Test cricket completes 75 years on Indian soil

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The MS Dhoni-led Indian team on Monday beat England in Chennai to record a historic win in Test cricket. But the day holds importance for more than this reason. Exactly 75 years ago to this day began Indian fans' tryst with Test cricket when the first tie of the three-match series between India and England commenced at the Bombay Gymkhana.

To commemorate the occasion the Cricket Board had planned to hold a ceremonial dinner with all former captains in attendance at the Bombay Gymkhana on December 17, but it was cancelled following the Mumbai terror attacks last month.

The December 15-18 match in 1933 between the visiting team led by Douglas Jardine, who had already gained notoriety with the Australian people for being the prime mover behind the "Bodyline" series, and the Indian squad led by C K Nayudu ended in the tourists' favour.

Jardine and his men won the contest by nine wickets, but not before some home team players etched their names in the record books, notably Lala Amarnath who made a second innings century on debut after having been dismissed for 38, the top score in the Indian first innings total of 219.

Fast bowler Mohammed Nissar, who had rocked the great English batting line-up in June, 1932 on India's Test debut at Lord's, once again was the pick of the bowlers with his first innings haul of 5 for 90.

England's reply of 438, to India's modest first innings total, effectively sealed the home team's fate and was built around Cyril Walters's 78, captain Jardine's 60 and Bryan Valentine's 136.

India were shot out for 258 in the second innings, centred around Amarnath's 118 and captain Nayudu's 67, with fast bowlers Stan Nicols and Edward Clark sharing eight wickets between them.