1969: September 13 - born Fern Tree Gully, Melbourne, Australia.

1990: Released from Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide for disciplinary reasons.

1992: January - Makes Test debut against India in January. In two Tests against India his overall figures were one for 228 and he is sent back to Adelaide Academy.

August - Returns for tour of Sri Lanka. Takes three for 11 from 5.1 overs in the second innings of the first Test.

1993: Takes seven for 52 against the West Indies in Melbourne. Bags 17 wickets in three Tests against New Zealand.

June - Bowls Mike Gatting with his first ball in a Test in England at Old Trafford. It pitches outside leg stump but rips across the England batsman to hit off.

1994: Leading wicket-taker again in all three series he plays in, rounding off the campaign with a hat-trick against England in Melbourne.

1996: After receiving treatment on his shoulder, he requires surgery of his major spinning finger causing him to miss a short tour of India.

1997: Takes 24 wickets and scores 188 runs as Australia hit back from the disappointment of losing the first Test to retain the Ashes in England.

1999: Man of the match in Australia's World Cup final victory over Pakistan at Lord's.

2000: Becomes Australia's highest-ever Test wicket-taker by passing Dennis Lillee's milestone of 355 while on tour in New Zealand.

Named as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Century.