Nanik Amarnath Bhardwaj (commonly known as Lala Amarnath; 11 September 1911 – 5 August 2000) was an Indian Test cricketer. He was the first cricketer to score a Test century for the Indian cricket team, which he achieved on debut. He was also independent India's first Test captain, leading the team on a tour of Australia in 1947-1948.
He played his debut match against England in 1933 on the Bombay Gymkhana grounds in South Bombay. Aside from being a tenacious batsman, Lala Amarnath was also a bowler of some repute and was the only bowler to dismiss Donald Bradman hit wicket.An aggressive top order batsman and a medium pacer who would bowl from a short run-up and off the wrong foot, Lala would send in accurate, banana in-swingers and demonic leg-cutters.
Amarnath as captain was complimented for being straightforward and aggressive, and possessing great tactical acumen. Under his leadership, India won its first-ever Test against the Pakistan cricket team in Delhi in 1952, and went on to win the series 2-1. Amarnath also managed the team when it toured Pakistan in 1954-55.
His sons Mohinder and Surinder also played cricket for India.Incidentally, his son, Surinder also scored a hundred on test debut against New Zealand in 1975-76 and what is more interesting is that the century was the hundredth hundred by Indians in tests.
| Competition | Tests | First-class | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 24 | 184 | ||
| Runs scored | 878 | 10,426 | ||
| Batting average | 24.38 | 41.37 | ||
| 100s/50s | 1/4 | 31/59 | ||
| Top score | 118 | 262 | ||
| Balls bowled | 4241 | 29,474 | ||
| Wickets | 45 | 463 | ||
| Bowling average | 32.91 | 22.98 | ||
| 5 wickets in innings | 2 | 19 | ||
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | 3 | ||
| Best bowling | 5/96 | 7/27 | ||
| Catches/stumpings | 13 | 96/2 |
VIJAY HAZARE
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| VIJAY HAZARE |
In India's 25th Test match, nearly 20 years after India achieved Test status, he led India to her first ever Test win (and the only victory under his captaincy) in 1951-52 against England at Madras, winning by an innings and eight runs in a match. The best of his batsmanship was seen during world war time matches in the Ranji Trophy and much of his international career was cut short because of the war.
A batsman who did not believe in taking the bowling by the scruff of the neck, Hazare usually bided his time till the bowlers were tired and then launched into his signature cover drives, cuts and pull-shots. His centuries in each innings of the test match at Adelaide, against the mighty Aussies of the Bradman era, will remain etched forever as two of the finest innings played by any Indian. In England, while Trueman was running riot, reducing the Indians to nothing-for-four, Hazare walked in coolly and scored 56 runs to stem the rot. Though he captained India in 14 test matches, cricketing pundits believe that the extra burden cramped his style. He wasn’t a good communicator and hence found it difficult to motivate his teammates to do better.
His rival, Vijay Merchant said that the captaincy prevented Hazare from becoming India's finest batsman: "It was one of the tragedies of cricket."
| Competition | Tests | First-class |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 30 | 238 |
| Runs scored | 2,192 | 18,740 |
| Batting average | 47.65 | 58.38 |
| 100s/50s | 7/9 | 60/73 |
| Top score | 164* | 316* |
| Balls bowled | 2,840 | 38,447 |
| Wickets | 20 | 595 |
| Bowling average | 61.00 | 24.61 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 0 | 27 |
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | 3 |
| Best bowling | 4/29 | 8/90 |
| Catches/stumpings | 11/– | 166/– |
Born on 12 April 1917 at Jamanagar and died on 21 August 1978 at Bombay.
A top quality right handed batsman and orthodox left arm spinner, he made his test debut at Lord's against England in 1946.
He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1947.
'Vinoo" Mankad played 44 tests, scoring 2109 runs at an average of 31.47, scoring five hundreds and six fifties and a highest score of 231. He also claimed 162 test wickets at an average of 32.32 with best bowling figures of 8-52. He claimed five wickets in an innings on eight occasions.
In the test against England at Lord's in 1952, he scored 76 and 185 and returned figures of 73 overs 24 maidens 196 runs and 5 wickets in the first innings. He bowled 22 overs in the second innings but went wicketless. This match is known as 'Mankad's Match'.
His 8 for 55 and 4 for 53 at Madras in 1952 paved the way for India's first test win against England under the captaincy of Vijay Hazare. In Pakistan's first official test match, Mankad claimed 13 for 131 sending the novices to a crushing defeat. In 1956, against New Zealand, he established a record first wicket partnership with Pankaj Roy, putting on 413 runs, and he himself contributing 231 which stood for 52 years.
Mankad will be counted amongst the finest all rounders of the world of all time. His son Ashok later played tests for India
| Competition | Test | First-class |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 44 | 233 |
| Runs scored | 2,109 | 11,591 |
| Batting average | 31.47 | 34.70 |
| 100s/50s | 5/6 | 26/52 |
| Top score | 231 | 231 |
| Balls bowled | 14,686 | 50,122 |
| Wickets | 162 | 782 |
| Bowling average | 32.32 | 24.53 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 8 | 38 |
| 10 wickets in match | 2 | 9 |
| Best bowling | 8/52 | 8/35 |
| Catches/stumpings | 33/– | 190/– |
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