June 25, 2025
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India vs England

Had conversation with Nitish, want to see him bowl more overs: Morne Morkel

Had conversation with Nitish, want to see him bowl more overs: Morne Morkel

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Nitish Reddy can produce “magical” deliveries but India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel wants the batting all-rounder to bowl more overs to complement his primary skill-set of batting in the upcoming five-Test series against England. Reddy, who scored a Test hundred against Australia at the MCG in the last year’s ‘Boxing Day’ Test is fighting for seam bowling all-rounder’s slot in the playing XI with seasoned Shardul Thakur, who is more of a seamer. Reddy bowled 26.5 overs in the two ‘Tests’ against England Lions and Morkel has “challenged” his ward to bowl more. “I think he (Reddy) is skillful. He is a guy who can bowl that magical ball. So for him, it is about creating that consistency and that’s something we want to work on. It’s important for his game as well,” the former South African fast bowling great said on sidelines of India’s training session. “I’ve had conversations with him where I’ve challenged him to bowl a bit more. I want to see the ball more in his hands. We all know what he can do with the bat. But for a team, if you can have those bowling options, especially in these conditions, I think he’ll be one to be excited and compliment his bowling at that,” said Morkel. Morkel predictably didn’t want to reveal team management’s cards when asked who between Reddy and 11-Test old Shardul Thakur will get the nod for the Leeds Test. “In terms of the balance, we’ve got very happy with that. But for us as a bowling unit, finding that gear that we’re going to need in Test matches is going to be important.” The lanky former Proteas spoke about possible match-ups. “We’ve spoken a lot about how we’re going to go about playing and match-up England. But I think so far we’re in the right way in terms of doing the preparation. And for us, like you say, when it comes to match day, with the ball, it’s about execution.” Morkel is confident that Indian team has covered all its bases in terms of squad election. “I think in terms of that we cover, like you say, all the bases. But for us now, the key thing is to get Test match fit, ready, that sharpness, to get that back. We haven’t played Test matches for a while now. “In England, the conditions can suit you and it’s overcast, but still it’s going to be good surfaces. I think we’re going to be testing that.” The key is to have players fit and match-ready ensuring that the stay 90 overs on the field, said Morkel. “We’ve only had three sessions so far. We’ve got a four-day warm-up game (vs India A) starting in two days’ time. I’m going to be more interested to see how our guys go in that four-day game,” Morkel said. While India has already had three sessions, Morkel said it is not a great indicator about a player’s physical ability to stay on the field. “It’s one thing judging a net session, but for our guys to stand in the field, getting used to doing 90 overs in the field, that’s going to take some time. We need to realise that and we need to be patient with that. “We need to find a way to get up to speed as quick as possible because that’s going to be a real test.” Morkel feels that sudden change of temperatures and chilly weather can lead too to stiffness. “English outfields are quite heavy. The weather conditions are quite cold, so your body can stiffen up. So it’s one thing for me ticking a box, doing well in the nets, but again, it’s that match fitness, that time in the field that we need to, as quick as possible, find a way to get up to speed with.” Morkel couldn’t be more happier watching the players take ownership and responsibility during training sessions. “I think that’s one of the things that has impressed me so much in these two-day sessions we’ve had. The guys sort of stepped up by themselves. They’ve taken that ownership, that responsibility, and realizing that it’s going to be a tough tour. “I think that’s the pleasing thing as coaches, to see guys taking that leadership and ownership in practice.” Morkel also brushed away theory about Jasprit Bumrah being under-cooked with only some IPL matches in his kitty. “He (Bumrah) knows how to get himself ready. He knows how to prepare. And like you say, I was blown away to see the energy in the ball the last three days. So that’s very exciting to see happy ‘Boom’.” “I’m just happy his body is in good shape at the moment and we’ll manage him with that. And we’ll be smart with him because he’s obviously key for us,” he concluded. Published – June 12, 2025 02:12 am IST

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'I still don't get it': Rohit Sharma's cryptic post keeps fans guessing - See pic | Cricket News

