SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 19 hrs 13 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

On this day: Headingley hosts its first Test match

:Headline: On this day: Headingley hosts its first Test match: ID:404301: from db_amp
Yorkshire play their home matches at the ground.

Ever since its first Test, which began on this day 121 years ago, Headingley has made up for its lack of beauty by hosting extraordinary matches.

The feats of Sir Don Bradman, Sir Ian Botham and, now, Ben Stokes readily spring to mind but the list of incredible feats played out on the Leeds ground is long indeed.

It all began in the first of its 78 Tests, the people of Yorkshire treated to a hat-trick from England's Jack Hearne as they played out a rain-affected and low-scoring draw with Australia.

England had taken a first-innings lead of 48 after bowling the tourists out for 220 and were pushing for victory as Hearne removed Clem Hill, Syd Gregory and Monty Noble in successive balls for ducks.

Headingley has hosted 78 Test matches (Clint Hughes/PA)

Soon after Australia were 39 for five but a lower-order revival, led by 56 from Hugh Trumble, enabled them to set England a target of 177 before rain washed out the final day.

On a sad note, England's Johnny Briggs, the Lancashire all-rounder regarded as one of the great slow bowlers of his day, suffered a violent epileptic fit on the evening of the first day.

He was detained in Cheadle Asylum and never played Test cricket again. Briggs did recover and return to the sport the following year but had a relapse and died in 1902 at the age of 39.

England did not beat Australia at Headingley until their 11th meeting there in 1956, by which time Bradman had helped himself to 963 runs in four appearances on the ground.

Don Bradman, left, boasted a formidable record at Headingley (PA Archive)

His haul included his Test-best 334 in 1930 and another triple century (304) in 1934. Bradman did not disappoint in later years with knocks of 103 in 1938 and 176 in 1948.

Only Yorkshire's own Sir Geoffrey Boycott can equal Bradman's four Test centuries at Headingley. Boycott's deeds included a fairytale hundred in the 1977 Test against Australia, his 100th first-class ton.

Until last year, the most amazing Headingley Test was in 1981, when a Botham-inspired England famously defied odds of 500-1 to beat Australia after following on.

Botham smashed an unbeaten 149 as England overcame a 227-run first-innings deficit to set up an 18-run win finished off by Bob Willis' eight-wicket haul.

Even during England's long barren run in Ashes series from 1989-2005, Headingley could inspire them, such as when Mark Butcher cracked 173 not out in a successful chase of 315 in 2001.

In 2012 Kevin Pietersen hit an equally astonishing 149 against South Africa only to create even bigger headlines in a remarkable post-match press conference.

The final word on Headingley, however, has to go to Stokes after the all-rounder rescued England from a seemingly impossible position in last year's Ashes Test.

Staring defeat in the face and with just last man Jack Leach for company, Stokes hit a thrilling unbeaten 135 to engineer the most unlikely of victories.

amp_article__404301 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-06-29 06:28:54:
html db last update - 2020-06-29 06:28:54 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .