12-ball duck for Kallis, and a forgettable start for South Africa.Jacques Rudolph and Mark Boucher did their best to rebuild the ruins and they put together a partnership of 32 – the highest of the innings – before Rudolph was snaffled by Andrew Flintoff (75 for 5). While England had fought hard for their early wickets with attacking, yet controlled, seam bowling, Boucher then gave his wicket away. He played a lazy drive to a wide Richard Johnson delivery to give Read his fourth victim of the innings and leave South Africa in even deeper trouble (75 for 6).And, believe it or not, it got even worse as the middle and lower-order self-destructed with mindless shots when they should have been looking to eek out runs on a good batting track. Martin van Jaarsveld and Shaun Pollock put on a valuable 27 including a few handsome fours from Pollock, and then something of a rarity happened when Giles took a wicket to dismiss van Jaarsveld. Attempting to turn the ball through the on side, van Jaarsveld was undone by a hint of turn and spooned a leading edge back to a delighted Giles, for whom it was only his first wicket of the series, and second one-day scalp of the summer (102 for 7).Andrew Hall, coming in at No. 9 today, has batted in virtually every position during this series, but he self-destructed with a shot that would have shamed a batsman of any ability. Just when Pollock needed some support, Hall tried to pull a full ball from Anderson and top-edged to Vaughan at mid-on (103 for 8). Nel then didn’t do any better with a horrible heave to a straight ball from Giles and was plumb lbw (107 for 9). And Pollock rounded off a dismal batting display when he edged a swishy drive off Flintoff to Read as South Africa crashed to the lowest ODI score at Lord’s and eradicated any hopes of a repeat of last year’s England-India epic.Vikram Solanki and Vaughan then made quick work of polishing off the runs to get their hands on the pot. Makhaya Ntini did make an early breakthrough when Trescothick flashed a flat-footed drive to Hall at first slip for a duck (1 for 1), meaning Solanki was temporarily forced to curb his natural attacking instincts, and it wasn’t until the eighth over that he hit the first of his eight fours.Vaughan also made a cautious start, but picked up the pace in the ninth over with two boundaries in a row off Pollock. The first was a lofted square drive, and the second that old swivel pull. And that signalled the charge for victory from the captain.Smith gave Ntini and Pollock five overs each, after which he turned to Nel and Kallis as the trophy slipped even further away from him. However, they failed to conjure any miracles and Kallis, as he has been all series, was expensive. Solanki, in particular, took a liking to him, smacking him all over Lord’s, including a nonchalant leg-side flick for six, followed by a spanking straight drive on the up to bring up his fifty from only 52 balls.Kallis, however, didn’t take a liking to Solanki, giving him a few words of advice as Kallis – who had a stinker of a final – went for an embarrassing 33 from three overs. Nel did pick up the consolation wicket of Vaughan, who miscued him to Ntini at mid-on for an accomplished 30 (88 for 2), and Solanki chopped one on to his stumps off Andrew Hall (89 for 3) for a dazzling 50, but by then England were home and dry.Click here for the Wisden Verdict

Unable to capitalise on being inserted by Baroda, Gujarat collapsed to212 all out on Day One of their Ranji Trophy league match at Vadodara.Although the visitors started off well, none of the batsmen were ableto convert starts into big scores. Only skipper Mukund Parmar offeredany resistance, and he too fell, having made 46. Kirat Damani made aquickfire 43 lower down the order, but the runs failed to boostGujarat to a significant total.For Baroda, Tushar Arothe and Shekhar Joshi took three wickets apiece,hastening the end of the first innings. In their batting reply,current Ranji champions Baroda were 8 for no loss at stumps, with bothopeners unbeaten on four.