India yet to win a Test in Zimbabwe

In October 1952, India were Pakistan's first Test opponents. In October 1992, exactly forty years later, India became Zimbabwe's first Test opponents. It was India's signal honour to engage Zimbabwe in their maiden Test but unlike most of the other countries who crumbled under pressure and succumbed meekly, Zimbabwe came out with flying colours. In fact, they had India in trouble and it was with some effort that the visitors, on paper much the stronger team, wriggled out.

It was a short tour consisting only of a practice one day game, the Test match and a One Day International (which India won by 30 runs), with all matches being played at Harare. The trip was a prelude to the path breaking maiden Indian tour of South Africa, but Zimbabwe provided the visiting team with a tough preparation.

Ten of the Zimbabweans were playing their first Test, the exception being John Traicos who had played three Tests for South Africa in 1970, that country's last series before their excommunication from international cricket. Traicos was making his debut now for Zimbabwe at 45 but he was still a skilful off spinner. He was the 14th player to have played for two different countries and indeed he created a world record in the longest interval between two appearances in Test history. Since his last appearance for South Africa against Australia at Port Elizabeth on March 10, 1970, Traicos was playing a Test again after 22 years and 222 days.

Batting first, Zimbabwe exceeded all expectations by batting more than two days in scoring 456 runs in their first innings, easily the highest score by a country on their Test debut. Skipper Dave Houghton emulated the feat of Australia's Charles Bannerman in the first ever Test match in 1877 by scoring a century for a country playing their first Test match. Openers Kevin Arnott (40) and Grant Flower (82) put on exactly 100 runs. Valuable knocks followed from Alistair Campbell (45) and Andy Pycroft (39). And then came along Houghton to defy the Indian attack for almost seven hours in scoring 121. With wicketkeeper Andy Flower (59) he added 165 runs for the sixth wicket to prolong India's agony. The Indians recovered some ground late in the innings when they captured the last five wickets for 39 runs but Houghton (414 minutes, 322 balls, 15 fours) had given Zimababwe a most encouraging start in Test cricket. The Indian bowling line up had it tough and Manoj Prabhakar, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble took three wickets each but only after sending down 45, 39 and 35.2 overs respectively.

Having been at the receiving end on the bowling front, the Indian batsmen now found themselves getting the rough end of the stick. Despite a strokefilled 43 by opener Woorkheri Raman, the Indians were in deep trouble on the morning of the fourth day having lost five wickets for 101 runs. It took the technical brilliance of Sanjay Manjrekar and the natural aggressive instincts of Kapil Dev to turn the innings around. The two added 96 runs for the sixth wicket before the all rounder was out for 60. But when the seventh wicket fell at 219, India still required 38 runs to avoid the follow on. Manjrekar and Kiran More (41) saved India from this embarrassment by figuring in a partnership of 68 runs. No praise can be too high for Manjrekar who soldiered along for 529 minutes in scoring 104 before he was finally dismissed on the final morning. His hundred, which came up after 508 minutes, was the slowest by an Indian, but what a timely knock it proved to be! When he was dismissed, he had negotiated 422 balls and hit seven fours. The Indian innings finally terminated at 307. Traicos brought all his experience into play by bagging five for 86 off 50 overs. In the remaining time, Zimbabwe scored 146 for four in their second innings and the Test ended in a quiet draw with Zimbabwe having the better of the honours.

The game will also be remembered as the first Test to have three appointed umpires. A new sponsorship deal saw Dickie Bird fly out from England to stand in his 48th Test to equal the world record set by perhaps the most famous of all umpires Frank Chester. Bird stood throughout and the two Zimbabwean umpires K Kanjee and ID Robinson did duty on alternate days.

Six years later, India paid another short visit to Zimbabwe. This time the tour consisted of three ODIs, a three day game and a Test match. And while the Indians were strong enough to win the ODI series 2-1 and take the three day game by an innings and 71 runs, they found Zimbabwe a different kettle of fish in the Test match and lost by 61 runs. Even granting the fact that Zimbabwe were an improved side since the Indians' last visit, it was a surprise result.

Put in to bat, Zimbabwe scored 221 with opener Gavin Rennie top scoring with 47. Srinath and Kumble took three wickets each. India, with Rahul Dravid getting 118, replied with 280. Henry Olonga finished with five for 70. The home team did better the second time around getting 293, building upon a first wicket stand of 138 runs between Rennie (84) and Craig Wishart (63). Kumble was the most successful bowler with four for 87 as Zimbabwe collapsed from 209 for one. With a target of 235 on a true wicket, India did seem to have things under control. But undue haste by the batsmen in going for their strokes led to their downfall. Dravid top scored for a second time with 44 and Sourav Ganguly came up with 36. But this was not enough as the Indians were bowled out for 173 to give Zimbabwe only their second win in 31 Tests.