On this day: Playing XI of cricketers celebrating birthday on 14th October

14th October seems to be a day full of cricketing skills because a long list of international cricketers celebrate their birthday on this day. The pool is so vast that we can form a playing XI that solely consists of those born on this day. We have openers, middle-order batsmen, a wicketkeeper, all-rounders, spinners and fast bowlers. Here’s the playing XI –

1. Gautam Gambhir (India)

Gautam Gambhir

The Delhi opener occupies a special place in Indian cricket’s most precious moments. He top-scored for India in both the 2007 T20 World Cup final and the 2011 ODI World Cup final.  Gambhir was a part of the famous Delhi duo alongside Virender Sehwag. Their opening combination is one of the most successful pairs in world cricket. Gambhir represented India in 58 Tests, 147 ODIs and 37 T20Is while accumulating more than 10,000 international runs.

2. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)

One of the Sri Lankan batting stalwarts, Tillakaratne Dilshan managed to carve a niche for himself despite playing beside Kumara Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Making his debut in 1999, Dilshan transitioned from being a useful offie to an aggressive opener. He was also the inventor of ‘Dilscoop’. Becoming a regular in all three formats of the game, the opener became a mainstay of the Sri Lankan side. Player of the tournament in 2009 World T20, Dilshan featured in 87 Tests, 330 ODIs and 80 T20Is for the nation.

3. Punam Raut (India)

A dashing opener born on 14th October, Punam boasts an average of 32.17 in ODIs. The 30-year old has represented India in two Test matches. She has scored a Test century with the highest individual score of 130. The right-hand batswoman from Mumbai has 1,866 ODI runs in her account with two hundreds and 12 fifties.

4. Shan Masood (Pakistan)

A technically solid Pakistan opener, Shan Masood turns 30 today. Despite making his Test debut in 2013, Masood has featured in only 15 Tests for his nation. He has one century and five fifties from his brief career. In 2019, he reappeared on the national radar. He opened in Tests and also made his ODI debut against Australia in UAE.

5. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Glenn Maxwell

The Australian maverick still comes across as a cricketer who has not fulfilled his potential. A fantastic hitter, a livewire in the field and useful with the ball, Maxwell should have been an all-format regular for the Aussies. Instead, he is still on fringes. He has centuries in all three formats for his nation. Maxwell also holds the record of scoring fastest ODI century for Australia.

6. Preston Mommsen (Scotland)

Born in Durban on 14th October, Mommsen played U-19 cricket for South Africa until he received a cricket scholarship in Scotland. in the absence of Kyle Coetzer, he stepped up to lead Scotland in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. His brilliant batting form helped him earn the ICC Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year award. With the lack of regular fixtures for the associate nations, Mommsen retired at the age of 29. He has scored 1,000-plus ODI runs for Scotland.

7. Rashid Latif (Pakistan)

One of the whistle-blowers of match-fixing in the ’90s, Latif shocked everyone by announcing his retirement due to malpractices in the team. He later returned to captain the side. In his 11-year long career, Latif played in 37 Tests and 166 ODIs for Pakistan. A classic wicketkeeper who could bat, Latif finished with 301 international catches and 49 stumpings. The controversial keeper turns 51 today.

8. Ashton Agar (Australia)

Agar had a phenomenal Test debut albeit in an unexpected manner. The then 19-year old came out to bat in Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in 2013 with his side reeling at 117/9. Agar scored 98 thus clinching the record of highest Test score by a number 11. However, he failed to cement his place in the side and he remains on the fringes of Australian national teams.

9. Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)

Playing his first international match after the age of 30, Ajmal did not waste any time in his showing excellence with the ball. An off-spinner armed with doosra, Ajmal troubled batsmen with his variations and became Pakistan’s lead spinner in no time. At his peak, he bamboozled the batsmen as his stellar record suggests. Before he was banished from the game for suspect action, Ajmal picked up 447 international wickets in 35 Tests, 117 ODIs and 85 T20Is. The 42-year old played his last game in 2015.

10. Amjad Khan (England)

The six-feet tall right-arm medium pace bowler born in Denmark played more than 100 first-class matches in England. In 2009, Amjad made his international debut for England in Tests and T20Is against West Indies. He played a solitary Test and a T20I.

11. Asad Ali (Pakistan)

Another product of Pakistan’s fast-bowling factory. Asad did not have express pace but he focussed on persistent line and length. Bowling in mid-130s, he made his international debut for Pakistan in 2013. The 14th October born played in four ODIs and two T20Is in that year and it remains his last foray in national colours.