Test Cricket 1970s and 1980s - Top Batsmen

 (27 November 1970 to 16 April 1990)

Sunil Gavaskar led the charge in the 1970s with a tremendous series in the West Indies, 774 runs in four Test matches, including a double century and century in the same Test. He never looked back, becoming the first to scale the Everest of 10,000 Test runs, earlier going past the inimitable Don Bradman’s 35-year-old record of 29 hundreds, setting a new benchmark for Sachin Tendulkar to surpass.

Greg Chappell made his Test debut just before Gavaskar, an upright, elegant player who overhauled Bradman’s Australian record aggregate of 6996 runs. The supercilious marauder Vivian Richards arrived a few years later, followed by the impish, street-smart Javed Mianded. The left-handed gritty fighter Allan Border followed suit, and went on to top Gavaskar’s aggregate, becoming the first to post 11,000 Test runs. Meanwhile, the copybook opener Geoff Boycott carried over his broad blade from the 1960s. All of them scored over 5000 Test runs and averaged above 50 in this golden age of the 1970s and 1980s.

Two other Australians, Ian Redpath and Dean Jones, averaged over 50, hitting up more than 2500 Test runs. Even in the evening of his brilliant career, the great Gary Sobers crashed 1256 runs in 17 Tests in the 1970s, at an average of 52.33 with a highest of 178 not out with 5 hundreds and 4 fifties. Two openers Charlie Davis of the West Indies, and Mark Taylor of Australia, averaged in the mid-60s while notching up over 1000 runs. Davis averaged 66.56 for his 1065 runs, and Taylor averaged 64.72 as he scored 1618 runs.

David Gower, Gordon Greenidge, Dilip Vengsarkar, Clive Lloyd, Gundappa Viswanath, Desmond Haynes, Ian Botham and Zaheer Abbas crafted over 5000 runs in this period. All of them averaged in the 40s, except allrounder Botham who scored 34.35 runs per innings. Several other batsmen scored over 2000 runs and averaged above 40.

Top Rungetters (minimum 5000 runs)

Sunil Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score 236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45

Allan Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score 205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48

Vivian Richards (West Indies), Tests 111, Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38

Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score 280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

David Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score 215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100, Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34

Greg Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score 247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31

Dilip Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score 166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32

Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score 242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34

Gundappa Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score 222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33

Desmond Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score 184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score 191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29

Ian Botham (England), Tests 97, Highest Score 208, Runs 5119, Average 34.35, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score 274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

 

Best Averages (minimum 2000 runs and average of 50 and above)

Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score 280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

Greg Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score 247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31

Allan Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score 205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48

Dean Jones (Australia), Tests 34, Highest Score 216, Runs 2637, Average 51.70, Hundreds 9, Fifties 9

Vivian Richards (West Indies), Tests 111, Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38

Sunil Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score 236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45

Ian Redpath (Australia), Tests 29, Highest Score 171, Runs 2578, Average 50.54, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score 191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29

 

Best Averages (minimum 1000 runs but below 2000 runs, and average of 50 and above)

Charlie Davis (West Indies), Tests 11, Highest Score 183, Runs 1065, Average 66.56, Hundreds 3, Fifties 4

Mark Taylor (Australia), Tests 15, Highest Score 219, Runs 1618, Average 64.72, Hundreds 6, Fifties 8

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 17, Highest Score 178*, Runs 1256, Average 52.33, Hundreds 5, Fifties 4

 

Best Averages (minimum 2000 runs and average of 40 and above, but below 50)

Dennis Amiss (England), Tests 45, Highest Score 262*, Runs 3487, Average 49.11, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Mohammad Azharuddin (India), Tests 37, Highest Score 199, Runs 2527, Average 48.59, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score 242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34

Glenn Turner (New Zealand), Tests 32, Highest Score 259, Runs 2441, Average 47.86, Hundreds 6, Fifties 11

Ian Chappell (Australia), Tests 44, Highest Score 196, Runs 3578, Average 47.07, Hundreds 10, Fifties 18

Richie Richardson (West Indies), Tests 49, Highest Score 194, Runs 3515, Average 46.25, Hundreds 10, Fifties 13

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100, Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34

