This day in history: 24th September

The Indian team celebrate the T20 World Cup win

Cricket

1844 - Did you know cricket’s oldest international rivalry is between USA and Canada. The two teams met at Manhattan’s Bloomingdale Park for a two-day game. Canada won under controversial circumstances after USA player, George Wheatcroft, was not allowed to bat when he turned up 20 minutes late following the fall of the last wicket.

1858 - The birthday of the first man to make a Test hundred at Lord’s – Allan Steel. An outstanding all-rounder, Allan Steel made 148 to propel England to a victory over Australia in the first Lord’s Test, in 1884. He played in 13 Tests between 1880 and 1888, averaging 35 with the bat and 20 with the ball.

1950 – Former India Test cricketer, Mohinder Amarnath, was born today. Amarnath played 62 Test matches scoring 4378 runs at an average of 42.50. Amarnath will always be remembered for his Man of the Match performance in the 1983 World Cup final, scoring 26 runs and taking 3 for 12 with his useful medium-pacer bowling in one of cricket’s greatest upsets.

2007 - India won the inaugural ICC World T20 held in South Africa, after defeating arch rivals Pakistan by 5 runs in the final.

Football

1980 – John Arne Riise, Norwegian footballer, was born. Currently at Fulham player, he had a distinguished career with Liverpool where he won Champions League in 2005. He has played for Clubs like AS Moncao and AS Roma. With 110 caps he is Norway’s most capped player.

1983 - Diego Maradona suffered a horrible injury playing for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao. Athletic Bilbao defender Andoni Goikoetxea lunged at the Argentinian from behind leaving Maradona with broken ankle, which kept him out for three months. After that incident Goikoetxea was nicknamed “the Butcher of Bilbao”.

Tennis

1938 – Don Budge becomes 1st tennis player to win a Grand Slam.

1982 – Tennis great Bjorn Borg retired at 26.

Baseball

1934 - Babe Ruth played his last game as a New York Yankee player.

Boxing

1953 - Rocky Marciano beat Roland LaStarza in 11 rounds to win Heavyweight boxing title.

Do check out the rest of the ‘This day in history‘ series.