Indian cricket team in England in 1974
Encyclopedia
The Indian cricket team
toured England
in the 1974 English domestic cricket season
. After matches against many of county cricket
and other minor teams, in April and May, the Indian team played three Test match
es and two One-day Internationals against the England cricket team. England won all five of the matches.
The season became known as the "Summer of 42",http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/35933.html referring to the number of runs scored by India in its second innings in the Second Test at Lord's (also a reference to the film Summer of '42
which won an Oscar in 1972; a follow-up, Class of '44
had been released in 1973). This remains the lowest total for a completed innings in a Test match since New Zealand
were dismissed for 26 in 1955.http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/TEAM/LOWEST_INNS_SCORES.html Blamed for his team's poor showing, Indian captain
, Ajit Wadekar
, retired from Test cricket after the tour.http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/35933.html
in the Caribbean; in the English season that followed, 1971, the team had won its first-ever victory on English soil and with it the first series victory in Anglo-Indian Tests in England; and that victory was repeated, with a 2-1 margin, when MCC
toured India in 1972-73.
The basis of India's success was the quartet of high-class spin bowlers
– Chandrasekhar
, Bedi, Prasanna and Venkataraghavan – backed up by world-class batting from Sunil Gavaskar
and Gundappa Vishwanath. Ajit Wadekar
was regarded as an astute captain, while Farokh Engineer
was an extrovert wicketkeeper-batsman.
(123). Indian opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar
scored 101 in India's reply of 246 all out, assisted by 71 added down the batting order by Abid Ali
. England reached 213-3 in their second innings, declaring with John Edrich
on 100 not out. India were bowled out a second time for 182, and England won by 113 runs.http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34267.html
In the Second Test, played from 21 June to 24 June at Lord's, England again won the toss and batted first, scoring a monumental 629 all out, with centuries for opening batsman Dennis Amiss
(188), captain Mike Denness
(118), and Tony Greig
(106); in addition, John Edrich was out for 96. Indian spin bowler Bishen Bedi took six wickets, but conceded 226 runs in 64.2 overs. In reply, India scored 302 all out. Called to follow on, India were dismissed a second time for only 42, and England won by an innings and 285 runs inside 4 days. Chris Old
took 5-21, to add to his 4-67 in the first innings, and Geoff Arnold
took 4-19.http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34328.html
In the Third Test, played from 3 July to 8 July at Edgbaston
, India won the toss and batted first, scoring 165 all out. Wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer
top scored with 64 not out. English reached 459 for 2 declared in reply, with David Lloyd
scoring 214 not out, Mike Denness
dismissed for exactly 100. India were bowled out for 216 in their second innings, and England won by an innings and 78 runs.http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34398.html
. England won the toss and put India in to bat. India scored 265 all out, bowled out with 7 balls to bowl. England reached their victory target with 6 wickets down and 23 balls to spare.
http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34450.html
In the Second ODI, played on 16 July at the Oval
, India won the toss and batted. They scored 171 all out in 47.3 overs. England reached their victory target with 4 wickets down and over 6 overs to spare.
http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34459.html
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
toured England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 1974 English domestic cricket season
1974 English cricket season
The 1974 English cricket season continued the recent pattern of joint tours with India and Pakistan again playing three Tests each against England.-Honours:*County Championship - Worcestershire*Gillette Cup - Kent...
. After matches against many of county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
and other minor teams, in April and May, the Indian team played three Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
es and two One-day Internationals against the England cricket team. England won all five of the matches.
The season became known as the "Summer of 42",http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/35933.html referring to the number of runs scored by India in its second innings in the Second Test at Lord's (also a reference to the film Summer of '42
Summer of '42
Summer of '42 is a 1971 American coming-of-age drama film based on the memoirs of screenwriter Herman Raucher. It tells the story of how Raucher, in his early teens on his 1942 summer vacation on Nantucket Island, off the coast of New England, embarked on a one-sided romance with a woman, Dorothy,...
which won an Oscar in 1972; a follow-up, Class of '44
Class of '44
Class Of '44 is the 1973 sequel to Summer of '42.The film is a slice-of-life style autobiography of sorts, depicting Herman Raucher's first year in college, where he falls in love with Julie under the shadow of the growing threat of WW II...
had been released in 1973). This remains the lowest total for a completed innings in a Test match since New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
were dismissed for 26 in 1955.http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/TEAM/LOWEST_INNS_SCORES.html Blamed for his team's poor showing, Indian captain
Indian national cricket captains
This is a list of all cricketers who have captained Indian national cricket team at the international level. The list includes all Indian captains of men's, women's and youth cricket. India became a full member of the Imperial Cricket Conference on 31 May 1926...
