Indo-Caribbean cricket combats

by A.C. de Silva

CRICKET: There is a saying that life is a wheel, so also is cricket. There are many Indian and West Indian cricketers who have hit the top in the past and they have thrilled the many followers of the game. From the Indian side a cricketer whose name comes to mind in a flash of the by-gone era is Vinoo Mankad who opened the batting. It was India's first ever Test against the West Indies at Delhi in the 1948-49 series and Mankad who opened the innings on that occasion, was the last man in the Bridgetown Test in 1953.

Mankad has been through many tough battles on the Test scene. There is no dismissal more disgusting than to get run out. One finds a dazed look in the man who is dispatched with no reckoning made and with all imperfections. Such confusion had a fatal effect on India 21 times - Mankad and Contractor each failed thrice to make the crease.

Everton Weekes was one of the famous batsmen of the older brigade and he carries the famous record of being the only batsman to score five hundreds in succession in Test innings.

Weekes - a glutton for runs

Talking of centuries who can forget Weekes, that glutton whose appetite runs like the monster who, the more he ate, the hungrier he grew. Making mincemeat of whatever was bowled, he not only helped himself most (1,495) but did the greatest amount of damage by hitting the largest number of centuries - 7 in either side. That by no means was the end to his exploits. He blazed a trail of glory in the record books with his five consecutive centuries.

Weekes started his campaign with a century against England in 1947-48 and followed it up with four more against India in the following season.

Weekes scored 141 in the Fourth Test and final Test against England at Kingston, incidentally, it proved his first Test hundred. He dominated the batting, driving magnificently and getting fifteen 4s. This was the highest individual score of the series. In India, Weekes scored 128 in the first Test, 194 in the Second and 162 and 101 in the Third. He finished this series with 779 runs and an average of 111.28.

Striking fierce and lightning blows, the Caribbean speedster Wesley Hall found Indians easy meat. He scared them out of their wits and mauled 57. In collecting the largest number of 'scalps' he conceded only 955 runs.

The five-in-one cricketer, Garfield Sobers, is the nearest rival having accounted for 33 Indian batsmen for 768. Of the 179 'caught', 18 Indian wickets fell to the dexterity of Franz Alexander behind the wickets. Walcott (2), Legal (1), Mendonca (2) and D. Allen (2) allowed no liberty but were quick in applying the "axe" to 7 for overstepping the crease (stumping).

Mortification

At Kanpur, the West Indies had the mortification of losing the first two wickets without a run on the board.

Sixteen West Indian wickets fell to smart Indian fielding - Walcolt (2), Weekes (2), Binns (1), Pairaudeau (1), Sobers (2), Solomon (2), Kanhai (2), Alexander (2) and Smith (1) - all run out.

Alexander's run out at Madras in 1958-59 was an example in leadership. He demonstrated that if the skipper of a sinking ship is the last to leave the deck, in cricket he is the first to sacrifice. Basil Butcher, shivering in the nervous nineties, made a stroke and ran down the pitch with Alexander still in his crease. Meanwhile the ball had been flicked back to the wicket-keeper who had just to remove the bails. Alexander vacated the crease.

On the Indian side, Mankad was the most philanthropic of bowlers gifting 1,802 runs in taking 31 wickets. He compensated by "booting" 9 of the 115 "sneakers" - having caught them red-handed.

Extraordinary catch

The most extraordinary catch was the one that came Ghulam Guard's way at Bombay which gave him the prize wicket of Sobers. The West Indian batsman swung his bat to a ball which bounced awkwardly. In an attempt to hook he lost the grip and the bat flew from his hands and fell yards away while the ball ballooned, which the bowler, Guard, grabbed with glee.

Subash Gupte struck the deadliest blows; his spinning gifts earned him in 1953 the title of "Indian grimmet". With his deadly leg-creaks, he ended the life of 49 at the crease for a moderate cost of 784 runs. He created a sensation at Kanpur by taking 9 wickets for 102. Vizzy told the story that Tamhane dropped Gibbs behind the wicket. Gupte would have performed the Laker 10-wicket trick.

Gupte's was the unique good fortune of receiving a "hot-cake and a sweet plum" rolled in when his Caribbean-born wife, sent a telegram congratulating him on the feat but adding: "Wish you had done against Australia and not my country". The wish, of course, was fulfilled though the performer was different for Jasu Patel ran through the Benaud-led Australian team as a knife does through butter in taking 9 for 9.

Sen (1), Joshi (4), Tamhare (1) and stumped out six from the crease by catching them in a moment of exuberance when they crossed the limit. "Mr. Extras", always a helpful member of the side recorded 553 runs for India and 342 for the West Indians.