‘I still don’t get it’: Rohit Sharma’s cryptic post keeps fans guessing – See pic | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: India’s ODI captain Rohit Sharma sparked curiosity among fans on Wednesday with a cryptic Instagram story. He shared a picture featuring some toys and captioned it: “My girls tried explaining these to me, I still don’t get it.“This comes shortly after Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket in May, putting an end to widespread speculation about his future in the longest format of the game.The 38-year-old had a highly impactful second half of his Test career, amassing 4,301 runs in 67 matches, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties, at an average of 40.57.Rohit had led India to the World Test Championship final against Australia and had been at the helm during several key series — barring the recent inconsistent outings against New Zealand at home and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Despite stepping away from the Test format, Rohit will continue to represent India in ODIs. “It’s been an absolute honor to represent my country in whites,” he shared in an emotional Instagram post. “Thank you for all the love and support over the years.”Rohit’s form had dipped during the 2024–25 season, where he managed an average of just 10.93 in 11 innings across eight Tests. Overall, he concluded his Test career with 4,301 runs in 67 matches, maintaining an average of 40.57 and notching up 12 hundreds.He took over the Test captaincy from Virat Kohli in March 2022 and during his tenure led India to 12 wins, nine losses, and three draws. As skipper, he also scored 1,254 runs. MLC: Venky Harinarayan on growing cricket in the USA, AI-driven teams and the Olympic boost His tenure, however, ended with two back-to-back series defeats — a historic 3-0 loss to New Zealand at home and a 4-1 defeat in Australia, which cost India a place in the 2025 World Test Championship final.On the brighter side, Rohit had recently led India to major titles — the 2025 ODI Champions Trophy and the 2024 T20 World Cup — before retiring from T20Is as well.Shubman Gill has since been named the new Test captain, taking over the reins from Rohit.

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'Virat Kohli could have been handled better': Ravi Shastri's emotional, hard-hitting take on retirement - WATCH | Cricket News

‘Virat Kohli could have been handled better’: Ravi Shastri’s emotional, hard-hitting take on retirement – WATCH | Cricket News

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Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri got emotional on Wednesday while reflecting on Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket. Shastri, who shared a successful tenure with Kohli during his captaincy, witnessing several memorable series wins, said the star batter’s exit could have been managed more thoughtfully.Kohli, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011, announced his retirement from the longest format ahead of the England tour. He finishes with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 from 123 Tests, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, making him India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format.“Virat has announced his retirement from Test matches, which is sad, you know, because he’s a great player. A great player. It’s only when you go that people truly realise how big a player you were. Stats don’t do justice — it’s about the way he carried himself, especially as an ambassador for Test match cricket, particularly overseas. The way he played at Lord’s, and how his team turned things around — it was unreal. And I’m glad I was a part of it,” Shastri said this while speaking on Sony Sports Network’s program ‘Bharat Tum Chale Chalo: Kahani 21-22 Ki’.“I feel sad that he’s gone the way he has — suddenly. I think it could have been handled better, maybe with more communication. If I had anything to do with it, I would’ve made him captain straight after Australia,” he added. Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket after 14 years Kohli remains India’s most successful Test captain, having led the team to 40 wins in 68 matches. His tenure was defined by a strong pace attack, a commitment to fitness, and a combative brand of cricket that made India a dominant force across conditions.

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'Arey yaar': Rishabh Pant expresses frustration after missing stumps in Team India’s practice - Watch | Cricket News

‘Arey yaar’: Rishabh Pant expresses frustration after missing stumps in Team India’s practice – Watch | Cricket News

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Team India in training (Screengrab) NEW DELHI: Indian cricketers participated in rigorous fielding practice sessions, accompanied by playful exchanges between teammates as they strengthened their preparation for the England Test series.The BCCI video showed fielding coach T Dilip conducting various drills, including catching practice and accuracy throws at stumps. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant narrowly missed hitting the stumps and exclaimed, “Arey yaar”.Watch:Test captain Shubman Gill acknowledged his Gujarat Titans colleague Sai Sudharsan’s excellent catch with the words, “Catching yaar.” The footage concluded with Mohammed Siraj’s celebratory leap after successfully completing a catch.Following the retirement of batting stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket in the previous month, India faced a significant experience deficit. The team management responded by promoting younger players to usher in a fresh phase.The five-Test series against England commences June 20 at Leeds and continues until August 2025. With the departure of senior batsmen Rohit and Virat from the longest format, the responsibility now rests with Shubman’s reconstructed team to demonstrate their capabilities in challenging English conditions. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket’s TV market and the watershed moments The series spans June through August, with venues including Headingley in Leeds, Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s and The Oval in London, and Old Trafford in Manchester.India’s Test squad for England series: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.England squad for first Test vs India: Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

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Who made their presence count in the India A vs England Lions unofficial Tests ahead of five-match series? | Cricket News

