On July 21 in History: First Test match begins, world gets first woman PM and last Harry Potter book

By Team Newsable  |  First Published Jul 21, 2021, 4:39 PM IST

History often amazes us as to how unaware we are about milestones of the past.  Here are events that carved a niche in history on July 21.


History often amazes us as to how unaware we are about milestones of the past.  Here are events that carved a niche in history on July 21:

1884: 1st Test Cricket match played at Lord's
In 1884, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) climbed onto the Test bandwagon finally after agreeing to stage a match at the Lord's. Considered as the Mecca of Cricket, Lord's Cricket Ground has been an iconic venue in the history of the sport. On this day in 1884, a visiting Australian team took on Lord Harris' led England team at the Stadium. During this historic match, the first-ever substitute catch was also taken as Australian Captain Billy Murdoch, who fielded for England, took the catch of his teammate.

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1960: Politician Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the world's first woman PM
Born on April 17, 1916, in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Sirimavo was a stateswoman who, upon her party's victory in 1960 general elections in Ceylon, became the world's first prime minister. Sirimavo and her husband Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike rose to great prominence in Sri Lankan politics. After her husband, who became the prime minister in 1956, was assassinated in 1959, she joined to become Sri Lanka Freedom Party's leader. In July 1960, the SLFP won a decisive victory, and she carved her name in history by becoming the world's first prime minister.

2007: Harry Potter's final book was released
It was his day when 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the series by J.K. Rowling, was published worldwide, and approximately 11 million copies were sold within 24 hours in the United States. Harry Potter, his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger captivated children and adults alike with their adventures while studying at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The books, which chronicled Harry's struggles against his enemy, the evil Lord Voldemort, sold over 400 million copies. The book have also been translated into more than 60 languages.

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