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A big heart
Wisden Cricinfo staff
August 8, 2003
All Today's Yesterdays - August 8 down the years
August 7 | August 9
1965
Birth of England's prime seam bowler Angus Fraser. Even after a major hip operation had reduced his pace and hostility, he twice took eight wickets in a Test innings in the West Indies. His first Test victim was Steve Waugh, dismissed for the first time in the 1989 series after scoring 393 runs. Big Gus finished with 177 Test wickets and only injury stopped him reached the 200 he'd set his sights on.
1987
At long last, Pakistan's innings of 708 at The Oval came to an end. The highest in their Test history, it made sure of a draw and a 1-0 win in the series. England were in the field for more than two days, bowling 220.3 overs, with Ian Botham taking 3 for 217.
1988
The end of another West Indian thrashing for England. They avoided a third consecutive blackwash, but a 4-0 scoreline brooks no argument. In this final Test at The Oval, Graham Gooch's first as captain, England took a first-innings lead after a storming display from Neil Foster, but they couldn't finish it off. It's not hard to see why - this really was a motley English crew, including Messrs Curtis, Bailey, Maynard, Capel, Richards and Childs. You don't beat Viv Richards and Co with that little lot.
1966
According to Wisden, offspinner Lance Gibbs used "pace and skilful variations of flight rather than prodigious spin" to take 6 for 39 at Headingley. England's innings defeat gave West Indies a winning 3-0 lead in the series.
1940
Birth of Dilip Sardesai, whose stubbornness served India best in the Caribbean in 1970-71, when his three Test centuries included a career-best 212 at Kingston. He averaged 80.25 as India won the series 1-0.
1909
Birth of Bill Voce, Harold Larwood's henchman in the 1932-33 Bodyline series and heroic mainstay of the attack in 1936-37, when he took 17 wickets in the first two Tests before Don Bradman turned a 2-0 deficit into a unique 3-2 win. Big Bill returned to Australia in 1946-47, but he was past his best and took 0 for 161 in his final two Tests.
1889
Birth of Jack Ryder, the first batsman to score six consecutive Test fifties. His unbeaten 201 against England at Adelaide in 1924-25 is in The Wisden 100. Australia won by just 11 runs to take a winning 3-0 lead in the series. He was the losing captain in the 1928-29 Ashes series.
1914
At the age of 66, WG Grace played his last match in club cricket, for Eltham at home to Northbrook. In an anticlimactic end for such a colossus, he didn't bat or bowl and the match ended in a draw.
Other birthdays
1977 Mohammad Wasim (Pakistan)
1973 Shane Lee (Australia)
1968 Abey Kuruvilla (India)
1964 Paul Taylor (England)
1952 Sudhakar Rao (India)
1951 Phil Carlson (Australia)
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