Who made their presence count in the India A vs England Lions unofficial Tests ahead of five-match series? | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: AAnshul Kamboj starred on the final day with a maiden First-Class fifty and two wickets as India A’s second unofficial Test against England Lions ended in a draw on Monday. Chasing an improbable 439-run target in the final session of the four-day match, the Lions stumbled to 32 for 3 before both captains agreed to shake hands.India A will now head to Beckenham to join the senior squad for a four-day intra-squad match scheduled from June 13-16 at the Kent County Cricket Ground.The first unofficial Test between the two sides in Canterbury had also ended in a draw.Here’s a look at the standout performers for India A across the two matches, ahead of the five-match Test series against England:KL RAHULIt was a productive return for Test opener KL Rahul. After missing the first unofficial Test, he made an immediate impact in the second, scoring a composed 116 off 168 deliveries (15 fours, 1 six) in the first innings. He followed it up with a solid 51 in the second innings, taking his match tally to 167 runs at an average of 83.50 and a strike rate of 71.98. With his experience and form, Rahul is expected to strengthen India’s top order in the opening Test at Leeds.KARUN NAIRSet to return to the Indian Test side after more than eight years, Karun Nair made the most of his opportunity. The middle-order batter, who became only the second Indian to score a triple century in Tests (after Virender Sehwag), last played in 2017. In his comeback series, Nair was impressive, notching up a double century in the first unofficial Test. He followed it with scores of 40 and 15 in the second game. On current form, Nair appears to be a strong contender for the playing XI in the Leeds Test. MLC: Venky Harinarayan on growing cricket in the USA, AI-driven teams and the Olympic boost SARFARAZ KHANDespite being left out of the main Test squad for the England series, Sarfaraz Khan made a strong statement with the bat. He struck a fluent 92 in the first innings of the opening unofficial Test, laced with 13 boundaries. The innings was a timely reminder of his quality, especially in testing English conditions, and sent a clear message to the selectors that he’s ready if called upon.ABHIMANYU EASWARANCaptain Abhimanyu Easwaran had a mixed series. After a disappointing start with just 8 runs in the first innings of the opening game, he bounced back with a brisk 68 off 87 balls in the second innings. In the second unofficial Test, he was dismissed for 11 in the first innings but recovered with a gritty 80 in the second. Easwaran’s overall effort keeps him firmly in the race for a top-order slot in India’s Test XI at Leeds.

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India tour of England: Arshdeep Singh reveals rhythm and red ball the focus as Team India begins Test prep | Cricket News

India tour of England: Arshdeep Singh reveals rhythm and red ball the focus as Team India begins Test prep | Cricket News

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Arshdeep Singh (Pic credit: BCCI) NEW DELHI: “Upar khula aasman, thandi thandi hawa, saath me suraj ki tapas, aur haath me red cherry. Welcome to Kent!” quipped Arshdeep Singh, setting the tone for what was a picturesque and purposeful training day for Team India in England.With less than two weeks to go before the five-Test series against England begins in Leeds, Team India has begun red-ball preparations in earnest. On Monday, the BCCI shared visuals from the outdoor net session at Beckenham, offering a peek into both the scenery and the squad’s renewed red-ball focus — especially after months of white-ball cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, the return to Kent was something of a homecoming. “I felt really good coming here; it feels homely,” he said in the video shared by the BCCI. “I’ve spent two months here, and it’s been quite enjoyable. It’s a small place, very peaceful, not too crowded. The best place when you need peace of mind.” Poll How do you feel about Team India’s preparations for the upcoming Test series against England? The highlight of Monday’s session, Arshdeep revealed, was regaining rhythm with the red ball. “The main goal of today’s training was to get into a rhythm, to feel how the body is responding, and how the red ball is being released from the hand since all the players have been playing with the white ball for a while,” he explained. “It was a lot of fun. As we continue, the intensity will increase, making it more challenging for the batsmen.“Arshdeep also highlighted the competitiveness during the net session, praising the batters. “It was enjoyable with the batters; they were quite compact. We had to work hard with a proper plan to try and get them out. Sai [Sudharsan] looked solid. The skipper was in good form. I’ll try to keep this banter going and aim to get them out many times,” he said. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy Asked about working alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep added with humility: “Whenever I hold the ball, I feel like ‘I am the best.’ But everyone knows that when you’re in an attack with a player like Bumrah, there’s no room for comparison. The main focus is how we can improve each other’s game and benefit the team.”India’s training included drills for Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja, with fielding coach T Dilip also leading a sharp catching session. With the Test series promising a fresh era in Indian red-ball cricket, preparation in the calm of Kent could prove invaluable.

