India vs England First Test Match was one of the most remarkable incidents of Cricket History. India acquired status of a Test Playing Nations just after England, Australia, South Africa,New Zealand and West Indies.
On the 31st of May, 1926, The International Cricket Council (ICC) welcomed three new member countries: West Indies, India, and New Zealand. As a result, the number of member countries in the ICC increased from three to six.
However, India had to patiently wait for six years to achieve Test Status from the ICC. The 25th of June, 1932, holds great significance in the history of Indian Cricket. It was on this day that the Indian Team embarked on their journey in test cricket. At that time, no one could have anticipated that this nation would eventually become the wealthiest cricketing nation in the future.
India vs England First Test Match was held at Lord’s Cricket Ground. More than 20000 spectators was present in LCG to witness the historic match.
Though Cricket was limited to affluent Indian families in that era , none could deny the historic impact of India vs England First test match.The Indian players who participated in that match established a significant milestone for future generations.
Both the teams faced some problems before the match. Choosing a captain for Indian Team became a challenge to the Selectors. Government’s involvement made this issue more serious.
Douglas Jardin- Viceroy’s Choice to Lead Indian Team
As India was being ruled by the British, the British government had complete authority to decide the Indian team. The Viceroy of India, Lord Willingdon, was a well-known cricket lover but he determined to give the responsibility of captaincy of Indian Team to a British player. Even he decided to invite Douglas Jardin to lead Indian Team.
As Douglas Jardine, the captain of the England team in the first India-England Test Match, was born in India, the Viceroy selected him to lead the Indian team. However, in the end, an Indian player achieved this feat.
Selecting Captain – a Big Issue for Indian Team in India vs England First Test Match
Initially, the Maharaja of Porbandar was chosen as the captain of the Indian team for India vs England First Test Match. Although he may have had unique leadership abilities, he was not at the level of a cricketer capable of leading a team in a Test Match. The Maharaja himself recognized this and graciously relinquished the captaincy, with CK Nayudu being chosen as the tour captain.
However, some Indian players objected to accept Nayudu as their captain. Eventually, the Maharaja of Patiala, the most influential individual on the tour, ordered the Indian cricketers to accept Nayudu as their captain in the first India vs England Test Match.
Choosing Opening Batsman- a Challenge for English Team
England appeared to be stronger before the match. However, they faced a challenge in finding a replacement for Hobbs in the opening position. Sutcliffe was an established opener, but the selectors struggled to find his partner for upcoming India vs England First Test Match. Eventually, Percy Holmes was selected, and Holmes and Sutcliffe opened the innings for the Yorkshire County team.
. The match was undoubtedly a significant event from the perspective of the Indian players. Numerous new records were set in India vs England First Test.
Let’s explore 10 amazing records that were made on that historic day.
1) CK Nayudu – the First Captain of Indian Test Team in the First India vs England Test Match:
CK Nayudu had already gained a renowned reputation before the match. His exceptional performance for Hindus in the Bombay Quadrangular Tournament continues to uphold his legacy.
. It was not an easy task for him to become the captain of the Indian Team for the Indian Test Team. Despite being eligible, he was not be chosen as the leader of the team.
Even when he was officially chosen as the captain of Indian team for India vs England Test Match,His own players was reluctant to accept him as their leaders. Most of them wanted to play under a captain chosen from a Royal family.
However, it must have been written in his destiny to lead the Indian Team in India vs England First Test. Nayudu batted quite well in the first innings and scored 40 runs before being caught by Walter Robins.
2) Douglas Jardin- the First English Cricketer to lead against India:
Jardine won the toss of India vs England First Test Match and decided to bat. The reason behind his decision might have been his lack of knowledge about the Indian bowlers, although that match should not be judged by today’s cricket standards. However, the English openers felt difficulty to face Muhammad Nisar’s fiery spell.
3) Jardin – the First English Batsman to Score a Test Half Century against India:
. Jardine led from the front in that match. Within 20 minutes of the beginning of the first innings, England lost three wickets. If Jardine, along with Hammond, had not turned the game around, India might have secured their first Test victory in the very first match.
