Before Shane Warne, there was Richie Benaud, the spinning all-rounder who helped return Australian to the top of world cricket under his captaincy as they became the team to beat in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

But all good things must come to pass, and it was on this day 53 years ago that Benaud played his 63th and final Test match for the Baggy Green, fittingly at his home stadium, the Sydney Cricket Ground. Playing against South Africa, Benaud delivered some fireworks in the first innings, taking 4-118, before going wicketless in the tourists second innings as the match finished in a draw.

There was to be no grandstand finish but Benaud place in history was assured.

Other memorable sporting events on this day: 

1896: Legendary American jockey Isaac Burns Murphy dies at the age of 35 from heart failure. Murphy won three Kentucky Derbies.

1982: Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers scores his 152nd point of the season in a game against Washington, breaking an NHL record.

1984: British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s ‘Bolero’ routine sees them claim the gold medal at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics as they receive 12 perfect 6.0 scores.