Roy Fredericks (West Indies), Tests 49, Highest Score 169, Runs 3809, Average 45.89, Hundreds 8, Fifties 22

Martin Crowe (New Zealand), Tests 48, Highest Score 188, Runs 3288, Average 45.66, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score 274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

Alvin Kallicharran (West Indies), Tests 66, Highest Score 187, Runs 4399, Average 44.43, Hundreds 12, Fifties 21

Dilip Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score 166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32

Lawrence Rowe (West Indies), Tests 30, Highest Score 302, Runs 2047, Average 43.55, Hundreds 7, Fifties 7

David Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score 215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37

Mohinder Amarnath (India), Tests 68, Highest Score 138, Runs 4362, Average 42.76, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 49, Highest Score 250, Runs 3107, Average 42.56, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19

Asif Iqbal (Pakistan), Tests 41, Highest Score 175, Runs 2703, Average 42.23, Hundreds 10, Fifties 7

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan), Tests 35, Highest Score 201, Runs 2449, Average 42.22, Hundreds 8, Fifties 12

Desmond Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score 184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31

Salim Malik (Pakistan), Tests 57, Highest Score 119*, Runs 2718, Average 41.81, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Gundappa Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score 222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33

Majid Khan (Pakistan), Tests 53, Highest Score 167, Runs 3584, Average 41.19, Hundreds 8, Fifties 17

Keith Fletcher (England), Tests 53, Highest Score 216, Runs 3045, Average 41.14, Hundreds 7, Fifties 18

Graham Yallop (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

John Edrich (England), Tests 37, Highest Score 175, Runs 2427, Average 41.13, Hundreds 4, Fifties 14

Tony Greig (England), Tests 58, Highest Score 148, Runs 3599, Average 40.43, Hundreds 8, Fifties 20

 

Full Career of those who also played in eras before or after

Allan Border (Australia, 1978-94), Tests 156, Highest Score 205, Runs 11174, Average 50.56, Hundreds 27, Fifties 63

Graham Gooch (England, 1975-95), Tests 118, Highest Score 333, Runs 8900, Average 42.58, Hundreds 20, Fifties 46

Javed Miandad (Pakistan, 1976-93), Tests 124, Highest Score 280*, Runs 8832, Average 52.57, Hundreds 23, Fifties 43

Vivian Richards (West Indies, 1975-91), Tests 121, Highest Score 291, Runs 8540, Average 50.23, Hundreds 24, Fifties 45

David Gower (England, 1978-92), Tests 117, Highest Score 215, Runs 8231, Average 44.25, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39

Geoff Boycott (England, 1964-82), Tests 108, Highest Score 246*, Runs 8114, Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties 42

Gary Sobers (West Indies, 1954-74), Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, Hundreds 26, Fifties 30

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies, 1974-91), Tests 108, Highest Score 226, Runs 7558, Average 44.72, Hundreds 19, Fifties 34

Mark Taylor (Australia, 1989-99), Tests 104, Highest Score 186, Runs 7525, Average 43.49, Hundreds 19, Fifties 40

Clive Lloyd (West Indies, 1966-85), Tests 110, Highest Score 242*, Runs 7515, Average 46.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 39

Desmond Haynes (West Indies, 1978-94), Tests 116, Highest Score 184, Runs 7487, Average 42.29, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39

David Boon (Australia, 1984-96), Tests 107, Highest Score 200, Runs 7422, Average 43.65, Hundreds 21, Fifties 32

Dilip Vengsarkar (India, 1976-92), Tests 116, Highest Score 166, Runs 6868, Average 42.13, Hundreds 17, Fifties 35

Rohan Kanhai (West Indies, 1957-74), Tests 79, Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

Mohammad Azharuddin (India, 1984-2000), Tests 99, Highest Score 199, Runs 6215, Average 45.03, Hundreds 22 Fifties 21

Gundappa Viswanath (India, 1969-83), Tests 91, Highest Score 222, Runs 6080, Average 41.93, Hundreds 14, Fifties 35

Richie Richardson (West Indies, 1983-95), Tests 86, Highest Score 194, Runs 5949, Average 44.39, Hundreds 16, Fifties 27

Salim Malik (Pakistan, 1982-99), Tests 103, Highest Score 237, Runs 5768, Average 43.69, Hundreds 15, Fifties 29