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'RoKo, stop that': Former India cricketer slams clubbing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli together in Tests; says 'absolutely no comparison' | Cricket News

‘RoKo, stop that’: Former India cricketer slams clubbing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli together in Tests; says ‘absolutely no comparison’ | Cricket News

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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma NEW DELHI: As Team India embarks on a new era in Test cricket without two of its biggest icons — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a debate by urging the cricketing community to stop treating the duo as equals in the red-ball format.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Reacting to new Test skipper Shubman Gill’s remark that he will feel the pressure of not having Kohli and Rohit in the England series, Manjrekar took to Instagram to share a candid assessment. Poll Do you agree with Sanjay Manjrekar’s view that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should not be treated as equals in Test cricket? “It stirred up the bee in my bonnet, which has been there for a while. It’s not so much about the statement, but the fact that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli tend to get clubbed together,” he said.The former India batter asserted that while comparisons may be valid in white-ball cricket, Kohli and Rohit are in very different leagues in Test cricket. “We even have a term for them, RoKo. I can understand it in white-ball cricket… but when it comes to red-ball cricket, there’s absolutely no comparison between the two,” he added.Backing his stance with numbers, Manjrekar pointed to Kohli’s dominant record in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries. “Virat Kohli has got 12 hundreds. Rohit Sharma in SENA countries — just the one, against England at The Oval in 2021. He’s played over 100 innings and averages 40.” Will Rohit Sharma win 2027 World Cup? Astrologer Lobo predicts after getting Champions Trophy bang on! “And I dare say, had he gone to England, that average would have dropped into the 30s,” he said, before ending with a blunt punchline: “So, when it comes to red-ball cricket… I say, RoKo, stop that.”Manjrekar’s comments have reignited discussions on India’s red-ball legacy and the contrasting impact of two modern giants of Indian cricket.

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India tour of England: No more musical chairs! For KL Rahul, England could finally be home | Cricket News

India tour of England: No more musical chairs! For KL Rahul, England could finally be home | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Whenever an Indian captain has found himself in trouble, they’ve often turned to their ‘Rahuls’. Be it Sourav Ganguly, Virat Kohli, or the recently-retired Rohit Sharma, their ‘Rahuls’ have delivered when it mattered most. Rahul Dravid, India’s legendary Test batter, frustrated world-class pace attacks as he stood guard like his life depended on it. KL Rahul has played a comparable role for his captains — MS Dhoni, then Kohli, and most recently, Rohit.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The captain asked KL Rahul to open? He said yes.The captain asked him to move to No. 3 or No. 4? He accepted it.The captain chose to drop him down the order? No complaints.The team needed him to bat and keep wickets? KL Rahul said yes again. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy Poll Should KL Rahul be the permanent opener for India in Test matches? It wouldn’t be wrong to say that challenges seem to follow KL Rahul wherever he goes. He has faced many, but one of the most puzzling episodes unfolded in Australia during the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy.Rohit, then India’s Test captain, missed the opening Test due to the birth of his second child. The team management asked KL Rahul to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. India went on to win the match convincingly by 295 runs. KL Rahul contributed 26 and 77 in the two innings, while stitching a 200-run match-defining stand with Jaiswal.When Rohit returned for the second Test, the team chose not to disturb the successful opening combination. KL Rahul continued to open with Jaiswal, while Rohit slotted himself at No. 6. India, however, lost that match by 10 wickets, with KL Rahul scoring 37 and 7.In the third Test, KL Rahul again opened and produced a gritty 84 — the highest score by an Indian batter in the match — which ended in a draw.But the real drama began during the fourth Test. Rohit, struggling for runs, brought himself back at the top of the order and pushed KL Rahul down to No. 3. The decision backfired. Rohit scored just 3 and 9, while KL Rahul — clearly unsettled by the shift — managed 24 and a duck.The question on everyone’s lips was the same — why change KL Rahul’s position when he was performing as an opener?With Rohit opting out of the fifth and final Test, KL Rahul opened once again. India lost the match by six wickets and the series 1-3.Samuel Jayaraj, KL Rahul’s childhood coach, said the cricketer has been handling challenges from a very young age.“When he was just 11 years old, and for the next 12 years, he played in the Under-13s for Mangalore. Let me tell you — Mangalore Zone never had strong batsmen [batters]. It was always known for its bowling attack. But KL scored two double hundreds. He used to bat from both ends. I still remember — by the fourth or fifth ball, he would take a single, go to the non-striker’s end, and then be back on strike to face the next over. He handled pressure brilliantly, even at that age,” Jayaraj told TimesofIndia.com.“So, if you ask me, as a coach, this isn’t surprising. He was always ready. He was also a wicketkeeper. He would smartly rotate strike, taking singles on the fourth, fifth, or sixth ball, then face the next over. He follows instructions really well. If you noticed in the Champions Trophy, his role was very specific—and he executed it perfectly,” he said.“In fact, despite having a very good ODI World Cup, he wasn’t picked for the T20 World Cup. He didn’t crib or get frustrated. Because he has seen these things as a kid. That’s why he’s so strong today both mentally and technically. And that’s his biggest strength. He’s matured a lot. He’s been playing cricket at a high level for 10 years now. That experience shows. If you watch him now, he’s a completely different player — much calmer, composed, and in control. For me, that calmness is what stands out the most,” he said. India Test squad for England tour: Shubman Gill to lead, Rishabh Pant his deputy BIG TEST AWAITS KL RAHUL IN ENGLANDKL Rahul, who debuted in 2014, has played 58 Tests, scoring 3257 runs at an average of 33.57. Among the Indian squad touring England, the right-hander is one of the few to hold experience of playing in England. He has played 9 Tests in England, scoring 614 runs at an average of 34.11, including two centuries and one half-century. His highest score in England is 149.Having previously faced the likes of Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Chris Woakes, KL Rahul will walk into this series as the seasoned batter. Armed with his past experience, he is expected to play a key role — not just with the bat, but also as a guiding presence for the youngsters.Before departing for the UK, KL Rahul met his childhood coach Jayaraj for a short, but meaningful, discussion.“I always tell him just one thing — enjoy and become. That’s always been my message, my mantra, even my password, you could say. You have to enjoy what you do. You have to be happy. If you’re not happy, your body simply won’t respond the way you want it to,” Jayaraj said.“For me, form is temporary — but the skill and technique you develop stay with you forever. Honestly, when he was playing state and zonal matches in Mangalore and Bangalore, we coaches always had the red ball in mind. We didn’t really think much about white-ball cricket back then. So the foundation he built — the technique and skill — was rooted in red-ball cricket,” the coach added.“In England, a more and more matured KL Rahul will be seen,” a confident Jayaraj remarked. Shubman Gill story: From a remote village near the border to India’s Test captain OPPORTUNITY FOR KL RAHUL TO MAKE THE TEST SPOT HIS OWNDuring the IPL, KL Rahul…

