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Ladies & Gentlemen, no Test Match to watch today evening (as per IST) and so we want to tell you a little story.
A story about this 89 year old man who celebrates his birthday today.
(Thread to follow).
A story about this 89 year old man who celebrates his birthday today.
(Thread to follow).
It's Dec 1960. WI are in Australia to play a 5 match series. The 1st Test for visitors to Aus was hosted by The Gabba, of course. Both teams were captained by players who wanted to play positive cricket.
In an era of boring Tests, this resolve came like a breath of fresh air.
In an era of boring Tests, this resolve came like a breath of fresh air.
The teams are full of names that we remember even after so many years. WI have Worrell (C), Kanhai, Sobers, Wes Hall, Ramadhin & Valentine among others. Aus have Harvey, Bob Simpson, Davidson, Benaud (C).
Worrell wins the toss, WI bat. A sparkling 132 by Sobers, sedate 50s from 3 players in the middle order including the captain, a stroke-filled 50 from Wes Hall down the order take WI to 453/10 from 100.6 eight ball overs. Davidson bags a 5fer. By this time, we're well into Day2.
Aus bat almost till the end of Day3. Score 505/10 in 130.3 overs. Norm O'Neill with a powerful 181, Simpson just missing the mark with 92. Other useful innings too incl. Davidson with 44. Wes Hall takes 4 wickets and Sobers takes 2.
Just a 52 run lead then with 2 days to go. WI are at 259/9 at end of Day4 in their 2nd dig and are all out for 284 early on Day5 with Worrell, Kanhai getting 50s.
Davidson is at it again, a 6fer this time.
Davidson is at it again, a 6fer this time.
Less than a day to go. Aus target for the win = 284 - (505 - 453) + 1 = 233 at the rate of ~45 per hr.
Wes Hall has made it his mission to win this one for his team. By tea, almost single-handedly, he has reduced Aus to 109/6. 4wk already for Hall.
2 hrs to go, 124 to get.
Wes Hall has made it his mission to win this one for his team. By tea, almost single-handedly, he has reduced Aus to 109/6. 4wk already for Hall.
2 hrs to go, 124 to get.
Davidson, Benaud walk into the dressing room for tea. The Aus Head Selector in those days was Bradman himself, he liked having tea in the Aus dressing room. He asked Benaud, the captain, what the plan was. Shut shop for a draw? Or go for the win?
Both Davidson, Benaud could bat.
Both Davidson, Benaud could bat.
Benaud told him they'll go for the win. Bradman liked his approach and said so. Tea time's up. Out go the two men to secure a famous Aus win.
Bear in mind, Davidson had already bowled 54.6 overs by then and batted for 81 balls in the 1st innings.
Bear in mind, Davidson had already bowled 54.6 overs by then and batted for 81 balls in the 1st innings.
The two stick to their word and take Aus all the way to 226 when disaster strikes in the 2nd last over.
Our birthday boy for 26Aug runs out Davidson from square leg for 80! One more run is taken after this.
3 wkts left. 5.56 pm. 1 over to go with 6 runs to get.
Squeaky Bum time!
Our birthday boy for 26Aug runs out Davidson from square leg for 80! One more run is taken after this.
3 wkts left. 5.56 pm. 1 over to go with 6 runs to get.
Squeaky Bum time!
Wes Hall, of course, to bowl the last over. Grout, the Aus keeper to face. Benaud scampers through for a leg bye.
Benaud attempts a hook for the glory shot, fails, caught by the keeper. 2 wickets to go, 5 runs to get, 6 balls remain.
Benaud attempts a hook for the glory shot, fails, caught by the keeper. 2 wickets to go, 5 runs to get, 6 balls remain.
Meckiff, the next man, plays a dot ball.
Off the 4th ball, they try to run a bye and the WI keeper misses a run out attempt at the bowler's end!
4 to get off 4 balls.
Phew!
Off the 4th ball, they try to run a bye and the WI keeper misses a run out attempt at the bowler's end!
4 to get off 4 balls.
Phew!
5th ball is a bouncer, Meckiff's timid shot results in a chance for a catch near the wicket. Kanhai wants it, Hall wants it too in his follow through. Does anyone call for it? Who knows? The catch is dropped. The run is taken. 3 off 3 needed.
Madness!
Madness!
6th ball, Meckiff swings with everything he's got. Ball goes towards deep mid wicket and the Aus batsmen run for their lives. They complete two and go for the third run. The fielder's return is right on top of the stumps, this time the WI keeper does the needful. Grout gone.
SCORES LEVEL!
1 run. 1 wicket. 2 balls. Oh Lord!
1 run. 1 wicket. 2 balls. Oh Lord!
Kline is Aus's last man in and he's on strike. He pushes the ball to square leg. Our birthday boy is there.
He picks up the ball, sees only one stump, throws ...
... hits the stumps with Meckiff short of his ground!
Click on the picture and see, he's the man on the extreme left!
He picks up the ball, sees only one stump, throws ...
... hits the stumps with Meckiff short of his ground!
Click on the picture and see, he's the man on the extreme left!
That's it then. The Test is tied. Our birthday boy, Joseph Stanislaus "Joe" Solomon has tied the Test for WI with two magical run outs from square leg in the last two overs!
Throws perfected as a kid by felling mangoes, never aiming at the fruit, always aiming at the stalks!
Throws perfected as a kid by felling mangoes, never aiming at the fruit, always aiming at the stalks!
He had made 65, 47 runs in this Test. Had scored a 
at Delhi in 58-59. In the next Test in Aus @MCG, he was hit wicket when his cap fell on the stumps.
But nothing can ever come close to his 2 run outs of Davidson, Meckiff.
Not a legend but a hero alright.
Happy Birthday, Joe.
at Delhi in 58-59. In the next Test in Aus @MCG, he was hit wicket when his cap fell on the stumps.But nothing can ever come close to his 2 run outs of Davidson, Meckiff.
Not a legend but a hero alright.
Happy Birthday, Joe.