Martin Crowe (New Zealand, 1982-95), Tests 77, Highest Score 299, Runs 5444, Average 45.36, Hundreds 17, Fifties 18

Doug Walters (Australia, 1965-81), Tests 74, Highest Score 250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33

Ian Chappell (Australia, 1964-80), Tests 75, Highest Score 196, Runs 5345, Average 42.42, Hundreds 14, Fifties 26

Ian Botham (England, 1977-92), Tests 102, Highest Score 208, Runs 5200, Average 33.54, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22

John Edrich (England, 1963-76), Tests 77, Highest Score 310*, Runs 5138, Average 43.54, Hundreds 12, Fifties 24

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan, 1969-85), Tests 78, Highest Score 274, Runs 5062, Average 44.79, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

Ian Redpath (Australia, 1964-76), Tests 66, Highest Score 171, Runs 4737, Average 43.45, Hundreds 8, Fifties 31

Mohinder Amarnath (India, 1969-88), Tests 69, Highest Score 138, Runs 4378, Average 42.50, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24

Roy Fredericks (West Indies, 1968-77, Tests 59, Highest Score 169, Runs 4334, Average 42.49, Hundreds 8, Fifties 26

Majid Khan (Pakistan, 1964-83), Tests 63, Highest Score 167, Runs 3931, Average 38.92, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan, 1959-79), Tests 57, Highest Score 201, Runs 3643, Average 39.17, Hundreds 10, Fifties 19

Dean Jones (Australia, 1984-92), Tests 52, Highest Score 216, Runs 3631, Average 46.55, Hundreds 11, Fifties 14

Dennis Amiss (England, 1966-77), Tests 50, Highest Score 262*, Runs 3612, Average 46.30, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Asif Iqbal (Pakistan, 1964-80), Tests 58, Highest Score 175, Runs 3575, Average 38.85, Hundreds 11, Fifties 12

Keith Fletcher (England, 1968-82), Tests 59, Highest Score 216, Runs 3272, Average 39.90, Hundreds 7, Fifties 19

Glenn Turner (New Zealand, 1969-83), Tests 41, Highest Score 259, Runs 2991, Average 44.64, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Graham Yallop (Australia, 1976-84), Tests 39, Highest Score 268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

On the 40th anniversary of India’s triumph in the cricket World Cup 1983, interview with skipper Kapil Dev published in Indra Vikram Singh’s ‘The Big Book of World Cup Cricket’

 

What did your 1983 World Cup team have that the 1975 and 1979 Indian sides did not?

Self-belief. We had a good tour of the West Indies prior to the 1983 World Cup. We levelled the One-day series 1-1 before losing the decider. It was not a joke to beat the West Indies in those days. Once we beat them (in Berbice, Guyana), we realised that we could beat anyone. Besides we had a number of allrounders. If you consider that men like Kirti Azad and Madan Lal – who batted at no.7 and no.9 for us – have scored 16 Ranji Trophy centuries each, it becomes apparent that we had tremendous batting depth. Imagine a player like Syed Kirmani was batting at no.10! Even last-man Balwinder Singh Sandhu could bat. We had attacking batsmen (Krish Srikkanth, Sandeep Patil and Kapil himself) and also those like Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, Dilip Vengsarkar and Yash Pal Sharma who could see us through the 60 overs. Our fielding was safe rather than brilliant, though men like Roger Binny and Yash Pal were outstanding. Gavaskar did a great job in the slips and Kirmani was a fine wicketkeeper.

No one except Kim Hughes gave your team even an outside chance to win the Cup. Were you surprised at your team’s performance?

Definitely, I was surprised. But everything was clicking for us then. We had belief in ourselves. Victory over the West Indies in the first match of the World Cup gave a kick-start to our campaign. We can win, we thought after this. Our attitude was very good.

 

In retrospect, you did have a very good One-day side.

I agree we had a good team.

 

Would you say that it was your innings against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells that turned the tide? You went on to win four matches in a row to lift the Cup quite sensationally.

Rather than my innings, what was critical was that the thought of losing never crossed our minds. There was a terrific bond within that team.

