• November 28 down the years

The Rocket comes of age

Ronnie O'Sullivan: A master of his craft © Getty Images

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1993
The 17-year-old Ronnie O'Sullivan (born December 5, 1975) became the youngest snooker player to win a ranking tournament when he beat Stephen Hendry 10-6 in the final of the UK Championship.

1958
Kriss Akabusi was born. After a career spent just below the top level as a 400 metre runner, he made a late switch to the hurdles - and hit gold. Commonwealth and European champion in 1990, he finished third in the 1991 Worlds and the 1992 Olympics behind Kevin Young's inexplicable world record - and had his best moment in those World Championships. When Britain changed their running order for the 4x400 final, Akabusi was left to run the anchor leg. The way he won gold by running down Antonio Pettigrew, the individual 400 metre champion, was one of the great moments in British athletics. His laugh alone was enough to make him one of the best-loved TV sportsmen, and his full name's there to be enjoyed too: Kriss Kezie Uche Chukwu Duru Akabusi.

1998
Jeremy Guscott scored the only try of the match, but Australia won 12-11 at Twickenham thanks to four penalties by their captain John Eales. As well as being just about the best lineout jumper of all time, Eales scored a record number of points for a forward in international rugby union: 173 (worth 174 today).

1959
Stephen Roche was born near Dublin. In 1987 he became the second cyclist to win the Triple Crown of Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and world professional road race in the same year (the first was born on June 17 1945). He won the Tour by only 40 seconds. Much later, an Italian judge published a report alleging Roche took EPO in 1993. Vehemently denied, of course.

1998
South Africa won 27-13 in Dublin to equal the All Blacks' world record of 17 consecutive wins, set on June 14, 1969. They scored three tries to Ireland's one, and Percy Montgomery kicked the other 12 points, setting up the chance to break the record on December 5.

2002
The 13-year-old Taiwanese schoolboy Lo Shih-Kai became the youngest male golfer to take part in a European tour event, the Hong Kong Open (yes, European events aren't always held in Europe). Lo shot a four-under-par 73 in the first round. The youngest before him was 15-year-old Sergio García at the 1995 Mediterranean Open.

1969
Sonia O'Sullivan was born. Ireland's top female runner, she won the inaugural 5,000 metres at the 1995 World Championships and came close to another gold at the 2000 Olympics, when she couldn't quite catch Romania's Gabriella Szabo in the home straight. Weakened by a stomach bug when she was the favourite four years earlier, she'd dropped out during the race.

1956
The great Parry O'Brien retained the Olympic shot putt title. He revolutionised the event with his weight training and especially by inventing the technique of turning his back to the front of the circle

1912
If ever anyone played above himself, it was Cecil Parke here in Melbourne. A famous all-round sportsman, he was capped 20 times by Ireland at rugby and won two Wimbledon titles. But they were in the mixed doubles, and as a singles player he wasn't quite up there with the best. Except today. In the opening match of the Davis Cup Challenge Round, he faced Australasia's Norman Brookes, the greatest player of his time, Wimbledon singles champion in 1907 and 1914 - and won the first two sets, hammering away with his big forehand. Brookes took the third - but instead of crumbling, Parke won the next 6-2. There were still four matches left in the tie, but this was the decisive one. On the third day, Parke won in straight sets against Rodney Heath, and Britain & Ireland regained the Cup after six years.

1920
Cecilia Colledge was born Only 11 years old at the 1932 Winter Olympics, she won silver four years later behind the incomparable Sonia Henie, then the Second World War deprived her of at least one Olympic gold. She was the first female skater to perform a double jump, and came up with moves still used today, like the camel spin and layback spin.

2004
In the Fed Cup in Moscow, Svetlana Kuznetsova lost both her singles matches but Anastasia Myskina won both of hers then helped Vera Zvonareva take the deciding doubles as Russia beat defending champions France 3-2.

1919
Keith Miller was born in a town called Sunshine - which was only apt. Corny but true: it's was what he brought to the game, playing it with the sense of perspective you get from being a World War pilot: it really is only a game. It was one he played about as well as anyone - and he was always in it, as fast bowler, attacking batsman, or splendid fielder. In their wisdom, the English powers-that-be allowed a new ball after only 55 overs for the 1948 Ashes series - and Australia had Ray Lindwall (born October 3, 1921) and Miller to exploit this helpful change. In the last Test, they bowled England out for 52 to win the series 4-0. Miller took 170 Test wickets in all, at an average of only 22.97, including best figures of 7-60 to beat England by an innings at Brisbane in December 1946 and two five-fors in Australia's only win of the 1956 Ashes series. He hit three Test centuries against England and four against West Indies, and his approach to the game was exemplified when Australia scored 721 in a day against a weak Essex attack in 1948. Four batsmen helped themselves to centuries, including the insatiable Bradman; Miller let himself be bowled for a duck. When you've flown fighter planes in a War...

Two top West Indian fast bowlers made their Test debuts today: Wes Hall in 1958, Michael Holding in 1975. Hall made 12 not out in an innings of 227, then took 3-35 in India's first innings the following day. Holding made 34 and didn't take a wicket as Australia took a grip on the match. Hall finished with 192 wickets in 48 Tests, Holding 249 in 60.

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