India played their first Test at Lord’s, but many would be surprised to find the first game at home, and their second overall, was held at Mumbai’s Gymkhana Ground, in December, 1933. India lost to England by nine wickets in the only Test to be hosted in that venue.
Though Kanpur has not grown as a venue like the major metros, it is special for Indian cricket. Off-spinner Jasu Patel’s first innings 9/69 in a 14-wicket match haul against Richie Benaud’s Australia remained India’s best Test bowling figures for 40 years till Anil Kumble’s feat of 10/74 against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999.
Green Park where the wristy Gundappa Viswanath made his debut with a century and Mohammad Azharuddin became the only batsman in Test history to score three centuries in his first three matches.
Former players and officials pose for the celebration of India's 500th Test, India v New Zealand, 1st Test, Kanpur, 1st day, September 22, 2016
Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association president Rajeev Shukla felicitated former captains, including Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Kris Srikkanth, Ravi Shastri, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The former captains were honoured with a shawl, a memento and a coin with the words “500th Test” written on it.
Conspicuous by their absence, former India captains Bishan Singh Bedi and Gundappa Viswanath were reportedly not invited by the BCCI for the historic 500th Test match.
The 69-year-old Bedi has led India in 22 Tests while Viswanath has captained in two Tests.
India played its inaugural Test in June 1932 against England at the iconic Lord’s ground.
A total of 285 players have played Test cricket for India in which they had 32 captains starting from C.K. Nayudu to Virat Kohli and will join England (976), Australia (791) and West Indies (517) in reaching the 500 mark.
No comments:
Post a Comment