 

Was the wicket seaming a lot on that day?

You know that matches started at 11 A.M. in England thanks to their long hours of daylight during summer. Even at that hour the ball was nipping around. Crucially, our batsmen kept edging instead of missing. As wickets tumbled, the pressure kept building up. Soon it was 9 for four wickets (when Kapil went in to bat, and then 17 for five).

 

Did the pitch ease out as your innings progressed?

Yes, it improved and we were able to build up a good total.

 

Personally too you had a brilliant World Cup in 1983, with bat and ball. Was that your finest hour, or was the Test wickets record more exhilarating?

The World Cup win brought recognition to Indian cricket. It brought about a massive change as far as One-day cricket was concerned in India. Earlier our One-day record was poor. This victory was not a fluke; we went on to win the World Championship of cricket in Australia in 1985. We became a force to reckon with. Even though Test cricket is the ultimate, the World Cup triumph was extremely important for us. People talk about my innings of 175 against Zimbabwe, but look at our team effort and the fine combination we had. Medium-pacers Binny, Madan Lal and Sandhu were the key. For variety we had left-arm spinner Ravi Shastri. Let’s not forget the bowling of Amarnath (slow-medium) and Kirti Azad (quickish off-breaks). In the semi-final at Manchester – where the ball invariably swings around – it was turning and keeping low that day. These two were first-class. They pegged England back and bowled 24 overs between themselves (conceding just 55 runs and picking up three wickets), leaving my main bowlers with plenty of overs in hand. After Amarnath and Kirti had bowled 6 overs each, they would look at me at the beginning of each over and wonder if I would keep them on. I just kept them on and on. Our fielding was also very sharp that day.

 

Are you aware that you are still the only player to score a century and bag a five-wicket haul in all the World Cups put together?

(Expresses surprise).

 

What were your thoughts on the morning of the final?

We felt we had nothing to lose.

 

Your total of 183 could not have inspired confidence.

They gave us a green top on which the ball was flying around. The great West Indies fast bowlers Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding made it very tough for us.

 

Was the ball still moving around when you bowled?

It seamed the whole day. I bowled four maidens, which would not have been possible if the ball was not seaming around.

 

Gordon Greenidge shouldered arms and was bowled. Sandhu said he thought he had bowled an out-swinger but the ball came in.

It happens sometimes. Once you release the ball you can’t always be sure what it will do. At times I would attempt an out-swinger and the ball would come in after hitting the seam. Sandhu was bowling from the Nursery End from where the ball generally goes away from the right-hander due to the slope at Lord’s. But that delivery seamed in sharply.

 

At which stage did you think that you could win? Richards’ dismissal? Lloyd’s dismissal? Or later?

Vivian Richards was obviously an awesome player but even though we managed to dismiss him, Clive Lloyd was still there. And we knew what Lloyd had done in the 1975 final. But soon Lloyd (who had a strained groin and Desmond Haynes as runner) hit a catch to me at cover. Then wickets started tumbling.

 

Surely at 76 for six, you had the match in the bag.

What was important was that their top six batsmen – Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Lloyd, Larry Gomes and Faoud Bacchus – were out.

 

Do you think the West Indies batsmen were complacent?

No. When a batsman goes in, he tries his best. It’s pressure that gets batsmen in such situations. It was a World Cup final. The fielding side is always less nervous at times such as this. Ultimately, pressure got to the West Indies.

 

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3

Fully illustrated

Hardcover with jacket 11.5 x 8.75 x 1 inches

544 pages

Available at an attractive price on Amazon https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166840

Innings of his life by Yashpal Sharma as India shocked the West Indies. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘The Big Book of World Cup Cricket’

 The champions slump to first World Cup defeat

INDIA v WEST INDIES  •  OLD TRAFFORD, 

MANCHESTER, 9 & 10 JUNE 1983

Yashpal Sharma was the hero of India's shock win over reigning champions West Indies
in their opening encounter in the World Cup 1983.

Twice-champions West Indies had never lost a match in the World Cup. That added up to nine wins in ten matches, with one being washed out. India had won only one of their six matches - against non-descript East Africa eight years earlier - and had finished last in their group in the previous World Cup. The other known parameter was the wet Manchester weather and, true to form, early morning rain delayed the start.

