Starring VVS and Sunny
In our run-up to the 2000th Test, here's a look at some memorable Tests involving India. More than a few featuring prominent contributions from Laxman and Gavaskar
Steven Lynch
06-Jun-2011
Trinidad, 1971: India's first win over West Indies • ESPNcricinfo Ltd
v England, Lord's, 1932
This was India's first official Test, and although they lost in the end, there were several moments to savour. They reduced England to 19 for 3 on the first morning, with two wickets for the tall, fast Mohammad Nissar, and eventually bowled a strong batting line-up out for 259: Wisden observed that "the Indian cricketers, and especially Amar Singh and Nissar, bowled splendidly, while from start to finish their fielding reached a very high level indeed". India reached 160 for 4 in reply but, hamstrung by injuries, subsided to 189 all out. England were in some trouble again before a fine innings from the Bombay-born Douglas Jardine. Although India never threatened their target of 346, they did enough in their only Test of the summer to show they belonged at the top table.
This was India's first official Test, and although they lost in the end, there were several moments to savour. They reduced England to 19 for 3 on the first morning, with two wickets for the tall, fast Mohammad Nissar, and eventually bowled a strong batting line-up out for 259: Wisden observed that "the Indian cricketers, and especially Amar Singh and Nissar, bowled splendidly, while from start to finish their fielding reached a very high level indeed". India reached 160 for 4 in reply but, hamstrung by injuries, subsided to 189 all out. England were in some trouble again before a fine innings from the Bombay-born Douglas Jardine. Although India never threatened their target of 346, they did enough in their only Test of the summer to show they belonged at the top table.
v England, Madras, 1951-52
It took 25 matches and almost 20 years, but India finally won a Test - against an admittedly under-strength England side - at Chepauk in February 1952. In a match interrupted by news of the death of King George VI, India won in style - by an innings, after centuries from Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar. The main damage with the ball was done by the great allrounder Vinoo Mankad, who took 12 wickets with his left-arm spin.
It took 25 matches and almost 20 years, but India finally won a Test - against an admittedly under-strength England side - at Chepauk in February 1952. In a match interrupted by news of the death of King George VI, India won in style - by an innings, after centuries from Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar. The main damage with the ball was done by the great allrounder Vinoo Mankad, who took 12 wickets with his left-arm spin.
v England, Leeds, 1952
The full might of England gained revenge four months later, in a match best remembered for the stark scoreboard at the beginning of India's second innings, which read 0 for 4 at one point as the young Fred Trueman got to work on his Test debut. After that ghoulish start the Indians did well to recover to 165, but England reached their modest target with seven wickets to spare.
The full might of England gained revenge four months later, in a match best remembered for the stark scoreboard at the beginning of India's second innings, which read 0 for 4 at one point as the young Fred Trueman got to work on his Test debut. After that ghoulish start the Indians did well to recover to 165, but England reached their modest target with seven wickets to spare.
v West Indies, Port-of-Spain, 1970-71
It took India 25 matches to beat West Indies in a Test, so this victory was a sweet one - and it was enough to give them the series over a side which, while on the decline, still contained the likes of Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai and Clive Lloyd. Making his debut in this notable victory was 21-year-old Sunil Gavaskar, who made 65 and 67 not out, setting him on the way to a record 774 runs in his maiden Test series.
It took India 25 matches to beat West Indies in a Test, so this victory was a sweet one - and it was enough to give them the series over a side which, while on the decline, still contained the likes of Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai and Clive Lloyd. Making his debut in this notable victory was 21-year-old Sunil Gavaskar, who made 65 and 67 not out, setting him on the way to a record 774 runs in his maiden Test series.
v England, The Oval, 1971
Ajit Wadekar's side, which had won in the West Indies, moved on to England, and recorded India's first series victory there too: it came courtesy of a match-winning spell from the great legspinner Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, who took 6 for 38 as England were bundled out for 101 in the decisive final Test.
Ajit Wadekar's side, which had won in the West Indies, moved on to England, and recorded India's first series victory there too: it came courtesy of a match-winning spell from the great legspinner Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, who took 6 for 38 as England were bundled out for 101 in the decisive final Test.
v West Indies, Madras, 1978-79
After the young Kapil Dev had taken seven wickets in the match against an inexperienced West Indian team, India needed only 125 to win - but looked in trouble at 17 for 3 (Sunil Gavaskar recorded a rare double failure against the Windies) and later 84 for 6. But Kapil made sure they made it over the line. It was the first time in more than a decade that India had gone into a Test without their famous spinners, Bedi, Chandrasekhar or Prasanna.
After the young Kapil Dev had taken seven wickets in the match against an inexperienced West Indian team, India needed only 125 to win - but looked in trouble at 17 for 3 (Sunil Gavaskar recorded a rare double failure against the Windies) and later 84 for 6. But Kapil made sure they made it over the line. It was the first time in more than a decade that India had gone into a Test without their famous spinners, Bedi, Chandrasekhar or Prasanna.
v Australia, Madras, 1986-87
When Australia racked up 574 for 7 in their first innings - Dean Jones made 210 and finished up on an intravenous drip - you could have got long odds on India coming within a single run of victory. But that's what happened as only the second tie in Test history unfolded: idiosyncratic offspinner Greg Matthews took 10 wickets in a high-scoring match that ended with an lbw (Maninder Singh) that is still debated long and hard. Bob Simpson, Australia's coach in this tied Test, played in the first one, against West Indies in Brisbane in 1960-61.
