India’s Baptism in International Cricket (1932 The Inaugural Test)

India’s Baptism in International Cricket (1932 The Inaugural Test) Although the origin of Cricket in India dates back to as early as 1721 yet - it was not until another 200-plus years (1932) that India was baptised into International Cricket. By then, three Indian cricket teams had already undertaken unofficial tours to England. These teams included the Parsees who had toured England in the years 1886, 1888, and the All India XI in 1911, which was financed and captained by the young Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh. 

One of the factors that helped India to be recognised of its calibre to play at the international level was the supreme talent that India’s premier batsman Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu (Col.Naidu) exhibited during the matches that were played in India. Arthur Gilligan’s MCC side, during their unofficial tour to India in 1926-27, had witnessed the sublime batting talent and the majestic personality of C K Naidu, who had scored a dashing century against the MCC team. Nayudu scored a blazing 158 off 100 balls, with 13 fours and 11 sixes, against an attack that had the brilliant Maurice Tate, George Geary, and Bob Wyatt -- all fine exponents of seam bowling. 

After playing a match against the Rajputana and Central India at the Mayo College, Gilligan’s team played a series of matches in Bombay. The first was against the Hindus. Col. CK Nayudu was far from consistent in the matches played at the Bombay Gymkhana, Calcutta's Eden Gardens, and Chepauk, Madras. But his hard-hitting for The Hindus at the Bombay Gymkhana impressed Gilligan, who carried the message to the authorities in England that India was ready to play Test cricket. 

 The Tour 

The team selection for India’s maiden test debut tour to England was shrouded in controversy and mystery. Despite all the intrigue over captaincy and team selection, a young Indian side made giant strides by undertaking their first official foreign tour in 1932 to England. This tour was also made possible because the MCC was forced to cancel its visit to India in 1930-31 in the face of civil disturbances arising from the independence movement. The MCC decided instead to invite an Indian team to England in 1931. The trip was however postponed until 1932 to allow more time for arrangements to be made. 

By then there was political tension brewing in India. Mahatma Gandhi was making his defiant journey - famously called the Dandi March and the Dandi Satyagraha an act of nonviolent civil disobedience - to produce salt from the sea water in the coastal village of Dandi. Under these circumstances of nationalistic fervour the Bombay Quadrangular was suspended, so it was not possible to gauge performances in this influential tournament to select players. Trials were arranged instead. The Hindu Gymkhana, in protest at playing cricket in England at such a time, did not send any players to the trial matches in Punjab. 

 Some of the prominent players that included LP Jai, VM Merchant and Champak Mehta, who were playing for the Hindus were unavailable because of the Hindu Gymkhana's opposition to the tour in protest against the jailing of Indian political leaders. KS Duleepsinhji, in whose honour the Duleep Trophy is played in India, was prevented by his uncle Ranjitsinhji, who was the chairman of selectors, from participating in the tour. 

The Nawab of Pataudi had also made himself unavailable for the tour citing short notice. It was speculated that this may have been because he had not been offered a position of responsibility. It was also speculated that it may have been connected with his attempts to secure a place in the England eleven. It was therefore suggested that an Englishman playing in India, like AL Hosie, CP Johnstone or RB Lagden, should skipper the side, to mollify the inevitable factions within the tour party. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) quickly resolved that the captain would be an Indian. 

The Maharaja of Patiala, one of the richest patrons of Indian cricket, was first named captain, with Prince Ganshyamsinhji of Limbdi as vice-captain, while the Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagram, was made deputy vice-captain. The tour party was announced on February 4, 1932. Two weeks before the tour, the Maharaja of Patiala withdrew for reasons of fitness, and Vizianagram then withdrew from the team citing his poor health and lack of form. On March 15, the choice of captain fell upon the Maharaja of Porbandar, while Jahangir Khan was drafted into the party as a player in place of Vizianagram. He too eventually stepped down in favour of C.K. Nayudu, who captained the team at the only Test at Lord’s on June 25, 1932. 

All-India” squad for the 1932 tour of England: 

The All-India team that was finally selected to travel to England, was a microcosm of the diversity that constituted India, about whom nothing much was known. Soon after Indians arrived in England on April 13, 1932, the Evening Standard commented on the socio-political significance of the tour: “No politics, no caste, just cricket. This is the unofficial slogan of the cricket team that has come from India after a lapse of 21 years.... There has never been such a team of contrasts meeting on the common footing of cricket. The 18 players speak eight to ten languages among them (and belong to) four or five different castes.” The team contained six Hindus, five Mohammedans, four Parsees and two Sikhs. The Mohammedans forswear alcohol by religion and most of the others do so by choice. The Sikhs, who will play cricket in turbans, are similarly denied smoking. The Hindus do not eat beef, and the Mohammedans avoid pork and ham. So to prevent any difficulties at meal times the hosts had issued orders that these things must not appear on any menu during the tour. 