It would have taken a brave man, or a lunatic, to predict anything other than a one-sided contest in favour of the West Indies. The Indian openers Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikanth were confronted by the same Caribbean attack as in the previous World Cup except that Colin Croft had made way for Malcolm Marshall. That would have provided no succour to the batsmen, for Marshall was just as menacing as his predecessor, and approaching his peak at that point.

Predictably, the West Indies had India in trouble. Sandeep Patil played some typically belligerent strokes but he perished to the gentle off-spin of Larry Gomes, as did Kapil Dev. At 141 for five it seemed like a familiar story. 

Yashpal Sharma may not have been the most graceful batsman in the world but he was as gritty, and cheeky, as they come. He batted with tremendous application, and in the company of Roger Binny put on 73 priceless runs for the sixth wicket. His 89 off 120 deliveries inclusive of 9 fours was perhaps the innings of his life. At 262 for eight in their 60 overs, India had a total good enough to stretch the champions.

A customary rousing start was but a mirage on this occasion. Both Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes fell on either side of the half-century mark. At stumps the score read 67 for two, with 22 overs already bowled. 

When play resumed next morning, the asking-rate was well above five-an-over. A sense of urgency was the order of the day. With a keen tussle on, India were jubilant as the mighty Vivian Richards was taken behind by Syed Kirmani off Binny in the second over of the day. The West Indies were already on the back foot and their cause was not helped as wickets tumbled regularly in the run-chase. Amazingly, India were tightening their grip on the match. At 157 for nine, the West Indies found themselves in dire straits with 106 runs still required.

Andy Roberts had been in such situations before. He could make a few hefty swipes, and also defend resolutely when the occasion demanded. With him was Joel Garner, in whose hands the bat looked undersized. They dug in and, as the score mounted, there were murmurs all around about the hair-raising last-wicket stand between Roberts and Deryck Murray eight years earlier, almost to the day, which clinched victory against Pakistan. Roberts and Garner raised 71 runs but the Indians kept their heads. Ravi Shastri enticed Garner out of the crease and Kirmani removed the bails. The West Indies fell short by 34 runs with almost six overs remaining. 

A disappointed Clive Lloyd recounted: "I said before the competition began that it could be more open than in the past and this has proved to be true." It was another shocking result in this exciting World Cup.

India: 262 for 8 wickets (60 overs)

West Indies: 228 all out (54.1 overs)

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3

Fully illustrated

Hardcover with jacket 11.5 x 8.75 x 1 inches

544 pages

Available at an attractive price on Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166840

Indra Vikram Singh's other books available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.in/sk=Indra+Vikram+Singh&i=stripbooks&rh=p_6%3AA3HSV0N9AV7NOK&dc&qid=1602408830&rnid=1318474031&ref=sr_nr_p_6_1

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar’s Test debut on this day 50 years ago. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

 

Gavaskar’s arrival was indicative of the fact that Indian cricket had come of age. The spin quartet of Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bishen Singh Bedi were at the height of their powers. Gavaskar showed that fast bowling could not only be tackled but also scored off, in a prolific if not dominant fashion. Before him, Indian batsmen, with some notable exceptions, had the dubious reputation of stepping away to leg when confronted with genuine pace, and floundering against swing. Gavaskar changed it all.

There was a new captain at the helm, Ajit Wadekar, on that path-breaking tour of the Caribbean in 1971, ending at least for the time being the Pataudi era which had also begun in the West Indies nine years earlier. The signs were ominous as India won the second Test at Port of Spain by 7 wickets. It was India’s first victory over the West Indies in six series, home and away, and helped clinch the rubber, with the other four Tests drawn. Gavaskar scored 65 and 67 not out on debut, and gave solid starts in both innings along with Bombay (now Mumbai) colleague Ashok Mankad.