, Ajit Wadekar
Ajit Wadekar
Ajit Laxman Wadekar is a former international cricketer. He played domestic first-class cricket for the Mumbai cricket team....
, retired from Test cricket after the tour.http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/35933.html
Background
India could make a fair claim in the early 1970s to be the top Test-playing nation. In 1970-71, the team had beaten the West IndiesWest Indian cricket team
The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
in the Caribbean; in the English season that followed, 1971, the team had won its first-ever victory on English soil and with it the first series victory in Anglo-Indian Tests in England; and that victory was repeated, with a 2-1 margin, when MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
toured India in 1972-73.
The basis of India's success was the quartet of high-class spin bowlers
Indian spin quartet
The Indian spin quartet is the collective name given to the Indian spin bowlers of the 1960s and 70s: Erapalli Prasanna and Srinivas Venkataraghavan , Bhagwat Chandrasekhar , and Bishen Singh Bedi . Between them, they played 231 Test matches taking 853 wickets...
– Chandrasekhar
Bhagwat Chandrasekhar
Bhagwat Subramanya Chandrasekhar is a former Indian cricketer who specialised in leg spin. Considered amongst the top echelon of leg-spinners, Chandrasekhar along with E.A.S. Prasanna, Bishen Singh Bedi and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan constituted the Indian spin quartet that dominated...
, Bedi, Prasanna and Venkataraghavan – backed up by world-class batting from Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Manohar "Sunny" Gavaskar is a former cricketer who played during the 1970s and 1980s for Bombay and India. Widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history, Gavaskar set world records during his career for the most Test runs and most Test centuries scored by any...
and Gundappa Vishwanath. Ajit Wadekar
Ajit Wadekar
Ajit Laxman Wadekar is a former international cricketer. He played domestic first-class cricket for the Mumbai cricket team....
was regarded as an astute captain, while Farokh Engineer
Farokh Engineer
Farokh Maneksha Engineer is a former Indian cricketer of Parsi background who played 46 Tests for India and played first-class cricket for Mumbai in India and Lancashire in England. Engineer's active international career started in 1961 and continued to 1975, and he was India's first-choice...
was an extrovert wicketkeeper-batsman.
Test matches
In the First Test, played from 6 June to 11 June at Old Trafford, England won the toss and batted first, scoring 328-9 declared, with a century for Keith FletcherKeith Fletcher
Keith Fletcher is a former English cricketer, who played for Essex and England. He later became England's team manager. His nickname was "The Gnome of Essex", so christened by his Essex team-mate, Ray East, because Fletcher's winklepickers had begun to curl up at the toes due to wear...
(123). Indian opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Manohar "Sunny" Gavaskar is a former cricketer who played during the 1970s and 1980s for Bombay and India. Widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history, Gavaskar set world records during his career for the most Test runs and most Test centuries scored by any...
scored 101 in India's reply of 246 all out, assisted by 71 added down the batting order by Abid Ali
Abid Ali
Syed Abid Ali is a former all-rounder Indian cricketer. He was a watchful lower order batsman, a medium pace bowler and a brilliant fielder.-Early life:...
. England reached 213-3 in their second innings, declaring with John Edrich
John Edrich
John Edrich, MBE is a former English cricketer, who played for Surrey and England. He earned a reputation as a dogged and fearless batsman, and his figures show that he was amongst the best players of his generation...
on 100 not out. India were bowled out a second time for 182, and England won by 113 runs.http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34267.html
In the Second Test, played from 21 June to 24 June at Lord's, England again won the toss and batted first, scoring a monumental 629 all out, with centuries for opening batsman Dennis Amiss
Dennis Amiss
Dennis Leslie Amiss MBE was an English cricketer and cricket administrator.Amiss suffered a serious back injury whilst playing soccer in his teenage years, which entailed him starting each day of his sporting life undergoing stretching routines to loosen up.He played cricket for both Warwickshire...
