India completes 75 years of Test cricket, coming a long way from the confines of its elite class image to be the common man's game and attaining the status of a religion.
India played its historic first Test from June 25 in 1932 against England atthe hallowed turf of the Lord's, where Colonel C K Nayudu led a bunch ofamateurs, not only marking a landmark day in Test history but also carrying thehopes of undivided country.
The team comprising Mohammed Nissar, Amar Singh, Janardhan Navle, NaoomalJaoomal, Syed Wazir Ali, Sorabji Colah, Nazir Ali, Phiroze Palia, Lall Singh andJahangir Khan lost the game but won many a heart for their fighting spirits.
The team, without a coach, tried its best to shine in each of the threedepartments on the field.
Strangely, Nayudu was not officially entrusted with the giant task of leading theteam, and was the third choice after first official captain Maharajaof Patiala pulled out due to health reasons and the captaincy went to Maharajaof Porbander.
But with the country's reputation at stake, the Maharaja of Porbander, andvice-captain, Yuvraj of Limbdi, put the responsibility on the 37-year-oldColonel just on the eve of the Test.
The team, which was led by royal representatives till then, was notimmediately ready to accept a common person as their captain. But eventuallythey all united for one common purpose of replying to the British by fightingthem in their own backyard while the freedom struggle was on at home.
Nayudu, the first cricket star of the country, was strong in driving, bowledaccurately at slow-medium pace and was a fine fielder too. Despite injury, heled from the front by top-scoring with 40 in the first innings. He also was the firstIndian to hit a century at the Lord's in a pre-match game against the MCC.
Nissar, arguably one of the best pacemen of the country, remains India'sfirst and one of the fastest pace bowlers. He did his best in rocking England'sinnings in the first Test.
Amar Singh was another great bowler with his accuracy, stamina andability to make the ball move off the air or cut it off the pitch. He took fourwickets and hit an attacking 51, coming in at number nine.
Wicketkeeper Navle, who also doubled up as an opening batsman, faced thehistoric first delivery of India's first Test innings from Bill Bowes. Jaoomal,who later became Pakistan's coach, was the other opener.
Wazir Ali was famous for his wide range of powerful strokes and Sorabji Colahwas an attacking batsman as well as a brilliant fielder.
Nazir Ali was another gifted attacking batsman and a medium-pace bowler whilePhiroze Palia was a left-hand batsman, wristy and attractive, and a usefulbowler of the orthodox slow left-arm type. He batted at number eleven in thesecond innings in a vain attempt to save the match for India.
Lall Singh was the first outstanding Indian fieldsman. Jahangir Khan was a fast-medium bowler and a useful right-hand batsman. He took 4 for 60 in thesecond innings of the only Test, at Lord's, his distinguished victims being PHolmes, FE Woolley, WR Hammond and E Paynter.
Interestingly, India will play the first Test of its platinum jubilee yearagainst the same opponents, England next month.
The MCC commemorated the occasion by commissioning the Pataudi Trophy in the nameof the Nawab of Pataudi (senior), who played for both India and England during his14-year career.
PTI