Contractor on Griffith's blow, 50 years on

Contractor’s injury is a perfect example of destiny playing a cruel hand. Firstly, he was not supposed to play this game against Barbados, but had to take the field because the others were ostensibly not fit to play. Secondly, one delivery before the fatal one bowled by Griffith, Contractor was dropped by Conrad Hunte at forward short leg. Had he been caught, he would never have got injured. And finally, while Griffith ran in to bowl, Contractor was disturbed by some movement in the dressing room. He decided to sort out the problem after that delivery, but it was too late. He had already played his last delivery as an India player. No grudges.

“After the operation, he [the doctor] asked me when am I going to start playing cricket again. I was shocked because I could barely walk then. But he insisted that I get back to playing else I would be a vegetable,” says Contractor. Less than a year later, he walked in to bat at No 5 in his first first-class match after injury for Maharashtra Chief Minister’s XI against Maharashtra Governor’s XI ...