Which batsman holds the record for the highest Test score by an Englishman in India?
(18 December 2001)
England's tour of India in 1984-85, for that is when the record was
established, got off to a catastrophic start; their arrival was almost
immediately followed by the assassination of Indian Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi. And then, just a day before the first Test at Bombay,
the British Deputy High Commissioner, who had earlier entertained
them, was shot dead on his way to work.
It was thus no surprise when an already dazed touring team slumped to
a eight-wicket loss against an Indian team powered by the magic wrists
of Laxman Sivaramakrishnan. David Gower's side, though, had many
experienced campaigners in their ranks, and this saw them bounce back
in the second Test at the Feroze Shah Kotla grounds, securing an
eight-wicket victory. After the third Test at Eden Gardens was drawn,
Chepauk and its famous MA Chidamabaram Stadium
provided the Englishmen with the chance to do what no touring side had
done before - come from behind and win a series in India.
Neil Foster set the stage by running through the heart of the Indian
batting, claiming 6-104 in 23 overs; Sunil Gavaskar's Indians were
dismissed for 272. The English reply was rousing. First, openers Graeme
Fowler and Tim Robinson put on 178. Mike
Gatting, who followed, then provided Fowler brilliant support, and
the duo put on 241 for the second wicket; both stands remain records
for the respective wickets. Fowler was eventually dismissed for a
stellar 201 off 409 balls, a new high for an English batsman in India.
Fowler enjoyed his record for only a short period, for he had the
mortification of seeing Gatting passing it within hours. The future
English skipper made 207 off 309 balls, with 20 fours and three sixes.
This remains the highest score by an English batsman in India. England
went on to win the Test by nine wickets and eventually claimed the
series 2-1.
Gatting's aggregate in India - 862 in 13 Tests at an average of 50.7 -
is also the best by an Englishman. His exploits in India and his
mastery of the sweep shot were to give him a reputation as one of
England's finest players of spin bowling.
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