Which Indian bowler has the best bowling analysis in a Test innings against England?
(03 December 2001)

The very first Test between India and England at Lord's in 1932, also India's maiden Test, threw up the first Indian bowler to claim a five-wicket haul - Mohammad Nissar, one of India's finest fast bowlers. The honour of being India's leading wicket-taker in an innings against the English stayed with Nissar until his new-ball partner, the equally fiery and devastating Amar Singh, claimed 6-35 in the first Test of the 1936 series against and in England.

It was another 15 years before this record too was bested. The series in question - the 1951-52 series in India - was to go down as one of the most memorable in Indian cricket history. The very first of five Tests against Nigel Howard's Englishmen provided an indicator of things to come as unheralded Indian leg-spinner Sadashiv Shinde claimed 6 for 91.

After England won the fourth Test, it was time for Chepauk to play host. India's premier all-rounder, Vinoo Mankad, was at his peak as a left-arm spinner, and the Madras Test, the last of the series, was to prove his finest. When England's stand-in captain DB Carr won the toss and elected to bat, he would not have thought that the improbable was about to happen.

England were dismissed for 266 after Mankad wove a magical spell, returning 8-35. Centuries from Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar then saw India post a mammoth 457/9 in reply. When England batted again, Mankad (4-57) shared the bowling honours with Ghulam Ahmed (4-77). Fittingly, Mankad claimed the last three wickets that paved the way for India's maiden Test triumph.

In more than 49 years that have passed since, only BS Chandrasekhar has claimed an eight-wicket haul against England; his 8-79 in the 1972 Test between the two sides at New Delhi, though, could not prevent the visitors from winning. Will the 2001 series against Nasser Hussain's side finally see Mankad's record being overhauled?

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