Cricket had some advantages too... There was not much competition from other sports... the only real competitor being Hockey only..
I am presenting the second part of this series here... Read the first part, to know how Indian Cricket changed after playing its first test at Lord's in 1932 and then how it went on to win its first test in 1952, whole 20 years after its debut in International Cricket.( and we doubt Bangladesh's test status because its not doing well)..
Recap : First part
The Journey resumes :
1952-53 :
India's first series win. Amarnath, now 40, leads India to a 2-1 victory versus Pakistan. Mankad beats the record of the Australian M.A. Noble to the fastest double (100 wickets, 1000 runs). Awarded purse of Rs 12,501.
1954 :
India-Pakistan series ends in a draw. C.K. Nayudu plays baseball in USA..
1955-56 :
Pankaj roy and Vinoo Mankad, shared a record stand of 413 runs for the first wicket
India beat New Zealand at home. Pankaj Roy (173) and Vinoo Mankad(231) created a world record for first wicket partnership - 413.. Roy scored a career-best 173 and Mankad 231, which stood as the hghest score by an Indian before Gavaskar scored 236 against the West Indies at Chepauk in 1983-84.
1956 :
Disastrous home series against the Australians. India lose 0-2.
1958 :
Roy Gilchrist was sent back home mid way through the series
West Indies visit India, won 3-0. But mid-series, Roy Gilchrist was sent back for hostile fast bowling.
1959 :
India's tour of England ended in 5-0 whitewash. Thrice, India lost by an innings. Indian weakness against seam bowling severely exposed.
1959-1960 :
Australian tour of India : India lost 1-2. Jasu Patel was the star for the Indians with his 14 wickets in the Test Match at Kanpur. This was India's first victory against the Australians.
**In the course of this series, the debonair Abbas Ali Baig became the first Indian cricketer to be kissed on the ground.. He was rewarded thus by a lady on completing his fifty at the Brabourne Stadium.**
1960-61 :
Pakistan tour of India. All five test ended in draw. It was the last test series between the two countries for 17 years because of 1965 and 1971 wars.
1961-62 :
England tour of India. Visitors were defeated 2-0. After the first three tests were drawn, India beat the English by 87 runs in Calcutta and by 128 runs at Madras.
1962 :
Near fatal blow : Nari Contractor being hit on the head by a Charlie Griffith delivery.
India toured West Indies : lost the series 0-5. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi became the youngest Indian Captain, at 21, after Nari Contractor retired hurt after being hit on the head by a Charlie Griffith delivery on March 17 during India's tour match against Barbados.
1964 :
England toured India.. Major instance of crowd disturbance in Calcutta; crowd trouble continued throughout the decade, culminating in the 1967 riots and the 1969 stampede. All five test matches were drawn..
1966-67 :
Paradise lost : Eden Garden in flames during the 1966-67 Windies tour
India lost home series against west indies 1-2. Violence in Calcutta on New Year's day. Huge number of extra tickets sold, the rioting almost led to the match being abandoned. In between police used force to control the rampaging crowd. Frank Worrel, Corrad Hunte made huge effort to pacify crowd. Hunte climbed up a flagpole to save Indian, Caribbean flags from being burnt. Match restarted next day..
1967 :
India's tour of England resulted in 0-3 loss...
1967-68 :
India's tour of Australia : India lost 0-4. One of the worst phases in Indian cricket history., The squad lost seven tests in a row..
1968 :
Tiger Pataudi led India to its first overseas victory against New Zealand
India's tour of New Zealand. India registered first overseas series victory (3-1) under Tiger Pataudi. The famed spin quartet is in full flow.
1969 :
Vishy, maestro of square-cut, made his debut with a duck and a ton
Australian tour of India : India lost the series 1-3. Gundappa Vishwanath started his International career, scoring a duck and 137 on debut. Once again major instance of crowd unrest in Calcutta. Six people die in a stampede for tickets.
1971 :
Debut Of Little Master : Gavaskar scored a record 774 runs in his debut series against windies
Indian cricket came of age with overseas wins versus the West Indies and England. Gavaskar's grand debut prompted a calypso in his honor.. He scored 774 in his debut series against Windies... a record.
Wadekar, led a highly competitive team. Sardesai, Solkar and the spin quartet were other stars of this team..
1972-73 :
Continuing with the great run, India defeated England at home 2-1.
1974 :
Tour of England : Indian cricket plunged to an all-time low when the Indians were all out for 42 in their second innings at Lord's.
1974-75 :
West Indies in India. Coming back from a disastrous tour of England, India, once again led by Tiger Pataudi, fought hard from a 0-2 deficit to level the series 2-2. They finally lost 2-3. Vishwanath with the bat and spin quartet with the ball were stars for India.
1975 :
West Indies won the first world cup in 1975. India had a disastrous tournament
First World Cupin England. Madan bowled the first ball in what was a disastrous tournament for India. India lost by a huge margin of 202 against England, with Sunil Gavaskar remaining unbeaten on 36 after the allotted 60 overs.
Next part will take you through the next part of this ever going journey of Indian Cricket.. In next part you will read about the debut of a player, known as Haryana Hurricane, that changed the views of Indians towards pace bowling and who is still considered among the greatest all rounders that ever played cricket. You will also learn about an event that changed the future of sports in India. And finally you will learn about something important that happened in 1989 (does it ring some bells??).
The Journey continues...
Please share your views and make my day.. :)