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'If India get flogged 5-0 in England ... ': Michael Clarke's bold claim on Virat Kohli's Test comeback | Cricket News

‘If India get flogged 5-0 in England … ‘: Michael Clarke’s bold claim on Virat Kohli’s Test comeback | Cricket News

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NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes Virat Kohli, who has often called Test cricket the pinnacle of the sport, might come out of retirement if India endure a heavy defeat in the upcoming five-Test series in England and the team management and selectors request his return.Kohli had announced his retirement from the longest format last month after playing 123 Tests for India, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.“I believe this. If India go to England and get flogged, if they lose the series 5-0 for example, I think the fans will want Virat Kohli to come out of retirement and play Test cricket again,” Clarke told the Beyond23 Cricket podcast on Friday.“And I honestly, I think if he was asked by the captain, selectors and supported by fans, if they get beaten big time in England, I think he’ll come. He still loves Test cricket.“I think his words, I think those words, like you could hear his passion for Test cricket is real.” Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy After fulfilling his long-standing dream of winning the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli had said the title still ranked “five levels under Test cricket.”Both Kohli and Rohit Sharma had announced their retirement from the Test format ahead of the England series, which begins with the opening match in Leeds on June 20.“Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket. I think tactically any team will miss his captaincy. I think tactically he was a brilliant captain. Virat Kohli walks away from Test cricket. Devastating! What an absolute champion he’s been and Test cricket will miss him,” Clarke said.