Two other Bombay stars made it a habit of pulling India out of troubled waters. In the first Test at Kingston, with India tottering at 75 for five, Dilip Sardesai (212) and Eknath Solkar (61) put on 137 runs to help raise a respectable total of 387. With no play on the first day, the follow-on could be enforced in the four-day Test with a lead of 150 runs, and Wadekar in his maiden Test as captain inflicted this ignominy on the hosts. The ageing Rohan Kanhai and skipper Garfield Sobers brought back memories of their halcyon days in a match-saving fourth-wicket partnership of 173 runs. Kanhai scored 56 and 158 not out, and Sobers 44 and 93. It seemed that the experienced middle-order would have to see the West Indies through, for the bowling was depleted, with Sobers having to bowl long stints. 

It was not to be. Sobers and Kanhai did not fire in the second Test, and Clive Lloyd was a disappointment through the series. India won the Test with ease, heralding one of the happiest phases in their history, and marking the beginning of the end of Sobers’ days as leader. The brilliant side that he had inherited from Worrell, and which flowered under him in the mid-sixties, had all but disintegrated.

In that triumph at Port of Spain, after Gavaskar’s promising debut, once again Sardesai (112) and Solkar (55) added 114 for the fifth wicket to give India a handsome first innings lead. Then as Wadekar, in a master-stroke, brought on the tall left-arm spinner Salim Durrani who castled Lloyd (15) and Sobers (0), India were on the road to victory. Gavaskar ultimately brought up the win in the company of Abid Ali. 

That was the point when Indian cricket earned its self-respect, and emerged from the shadows onto the world stage. The man to show the way was the little opener. Rarely has one man done so much to change the fortunes of a nation’s sport.

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Weight 480 grams

188 pages

Available on Amazon at an attractive price: 

https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166859  

Indra Vikram Singh's other books available on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.in/s?k=Indra+Vikram+Singh&i=stripbooks&rh=p_6%3AA3HSV0N9AV7NOK&dc&qid=1602408830&rnid=1318474031&ref=sr_nr_p_6_1

Sunil Gavaskar’s memorable debut Test series in the West Indies fifty seasons ago. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

 

Sunil Gavaskar’s arrival was indicative of the fact that Indian cricket had come of age. The spin quartet of Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bishen Singh Bedi were at the height of their powers. Gavaskar showed that fast bowling could not only be tackled but also scored off, in a prolific if not dominant fashion. Before him, Indian batsmen, with some notable exceptions, had the dubious reputation of stepping away to leg when confronted with genuine pace, and floundering against swing. Gavaskar changed it all.

There was a new captain at the helm, Ajit Wadekar, on that path-breaking tour of the Caribbean in 1971, ending at least for the time being the Pataudi era which had also begun in the West Indies nine years earlier. The signs were ominous as India won the second Test at Port of Spain by 7 wickets. It was India’s first victory over the West Indies in six series, home and away, and helped clinch the rubber, with the other four Tests drawn. Gavaskar scored 65 and 67 not out on debut, and gave solid starts in both innings along with Bombay (now Mumbai) colleague Ashok Mankad.

Two other Bombay stars made it a habit of pulling India out of troubled waters. In the first Test at Kingston, with India tottering at 75 for five, Dilip Sardesai (212) and Eknath Solkar (61) put on 137 runs to help raise a respectable total of 387. With no play on the first day, the follow-on could be enforced in the four-day Test with a lead of 150 runs, and Wadekar in his maiden Test as captain inflicted this ignominy on the hosts. The ageing Rohan Kanhai and skipper Garfield Sobers brought back memories of their halcyon days in a match-saving fourth-wicket partnership of 173 runs. Kanhai scored 56 and 158 not out, and Sobers 44 and 93. It seemed that the experienced middle-order would have to see the West Indies through, for the bowling was depleted, with Sobers having to bowl long stints.

It was not to be. Sobers and Kanhai did not fire in the second Test, and Clive Lloyd was a disappointment through the series. India won the Test with ease, heralding one of the happiest phases in their history, and marking the beginning of the end of Sobers’ days as leader. The brilliant side that he had inherited from Worrell, and which flowered under him in the mid-sixties, had all but disintegrated. In that triumph at Port of Spain, after Gavaskar’s promising debut, once again Sardesai (112) and Solkar (55) added 114 for the fifth wicket to give India a handsome first innings lead. Then as Wadekar, in a master-stroke, brought on the tall left-arm spinner Salim Durrani who castled Lloyd (15) and Sobers (0), India were on the road to victory. Gavaskar ultimately brought up the win in the company of Abid Ali.

