About James Franklin (cricketer)
James Edward Charles Franklin (born 7 November 1980) is a New Zealand cricket coach and former cricketer, who played all forms of the game internationally. Franklin played as a left-arm medium-fast bowler who swung the ball, and a middle order batsman who hit the ball with power. He began his career as a capable left-handed lower order batsman, but greatly improved his batting during his career. He is one of only two New Zealanders to take a hat-trick in Test cricket, a feat he achieved in October 2004 against Bangladesh. == Playing career == Domestically Franklin played for Wellington. He made his international debut in a One Day International (ODI) against Pakistan in early 2001 aged 20 as a result of a series of injuries to New Zealand's bowlers. He made his Test debut in Auckland against Pakistan later in the year, collecting a pair and taking two wickets. In April 2006, he scored his maiden Test century, making 122 not out in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. In the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Franklin became the first man to take a wicket with the first ball of a match on World Cup debut. He scored two first-class double centuries, both for Wellington against Auckland, making 208 in 2005/06 and 219 in 2008/09.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.