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The Best of India in England, Part 1: Ajit Wadekar's men script the perfect underdog story

The Best of India in England, Part 1: Ajit Wadekar’s men script the perfect underdog story

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India’s first Test on English soil was also their first ever Test, at Lord’s in June 1932. For the next 39 years and 20 further Tests, there was no light at the end of the tunnel. In that period, India lost 15 and drew six games, which meant that by the time Ajit Wadekar led his team out in July 1971 for a three-match series, the expectations were mixed. By the time Ajit Wadekar led his team out in July 1971 for a three-match series, the expectations were mixed.(AFP) Mixed, because there was a sense of foreboding, given that India had never won a Test in England, but also a feeling of optimism, following the unexpected 1-0 triumph in the Caribbean under the same captain, India’s first Test and series victory in the West Indies, a few months previously. There was everything to play for when the teams locked horns at The Oval; the first two outings, at Lord’s and Manchester, had ended in stalemates. Despite grabbing a nine-run lead at Lord’s in the first Test, India had to hang on by the skin of their teeth to force a draw in the opener, finishing on 145 for eight after being set 183 for victory. At Old Trafford in the next fixture, the weather intervened, and the visitors held on for a comfortable no-result despite conceding a deficit of 164 so that when the carnival shifted to the southeast county of Surrey for the decider, Wadekar’s lads were genuinely in with a chance of creating history. Opting to bat, England had the better of the exchanges. Riding on half-centuries from John Jameson, Alan Knott, and No. 8 Richard Hutton, England amassed 355, scoring at a frenetic (in those days) 3.26 runs per over. Even though the bulk of the bowling was marshalled by the spin triumvirate of Bishan Bedi, BS Chandrasekhar and S Venkataraghavan, Eknath Solkar, who bowled left-arm medium-pace and spin with near-equal felicity, was the most successful bowler with three for 28. India lost openers Ashok Mankad and Sunil Gavaskar, who had smashed 774 runs in four Tests on debut in the Caribbean, cheaply but rallied to post 284, thanks to handy knocks from the skipper himself, Dilip Sardesai, Solkar and stumper Farokh Engineer, a seasoned campaigner with Lancashire in the English County Championship. Skipper Ray Illingworth, the off-spinner, took one of only three five-wicket hauls in 61 Tests to ensure his side enjoyed a healthy 71-run advantage, early on day four. It was England’s game to dominate from that point, but they ran into tartar in Chandra, the wonderful leg-spinner who defied polio and convention to establish himself as among the greatest spinners of his generation. A dozen years back, Chandra told this writer that he needed only four fielders in specific positions — at slip, forward short-leg, leg-slip and near the square-leg umpire. “When I bowled well,” he added, “they were enough. When I didn’t, it didn’t matter how many fielders were there.” In England’s second innings, the great leggie didn’t just bowl well, he was extraordinarily brilliant. The somewhat fortuitous run out of Jameson for the second time in the match, backing up at the non-striker’s end when Chandra got his hand to a drive from Brian Luckhurst that smashed the stumps, opened the floodgates and India were then all over their opponents like a bad rash. Solkar held two wonderful catches at short-leg and India’s fielding lifted itself to make sure that England were shot out for 101, Chandra ending up with the remarkable figures of six for 38 from 18.1 overs. India needed 173 for a historic victory. Time wasn’t a factor – there was a day and a quarter left – but nerves were. Gavaskar fell for a blob to John Snow, and when Mankad followed him to the dressing-room for 11, India were in strife at 37 for two. Fortunately, they had experience and class in the middle order. First-innings heroes Sardesai and Wadekar steadied the ship by adding 39 for the third wicket, after which GR Vishwanath helped the former realise 48 for the next. ‘Vishy’ was coming off a blob in the first innings and was determined to make amends, battling past defensive bowling and excellent fields set by Illingworth to reach 33 in nearly three hours when he became very part-time left-arm spinner Luckhurst’s only Test victim, caught behind. “The worst shot of my life, to a long hop,” he moaned to me some years ago. India needed only three at the time and Solkar completed a memorable triumph on Ganesh Chaturthi – Indian fans had brought an elephant to the ground to celebrate the occasion! – with a four, triggering a tsunami of delirium and catapulting Wadekar to the cricketing stratosphere. Brief scores: England: 355 all out in 108.4 overs (John Jameson 82, John Edrich 41, Alan Knott 90, Richard Hutton 81; Eknath Solkar 3-28, Bishan Bedi 2-120, BS Chandrasekhar 2-76, S Venkataraghavan 2-63) and 101 all out in 45.1 overs (Brian Luckhurst 33; Venkat 2-44, Chandra 6-38) lost to India: 284 all out in 117.3 overs (Ajit Wadekar 48, Dilip Sardesai 54, Solkar 44, Farokh Engineer 59, Abid Ali 26; John Snow 2-68, Ray Illingworth 5-70) and 174/6 in 101 overs (Wadekar 45, Sardesai 40, GR Vishwanath 33; Derek Underwood 3-72) by four wickets.

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