The Indians played 38 matches in all, including 26 first-class fixtures. The team won 9 first-class matches, drew 9 and lost 8. The team's outstanding batsman was the right-handed CK Nayudu, who played in all the first-class matches, scoring 1,618 runs at an average of 40.45. The team also had a fine pair of opening bowlers in Amar Singh (111 wickets in first-class matches at 20.37) and Mohammad Nissar (71 wickets at 18.09). 

The Indians played their first tour match against T.G. Trott's XI at Pelsham Farm, Pearmarsh near Rye on 29 April 1932. Interestingly, playing against the Indian team in this match was Duleepsinhji. While the Indians acquitted themselves well, Lall Singh, the Sikh from Malaya leading the way, it was on 22 May 1932 in the match against the MCC that the world had a glimpse of what India's first home grown legend, C. K. Nayudu, was capable of. Nayudu, Wisden Cricketer of the year in 1933, smashed the first Indian century of the tour in style. The Star's headline on 22 May 1932 summed it all up: "The Hindu Bradman in Form at Lords". The Observer was equally eloquent: "A brilliant not out innings of 116 by C.K. Nayudu was the feature of the first day's play between All-India and the MCC." 

The Indian team played its first official three day Test against England at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground during 25-28 June 1932. England won the toss and elected to bat. The Indians shocked the English in the first half-hour itself. The MCC was reduced to a dismal 19-3 by some excellent Indian bowling and fielding. It was an extraordinary start to the match. Sutcliffe and Holmes, Yorkshire's record smashing opening pair, opened the innings with cool confidence. 

But the very first ball of Nissar's second over was an in-swinger which Sutcliffe edged and the ball went straight into the wicket -and one of England's greatest batsmen was out bowled by Nissar for a paltry score of 3 runs. The disappointment was redoubled and revived when the last ball of the same over, a delivery perfect in flight, length and pace, sent Holmes' off stump spinning through the air. With two wickets down and just 11 runs on the board it was time for Woolley and Hammond to steady the ship. That was not to be. Woolley had just scored 9 in 20 it was when he played a ball from Nissar to a point between short leg and mid-on and went for comfortable single. For some extraordinary reason an attempt was made to secure two runs and the fielder, the blue-turbaned Lall Singh, threw the ball to the keeper who removed the bails. The score now read 19 for 3. 

The Birmingham Post summed up the excellent start that the Indian’s made in their debut match “The All India cricket team has administered a few shocks to the dignity and confidence of England today. If there were among the 24,000 spectators at Lord’s some who imagined that the granting of a Test match by the MCC to the tourists from the Indian empire was merely an amiable concession, then they had a very rude awakening before the close of play....” 

England came out of the initial shock and recovered to make 259 runs in their first innings. D.R.Jardine, captaining his side made a steady 79 before getting caught behind of the bowling of C K Nayudu. L.E.G.Ames scored 65 and W.G. Hammond and R.W.v.Robins chipped in with 35 and 21 respectively. Indian pacer Nissar returned with an impressive bowling figures of 26 3 93 5. Two wickets a piece were captured by Nayudu and Amar Singh, and one batsman was run out. 

In return India was all out for 189. W.E. Bowes grabbed four quick wickets and W. Voce grabbed three very quick wickets. In their second innings, England made 275 with their captain Jardine coming good once again to score an impressive 85 not out. India was set a target of 346 to achieve. In their second innings India were all out after making just 187 runs. Bowes, Voce and Brown grabbed two wickets each and Hammond grabbed four wickets. India lost by 158 runs. C.K. Nayudu and his teammates, despite losing the inaugural official Test match by 158 runs, had established themselves as a force to reckon with. 

The Indians despite losing their inaugural Test had created an excellent impression on the hosts during this tour, which was evident from the fact that that the MCC, taken by India’s impressive Test debut at Lord’s, sent a competent team to India in the winter of 1933. Significantly, Douglas Jardine, born in India and master of Bodyline, was chosen leader of the party. 

Notwithstanding the creditable performance by the Indians all was not well with the team, which was evident from the description that Bombay Chronicle carried. “It is an open secret that during the England tour of 1932 some Indian players threw all barriers of discipline to the winds. Keeping late hours and getting drunk were with them ordinary features of the day. Even when they did not restrain themselves before a Test, C.K. Nayudu as their captain, called them to order and threatened to keep them out...if they did not behave themselves. He also appealed to them in the name of India’s honour. This, instead of acting as a restraining influence on them, infuriated them still more. It is said there were squabbles and fights thereafter over this and the recalcitrant members pledged themselves to be after Nayudu’s blood ever since.” Whatever the case, June 25, 1932, will forever go down in India’s cricket history as a red-letter day. 

Images: Courtesy: "Cricket Connects: India England" exhibition, courtesy Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------