The dating game

Anniversaries and important dates are always fondly remembered. Can anyone even remotely associated with Indian cricket forget June 25, for example? That was not just the day India made her debut in Test cricket in 1932 but by happy coincidence also the date of the greatest moment in Indian cricket ­ the World Cup triumph - 51 years later and at the same ground to boot.

Unfortunately, in Indian cricket, not all anniversaries and dates are associated with memorable deeds or notable triumphs. The setbacks and reverses, the defeats and disasters associated with the game in India are innumerable, and though one may not care to remember these, they cannot be ignored.

March 10 may not be as easily remembered as June 25, but that was the day two very significant triumphs were notched up. First, in 1971, India registered her first ever victory against the West Indies at Port of Spain. Fourteen years later to the day came the unexpected triumph in the World Championship of Cricket final at Melbourne.

Indian cricket fans will also vividly recall August 24. After all, that was the day in 1971 when India registered her first Test victory in England and with it claimed the rubber. Does anyone remember the significance of March 7, 15 years ago? After jogging one's memory for some time, perhaps cricket fans will recall that was the day in 1987 when Sunil Gavaskar became the first batsman in Test cricket to cross the 10,000-run barrier. Old-timers will probably have an easier time recalling the significance of February 10, 1952, for that day saw India register her first victory in Test cricket, against England at Madras.

Those over the age of 50 will perhaps remember with a glint in their eye Christmas Eve in 1959, the day India registered one of her most significant victories ­ the miracle at Kanpur against the redoubtable Australians led by Richie Benaud. More middleaged cricket-lovers on the other hand will probably never forget the significance of April 12, the date in 1976 that India scored arguably their greatest ever Test victory, making 406 for four against West Indies at Port of Spain.

Also of considerable importance are January 15, 1962 ­ the day India registered her first rubber victory over England at Madras ­ and February 20, 1968 ­ the day India notched up her first win abroad, against New Zealand at Dunedin. There are some for whom March 6, 1971, is also a special date, being the date of Gavaskar's Test debut; after all, many of the subsequent upswings in the country's cricketing fortunes can be traced back to that date. The newer generation of Indian cricket followers, I suppose, will rate November 15, 1989, as significant, being Sachin Tendulkar's first day in Test cricket. Not very far behind for them will be February 8, 1994 ­ the day Kapil Dev took his 432nd wicket and stood on the pinnacle all by himself.

Unfortunately, in Indian cricket, not all anniversaries and dates are associated with memorable deeds or notable triumphs. The setbacks and reverses, the defeats and disasters associated with the game in India are innumerable, and though one may not care to remember these, they cannot be ignored. For example, does anyone remember the significance of June 24, 1974? Offhand, maybe not, but mention 'Summer of 42' and it will jog unhappy memories. That was the day India were shot out for 42 at Lord's to lose the second Test at Old Trafford by an innings and 285 runs, the second-heaviest margin of defeat in Indian cricket history. Long may it remain India's lowest total in Tests!

And what about the significance of June 7, 1952? That was the day when, in a batting collapse of the first magnitude, India lost their first four wickets without a run on the board. Playing against England at Leeds, India had started their second innings midway through the third day of the first Test only 41 runs in arrears. But in just 14 balls, Freddie Trueman and Alec Bedser had swung the match irrevocably England's way. Such was the impact of the collapse that when a reporter of an evening daily rang up the desk to give the latest score as a stop-press item, the story goes that the sub-editor, refusing to believe the score, gave it as, "India in their second innings were four for no loss when reports last came in."

When the seamier aspects of Indian cricket are recalled, July 19, 1952, will rank very high, but few will care to recall it, and most certainly not the survivors of the Indian team that faced England at Old Trafford in the third Test of that one-sided series. For a Test side to be bowled out once in 58 overs or inside four hours is bad enough. But what can one say when a side is bowled out TWICE in that time? And yet that was the sickening experience of the Indian team on that fateful day.

It was the third morning of the match, and England over the first two days had scored 292 for seven in between interruptions for rain and bad light. Resuming, England carried on till Len Hutton applied closure at 347 for nine. What happened thereafter was beyond the belief of even the most cynical Indian cricket follower. In just 21.4 overs, India were bundled out for 58, equalling their record lowest total registered against Australia at Brisbane in November 1947. Trueman, striking terror in the Indian ranks, finished with eight for 31. Ten minutes later, India were following on, 289 runs behind.

And in just 36.3 overs, they were dismissed in the course of that hideously unforgettable day for a second time for 82. This time the damage was done by Bedser (5 for 27) and Tony Lock (4 for 36), with Trueman being restricted to eight overs and one wicket. It remains the only time that a Test side has been bowled out twice in a single day ­ an unwanted record that has unfortunately stood for half a century.