Describing Fred Trueman, Denis Compton had said, "Fast bowlers are a breed apart, and Fred Trueman was apart from the breed."
Well, on this day in 1964, 'Fiery Fred' became the first cricketer in the history of the game to take 300 Test wickets.
SOME TRIVIA ABOUT TRUEMAN
<img title="Fred Trueman" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2015/jul/Fred-Trueman,-whose-celebra.jpg" alt="Fred Trueman" width="670" height="889" />
Frederick Sewards Trueman stood at 5 ft. 10&frac12; inches.
He was born at Stainton (near Doncaster) on February 6, 1931, and was one of a family of eight to a miner -- Allan Thomas, who was also a well-known local club cricketer.
Trueman made his first-class debut on May 11, 1949, in the three-day match against Cambridge which Yorkshire won by 9 wickets.
Trueman was only 17 when he made his debut for Yorkshire.
The tearaway fast bowler made his debut for England on June 5, 1952, in the first Test against India at Headingley. His tally of wickets in his debut series was 29 from 3 matches.
He took a hat-trick on four occasions, claimed five wickets or more in an innings 126 times, and was credited with ten wickets or more in the match 25 times.
Trueman took 2,302 first-class wickets (including four hat-tricks) at an average of 18.27. In 459 first-class matches for the county, he took 1,745 wickets at 17.12. He claimed 100 wickets in a season on 12 occasions, with a best return of 175 wickets in 1960. He also holds the record for most consecutive first-class matches played (67) in which he took a wicket.
Trueman was named one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year in 1953.
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On this day in 1964 Fred Trueman became the first man to take 300 test wkts <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OCP?src=hash">#OCP</a> <a href="https://t.co/ImVK3KbHNJ">pic.twitter.com/ImVK3KbHNJ</a>
&mdash; OLD CRICKET PHOTOS (@oldcricphotos) <a href="https://twitter.com/oldcricphotos/status/765101558744903680">August 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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He played in 19 Ashes Test matches, claiming 79 wickets - 11 of them coming in a single game at Headingley in 1961. He helped Yorkshire win the championship seven times between 1959 and 1968.
The legendary fast bowler died aged 75 after a battle with lung cancer.
He worked as an expert analyst on the BBC's Test Match Special for 26 years until 2000.
HIS 300TH TEST WICKET
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2016/aug/fred-trueman.jpg" alt="English cricket legend Fred Trueman with the cricket ball with which he achieved his three hundreth test wicket against the West Indies in 1963, at the Grosvenor House in London. " />Picture dated February 6, 2001 shows English cricket legend Fred Trueman with the cricket ball with which he achieved his three hundreth test wicket against the West Indies in 1963, at the Grosvenor House in London. Pic/AFP
Colin Cowdrey was in the slips and took a catch to dismiss Australia's Neil Hawke at The Oval to make Trueman the first bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket.
Trueman, who had been dropped for the previous match at Old Trafford, began the Test on 297 wickets, and quickly took that tally to 299, with wickets in consecutive deliveries before the lunch break. It would have been perfect if he had claimed a hat-trick to get to the magic figure, but Hawke denied Trueman that honour. The match was drawn and the Ashes stayed with Australia, but for once it didn't matter so much.
Fiery Fred's eventual total of 307 from 67 matches remained the world mark until 1975-76.
Being the first man to the milestone, he was asked the obvious question about the possibility of someone else doing it. He famously said, &ldquo;Aye, but whoever does will be bloody tired.&rdquo;
SOME OF HIS BEST QUOTES&nbsp;
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash">#OnThisDay</a> in 1964, England's Fred Trueman became the first man to take 300 Test wickets. <a href="https://t.co/KsLXFEZFcN">pic.twitter.com/KsLXFEZFcN</a>
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/765020264417468416">August 15, 2016</a></blockquote>
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A Test match without Botham is like a horror film without Boris Karloff. - In 1989
After Raman Subba Row dropped a catch off Fred Trueman's bowling and it went for a boundary -- Subba Row: I'm sorry about that, it might have been better if I had kept my legs together. Trueman: Aye, it's a pity your mother didn't!
After David Sheppard dropped a catch off his bowling -- You might keep your eyes shut when your praying, Vicar, but I wish you'd keep 'em open when I'm bowling. - In 1963
About watching 'Jurassic Park' dinosaurs - I could go to any county committee room if I wanted to see that. -- In 1993
On the saboteurs who dug up the Headingley Test wicket -- I'd throw them off the top of the pavilion. Mind you, I'm a fair man, I'd give them a 50-50 chance. I'd have Keith Fletcher underneath trying to catch them. -- In 1975
Suggested title for his autobiography -- The definitive volume on the finest bloody fast bowler that ever drew breath.
We have a gaping hole in the England side because Botham has gone. People say Chris Lewis will take his place and I always say, 'What, on the bus to the ground?' In 1993
People only call me 'Fiery' because it rhymes with Fred, just like 'Typhoon' rhymes with Tyson
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Most wickets for England in Test cricket. James Anderson 454 Ian Botham 383 Stuart Broad 351 Bob Willis 325 Fred Trueman 307<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvPAK?src=hash">#ENGvPAK</a>
&mdash; Dharmendra Pant (@DMPant) <a href="https://twitter.com/DMPant/status/754621037145239552">July 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I'd have looked even faster in colour
There's only one head bigger than Tony Greig's - and that's Birkenhead
I know why Boycott's bought a house by the sea - so he'll be able to go for a walk on the water
Kid yourself it's Sunday, Rev, and keep your hands together -- After Revd David Sheppard dropped a succession of catches
I'm all right when his arm comes over, but I'm out of form by the time the bloody ball gets here -- On the slow bowling of Peter Sainsbury
That's what cricket's all about: two batsmen pitting their wits against one another
That was a tremendous six: the ball was still in the air as it went over the boundary
We didn't have metaphors in our day. We didn't beat around the bush
England's always expecting. No wonder they call her the Mother Country
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Fred Trueman # FredTrueman# Skipton <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/hgMJyROKoJ">pic.twitter.com/hgMJyROKoJ</a>
&mdash; david neesam (@DavidNeesam) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidNeesam/status/752448201651871745">July 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Anyone foolish enough to predict the outcome of this match is a fool
To be a great fast bowler, you need a big heart and a big bottom.

On this day in 1964, 'Fiery Fred' Trueman became the first cricketer in the history of the game to take 300 Test wickets. Here's a look at some trivia, best quotes from the man himself and videos about the legendary England pacer

Get to know Fred Trueman, the first cricketer to take 300 Test wickets

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Get to know Fred Trueman, the first cricketer to take 300 Test wickets

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