Naoomal Jeoomal

The man who opened the batting for India in their country's first Test match (at Lord's in 1932), Jeoomal Naoomal, died in Bombay on July 18, aged 76. A cautious batsman - although he once drove the first ball of a Ranji Trophy match from Mahomed Nissar for six - he returned 33 and 25 in the Lord's Test, and when the All-India side returned there to play Middlesex, he batted for 6 1/4 hours for an unbeaten 164: a 'rather colourless display' according to Wisden, although he added 179 for the third wicket with the mercurial C. K. Nayudu. Naoomal also scored a century against Derbyshire. He played in two further Test matches against England in 1933-34, making two and 43 at Calcutta but having a disastrous match at Madras, where a deep cut over the left eye forced him to retire for five and to miss the second innings. He was trying to hook Clark. After his victim had been removed on a stretcher, the bowler had to endure shouts of 'Bodyline' and even had a pebble thrown at him. He picked it up and walked deliberately towards the crowd before placing it ceremoniously on the grass beyond the boundary. Besides his respectable total of 1297 runs (30.88) on the tour of England, Naoomal made his mark on Indian cricket with several centuries for Sind, 203 not out against Nawanagar in 1938 being the highest in a season when he averaged 104.50. He also made a century against Ceylon at Lahore in 1932-33. In the late 1950s he became Pakistan's coach, and passed on the fruits of his experience to such players as Hanif, Nasim and Saeed.
Wisden Cricket Monthly