EVER since the Rt Hon Sir F S Jackson scored the first Test century at Headingley in 1905 - 144 not out for England against Australia - the ground has witnessed stirring deeds in some of the finest cricket battles ever staged - with the current clash between England and South Africa likely to be added to the list.

Nobody has fonder memories of Headingley than the great Sir Don Bradman, who will no doubt be recalling his halcyon days there when he celebrates his 90th birthday back in Australia on August 27.

Bradman loved Headingley and made it his happiest hunting ground while setting batting records which will surely never be equalled. In four Tests at Leeds, the 'Don' stacked up 963 runs at an average of 192.60!

On July 11, 1930, he scored 105 before lunch, 115 between lunch and tea, and 89 between tea and stumps to give him a total in the day of 309.

Bradman was out the following day, caught Duckworth bowled Tate, for 334, but four years' later he had England's bowlers on their knees again by making 304. In 1938 Bradman rapped out 103 in the first innings before being bowled by Bill Bowes and in 1948 he was unbeaten in the second innings with 173.

Headingley is also a very special place for Yorkshire's own Geoff Boycott who scored his 100th first class 100 on the ground while batting for England against Australia on August 11, 1977.

Boycott, like Bradman, was nothing less than a run machine at Headingley and between 1962 and 1986 he surpassed Len Hutton's record by scoring 15 centuries for Yorkshire and four for England. He also made his highest Test score there of 246 not out against India.

In 1965, John Edrich became the only Englishman to score a triple century at Headingley when his unbeaten 310 against New Zealand contained 57 boundaries, and the following year the indomitable Gary Sobers scored 174 for the West Indies and took four for 41 as he led them to an innings victory.

Headingley's first Test match in 1899 saw Jack Hearne achieve a hat-trick against Australia and in 1957 Peter Loader repeated the feat against the West Indies.

The most successful post war bowler at Headingley is Fred Trueman who between 1949 and 1969 captured 137 wickets for Yorkshire and 44 for England.

Trueman took five Australian wickets without conceding a run in 1961 - nine years after taking three wickets as India lost their first four wickets before they had scored a run.

The most astonishing match at Headingley was in July, 1981, when England, 200-1 outsiders at one stage, turned the tables on Australia to win by 18 runs.

Having made 401 for nine declared, Australia bowled England out for 174 and had them reeling at 135 for seven in their second innings after following on.

Then Ian Botham smashed them to all parts of the field in blasting 149 not out and when Australia went in needing 130 for victory, Bob Willis bowled like a man possessed to take eight for 43, the Aussies being skittled for 111.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.