When Australia racked up 574 for 7 in their first innings - Dean Jones made 210 and finished up on an intravenous drip - you could have got long odds on India coming within a single run of victory. But that's what happened as only the second tie in Test history unfolded: idiosyncratic offspinner Greg Matthews took 10 wickets in a high-scoring match that ended with an lbw (Maninder Singh) that is still debated long and hard. Bob Simpson, Australia's coach in this tied Test, played in the first one, against West Indies in Brisbane in 1960-61.
v Pakistan, Bangalore, 1986-87
The curtain fell on Sunil Gavaskar's great Test career with one of his finest performances - but even his superb fourth-innings 96 could not quite spirit India past the 221 runs they needed to win the match and take the series in this final Test after four draws. In the end they fell just 16 short in what Wisden called "a match of riveting theatre" as Pakistan won a series in India for the first time.
The curtain fell on Sunil Gavaskar's great Test career with one of his finest performances - but even his superb fourth-innings 96 could not quite spirit India past the 221 runs they needed to win the match and take the series in this final Test after four draws. In the end they fell just 16 short in what Wisden called "a match of riveting theatre" as Pakistan won a series in India for the first time.
v Australia, Kolkata, 2000-01
Probably the greatest comeback in Test history - and against one of the greatest of Test sides too. When India flopped to 171 in answer to Australia's 445, nothing seemed more certain than that Steve Waugh's side would steamroller their way to a record 17th successive Test victory. But in the follow-on, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid stayed together for 104 overs and added 376 - and when India were eventually all out, Australia needed 384 to win. They never got close, struggling against Harbhajan Singh, who took 13 wickets in the match. It was only the third time a team had won a Test after following on. India won the next match too, to steal the series from the astonished Aussies.
Probably the greatest comeback in Test history - and against one of the greatest of Test sides too. When India flopped to 171 in answer to Australia's 445, nothing seemed more certain than that Steve Waugh's side would steamroller their way to a record 17th successive Test victory. But in the follow-on, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid stayed together for 104 overs and added 376 - and when India were eventually all out, Australia needed 384 to win. They never got close, struggling against Harbhajan Singh, who took 13 wickets in the match. It was only the third time a team had won a Test after following on. India won the next match too, to steal the series from the astonished Aussies.
v Australia, Mumbai, 2004-05
A sporting pitch - described by Ricky Ponting as "nowhere near Test standard" - led to an exciting climax after the Aussies set out to chase just 107 to win on the third day. They'd have needed more but for Michael Clarke's earlier burst of 6 for 9... but the success of a part-time tweaker like Clarke obviously meant the Aussies were in for a hard time. And they succumbed for 93, with the Indian spinners sharing nine wickets after Zaheer Khan's early removal of Justin Langer for a duck.
A sporting pitch - described by Ricky Ponting as "nowhere near Test standard" - led to an exciting climax after the Aussies set out to chase just 107 to win on the third day. They'd have needed more but for Michael Clarke's earlier burst of 6 for 9... but the success of a part-time tweaker like Clarke obviously meant the Aussies were in for a hard time. And they succumbed for 93, with the Indian spinners sharing nine wickets after Zaheer Khan's early removal of Justin Langer for a duck.
v Australia, Mohali, 2010-11
Australia looked well set at 138 for 3 in their second innings - after 428 first up to India's 405 - but Zaheer Khan made sure the tail didn't wag, and the eventual total left India only 216 to win. However, Gautam Gambhir departed for 0, and with their old nemesis VVS Laxman injured, the Aussies seemed set to start this short series with a win... until Laxman hobbled in to renew his love affair with Australian bowling. From 124 for 8 Laxman and the gallant Ishant Sharma put on 81; then, after Ishant finally fell, Laxman and the unpreposessing No. 11, Pragyan Ojha, somehow collected the remaining runs amid feverish excitement - and moments of high comedy, as when Laxman berated poor Ojha for nearly running himself out.
Australia looked well set at 138 for 3 in their second innings - after 428 first up to India's 405 - but Zaheer Khan made sure the tail didn't wag, and the eventual total left India only 216 to win. However, Gautam Gambhir departed for 0, and with their old nemesis VVS Laxman injured, the Aussies seemed set to start this short series with a win... until Laxman hobbled in to renew his love affair with Australian bowling. From 124 for 8 Laxman and the gallant Ishant Sharma put on 81; then, after Ishant finally fell, Laxman and the unpreposessing No. 11, Pragyan Ojha, somehow collected the remaining runs amid feverish excitement - and moments of high comedy, as when Laxman berated poor Ojha for nearly running himself out.
This is a selective list and not meant to be a comprehensive one of all the great Tests featuring India
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011.