(188), captain Mike Denness
Mike Denness
Mike Denness is a former Scottish cricketer who played for England, Scotland, Essex and Kent. Scotland did not have a representative international team at the time of Denness' career, so he could only play for England at Test and ODI level. Denness became the first Scotsman to captain England...
(118), and Tony Greig
Tony Greig
Anthony "Tony" William Greig is a former English Test cricketer and currently a commentator.Born in Queenstown, South Africa, Greig qualified to play for England by virtue of his Scottish father. He was a tall batting all-rounder who bowled both medium pace and off spin. He became captain of the...
(106); in addition, John Edrich was out for 96. Indian spin bowler Bishen Bedi took six wickets, but conceded 226 runs in 64.2 overs. In reply, India scored 302 all out. Called to follow on, India were dismissed a second time for only 42, and England won by an innings and 285 runs inside 4 days. Chris Old
Chris Old
Chris Old is an English former cricketer, who played in forty six Tests and thirty two ODIs from 1972 to 1981....
took 5-21, to add to his 4-67 in the first innings, and Geoff Arnold
Geoff Arnold
Geoff Arnold is an English cricketer who played 34 Tests and 14 One Day Internationals for England. His nickname of "Horse" was based on his initials of GG. He was a seam and swing bowler, who finished his first-class cricket career, which lasted from 1963 to 1982, with 1130 wickets at an average...
took 4-19.http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34328.html
In the Third Test, played from 3 July to 8 July at Edgbaston
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
, India won the toss and batted first, scoring 165 all out. Wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer
Farokh Engineer
Farokh Maneksha Engineer is a former Indian cricketer of Parsi background who played 46 Tests for India and played first-class cricket for Mumbai in India and Lancashire in England. Engineer's active international career started in 1961 and continued to 1975, and he was India's first-choice...
top scored with 64 not out. English reached 459 for 2 declared in reply, with David Lloyd
David Lloyd (cricketer)
David Lloyd is a former English cricketer who played county cricket for Lancashire and Test and One Day International cricket for England. He also played semi-professional football for Accrington Stanley...
scoring 214 not out, Mike Denness
Mike Denness
Mike Denness is a former Scottish cricketer who played for England, Scotland, Essex and Kent. Scotland did not have a representative international team at the time of Denness' career, so he could only play for England at Test and ODI level. Denness became the first Scotsman to captain England...
dismissed for exactly 100. India were bowled out for 216 in their second innings, and England won by an innings and 78 runs.http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34398.html
ODI matches
England also won both ODIs, played over 55 overs. The First ODI was played on 13 July at HeadingleyHeadingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
. England won the toss and put India in to bat. India scored 265 all out, bowled out with 7 balls to bowl. England reached their victory target with 6 wickets down and 23 balls to spare.
http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34450.html
In the Second ODI, played on 16 July at the Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
, India won the toss and batted. They scored 171 all out in 47.3 overs. England reached their victory target with 4 wickets down and over 6 overs to spare.
http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/34/34459.html
External sources
- Tour schedule from CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...
- Tour schedule from CricinfoCricinfoESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
Further reading
- Bill FrindallBill FrindallWilliam Howard Frindall, MBE was an English cricket scorer and statistician. He was familiar to cricket followers from his appearances on the BBC Radio 4 programme Test Match Special, nicknamed the Bearded Wonder by Brian Johnston for his ability to research the most obscure cricketing facts in...
, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877-1978, Wisden, 1979 - Ramachandra GuhaRamachandra GuhaRamachandra Guha is an Indian writer whose research interests have included environmental, social, political and cricket history. He is also a columnist for the newspapers The Telegraph , and The Hindustan Times.-Early life and education:Born in Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, India in 1958, Guha studied...
, A Corner of a Foreign Field - An Indian History of a British Sport, Picador, 2001