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    Our gentlemen at Lord’s

    Synopsis

    India went on to win this series thanks to Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s heroics at the Oval when he finished with figures of 6-38.

    ET Bureau
    It was in 1932, India’s debut year in international cricket, that the team first played at Lord’s. Led by CK Nayudu, the team had acquitted themselves well from the start of the tour. In the unofficial match against the MCC (Marylbone Cricket Club) on May 22, 1932, the world had a glimpse of what India’s first homegrown legend Nayudu was capable of.

    Nayudu, who would go on to be Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1933, smashed the first Indian century of the tour in style. The Star’s headline on May 23, 1932 summed it all up: “The Hindu Bradman in Form at Lords”. The Observer was equally eloquent: “A brilliant not out innings of 116 by CK Nayudu was the feature of the first day’s play between All-India and the MCC.” The Indian team was designated “All India” to emphasise the point that it was a representative team with players from all parts of the country.

    However, it was in the first Test of the tour, at Lord’s, that the Indians shocked the English—in the first half-hour. The MCC were reduced to a dismal 19-3 by some excellent Indian bowling and fielding. The Birmingham Post wrote: “The All India cricket team has administered a few shocks to the dignity and confidence of England today. If there were among the 24,000 spectators at Lords some who imagined that the granting of a Test match by the MCC to the tourists from the Indian empire was merely an amiable concession, then they had a very rude awakening before the close of play…

    It was an extraordinary start to the match… the first ball of Nissar’s second over was an in-swinger and Sutcliffe, playing with the edge instead of the middle of the bat, diverted it into the wicket—and one of England’s greatest batsmen was out… The disappointment was redoubled and revived when the last ball of the same over, a delivery perfect in flight, length and pace, sent Holmes’ off stump spinning through the air, while the batsman was only half way through the stroke…”

    Though India eventually lost the match by 158 runs, the courage and grit shown at Lord’s clearly conveyed to the world that the Indians, in little time, would carve out a niche in the world of cricket. The thought was echoed by England captain Douglas Jardine who commented that within a decade the Indians would be a force to reckon with.

     
    The prophecy did not come true and in 1936 and 1946, India’s subsequent tours to Britain, the touring party was torn apart by internal dissent, evident from the confidential letter written by Mushtaq Ali to his mentor Nayudu. If it was between Vijay Raju a.k.a. Vizzy and Lala Amarnath in 1936, in 1946 there was serious difference of opinion between skipper the Nawab of Pataudi, Iftikhar Ali Khan and the rest of the squad.

    Mushtaq Ali alludes to the divisions within the team in unequivocal terms. “In my humble opinion this team is worse than 1936… No teamwork at all…Every member of the team for himself.”
    Things hardly improved in 1952. India lost yet again despite the fact that Vinoo Mankad, with an all round batting and bowling effort, had made the Test his own. His 72 and 184 with the bat and five wickets for 196 in a marathon spell led the Test to be designated ‘Mankad’s Test’.

    India did come close in 1971 though. Chasing 183 for victory, India ended at 145-8 at Lord’s. It was a match that could have gone either way. India went on to win this series thanks to Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s heroics at the Oval when he finished with figures of 6-38.

    Finally, under Kapil Dev in 1986, the Indians managed to break the Lord’s jinx. Going on to win the series 2-0, it was one of India’s best-ever overseas outings. However, it was more of an aberration as India lost yet again in 1990 with Graham Gooch smashing a triple ton. In India’s next outing at Lord’s in 1996 Sourav Ganguly’s heroics helped the team salvage a draw. Losses in 2002 and 2011, India had a record of one win and 11 losses at Lord’s before 2014.

    When India last played England at home in November 2011, MS Dhoni’s boys squandered a 1-0 advantage. They now need to ensure Southampton and Old Trafford do not throw up a similar story. For the moment though, India can lord over Lord’s. The celebrations continue full swing.


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