That was the point when Indian cricket earned its self-respect, and emerged from the shadows onto the world stage. The man to show the way was the little opener. Rarely has one man done so much to change the fortunes of a nation’s sport. Inevitably, Gavaskar’s maiden Test century came in the next innings. He scored 116, once again laying a solid foundation to the Indian innings along with Mankad, and helping India take the first innings lead. It took an unbroken 170-run fourth-wicket stand between Charlie Davis and Sobers, unbeaten with 125 and 108 respectively, to save the day for the West Indies. Sobers’ declaration provided the opportunity to Gavaskar to score his third sixty. This time he clocked up an unbroken century stand with Mankad, worth 123 when stumps were finally drawn.

The only innings in which Gavaskar failed in the series was at Bridgetown when he was caught at mid-wicket off debutant paceman Uton Dowe for 1. Yet again Sardesai (150) and Solkar (65) retrieved the situation, this time from an even more abysmal 70 for six, faced with a huge West Indies score of 501 for five declared. Sobers had scored a monumental unbeaten 178 and put on 167 for the fourth wicket with Davis. On this occasion Sardesai and Solkar were associated in a 186-run partnership. The tailenders held on with Sardesai to save the follow-on. Sobers set India a target of 335 to win in a little over five hours. The run chase was never on and Gavaskar, in his own words, played “purely a defensive innings” of 117 not out, though he did fire a few rousing shots including a hooked six off Dowe. The Test was saved.

On the eve of the six-day final Test, again at Trinidad, Gavaskar developed severe toothache and spent a sleepless night. He had to wait for his troublesome tooth to be extracted till the Test was over and was denied pain-killers even at night on the plea that they would make him drowsy during play. Mankad had fractured his right wrist fending off a Dowe snorter in the second innings at Bridgetown, and his replacement Kenia Jayantilal broke his thumb in the intervening match at Dominica. As a result Abid Ali accompanied Gavaskar at the top of the order. Sobers, under pressure to square the series, opened the bowling, sending down a torrid spell. Abid Ali fell for 10 and Wadekar for 28. Gavaskar and Sardesai then put on 122, the little opener batting through the pain to score 124.

Sobers was indeed a determined man. He hit up 132, putting on 183 for the fifth wicket with Davis (105). West Indies piled up 526, a lead of 166. The pressure was on India. Gavaskar was now weak and worn out, still in pain, unable to eat or sleep properly, and having fielded for long hours in hot and humid conditions. Sobers was again sharp with the new ball, trapping Abid Ali early. Wadekar, though, helped Gavaskar add 148 runs.

The battle lines were drawn on the fifth day as Gavaskar soldiered on. He completed his second century of the Test to a huge ovation, with some of the spectators invading the pitch. He began the final day on 180, in very poor physical condition. And when he cover-drove Dowe to bring up his double hundred, all hell broke loose. The delirious crowd hoisted him high and literally played around with the little fellow. It was only the second time in Test history, after Doug Walters’ 242 and 103 against the West Indies in 1968-69, that a hundred and double hundred had been scored in the same game. Gavaskar had progressed to 220 when he finally chopped a ball on to his stumps. The next highest was Wadekar’s 54. Now at last Gavaskar could get his tooth extracted. It was a painstaking effort, literally, that ensured a landmark series triumph for the country. 

The West Indies needed 262 to win with time running out. In the end their ninth-wicket pair hung on precariously to eke out a draw. Such was Gavaskar’s memorable, and phenomenal, initiation in Test cricket. No one had scored so many runs, 774, on first appearance. That was in just four Tests, and his average of 154.80 would have made Bradman proud. The entire cricketing world was now talking about this 21-year-old. Over the next sixteen years Gavaskar earned the admiration and respect of players, critics and fans alike, and came to be rated as one of the greatest opening batsmen ever.

It might not have been a top-class West Indies bowling attack and Sobers may have dropped him on a couple of occasions, but Gavaskar displayed a wonderful technique, a wide range of strokes, patience, determination, resilience and a tremendous will to battle on in the face of acute physical discomfort. Surely, this little young man was out of the ordinary.

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Weight 480 grams

188 pages

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