In the first innings, Jardine scored a respectable 79 and became the first English batsman to score a fifty against India. Surprisingly, there were no boundaries or sixes in his 79 runs! He did not hit any fours or sixes in the second innings either, where he scored 85. Jardine was the true player of the match, but the award for player of the match was not given in those days. He was the highest scorer in that Test. India vs England First Test Match became a memorable incident also for Jardin’s knock.
4) Muhammad Nisar- the First Indian Bowler to Claim a Test Wicket:
Muhammad Nisar was probably the first Indian fast bowler. He is still regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in the history of Indian cricket.India vs England First Test match became memorable for a number of reasons, and Nisar’s destructive bowling was one of them. He was the first Indian bowler to achieve a Test wicket.
5) Muhammad Nisar- First Indian Bowler to Take 5 Wickets in an Innings:
At the beginning of the first innings, Nissar knocked over the stumps of both English openers with his fiery spell. He became the first Indian bowler to take 5 wickets in one innings.
6) Amar Singh- the First Indian Cricketer to Score a Fifty in a Test:
Amar Singh was the most talented all-rounder of the Indian Team during that time. Nisar and Amar Singh served as the opening bowlers for India. It was Amar Singh who skillfully bowled out the dangerous Wally Hammond, thereby breaking the partnership between Hammond and Jardin in the First Innings.
. In the Second Innings of India vs England First Test Match, Amar Singh achieved a score of 51, making him the first Indian batsman to score a fifty in a Test match.
7) Les Ames- hitting 9 boundaries:
The T-20 generation would be astonished to learn that the English batsmen only hit 9 fours in both innings combined. Neither Jardin nor Hammond managed to hit a single boundary throughout the match.
Les Ames, the wicketkeeper of the England Team, impressively scored 65 runs with the help of 9 boundaries. He was the only English batsman to have the credit of hitting a boundary against India in India vs England First Test Match. He also holds the distinction of being the first English batsman to hit a boundary against India.
8) Freddie Brown and Amar Singh – Hit First Sixer for their Teams:
Both Amar Singh and Freddie Brown were bowlers, but both of them achieved a record that the best batsmen of both teams should have. As the first English cricketer, Freddie Brown hit a six in a Test against India, while Amar did the same against the English Team as the first Indian batsman.
Scoring a fifty in India England First Test, Amar Singh became a name never to be forgotten in the History of Indian Cricket.
9) Jonardan Navle- the First Wicket Keeper of Indian Team:
India vs England First Test Match witnessed numerous surprising records, and one of them was Jonardan Navle facing the first delivery of India’s First Innings from Bill Bowes. Navle, as the First Indian Wicket Keeper, took a catch that put an end to Jardin’s spectacular innings of 79 in the First Innings.
10) England won the First Test against India:
The England Team was undoubtedly stronger than their opponents in India vs England First Test Match. No one expected India to achieve victory, yet the Indian Team displayed a commendable performance. However, Jardin’s team entered the record books as the First English team to defeat India in a Test, winning by 157 runs.
There were countless records set in India vs England First Test Match
1) Jonardan Navle was the First Indian Batsman to be dismissed.
2) Bill Bowes was the first English bowler to take a Test wicket against India.
3) Naoomal Jeoomal was the First Indian Batsman to be dismissed by LBW.
4) Frank Wolley was the First English Batsman to be run out against India in a Test.
5) Eddie Paynter was the First English Batsman to be dismissed by LBW against India in a Test.
6) CK Nayudu was the First Indian Off Spinner to claim a Test wicket.
7) Naoomal Jeoomal was the First Indian Leg Spinner to achieve a wicket in the Test.
Summary of India vs England First Test Match:
England 1st Innings – 259( Jardin -79, Ames – 65, Hammond -35; Muhammad Nisar- 5/93)
India First Innings – 189(Nayudu -40, Jeoomal-33; Bill Bowes -4/33)
England Second Innings – 275/8 Declared (Jardin -85, Eddie Paynter-54; Walter Robins -30; Jahangir Khan -4/60)
India Second Innings – 187 ( Amar Singh -51, Syed Wazir Ali -39; Wally Hammond -3/39)
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