Which English bowler has claimed the most Test wickets in India?
(26 December 2001)
India is famous for its great spinners, so it is but appropriate that a
'Deadly' spinner heads the list of English wicket-takers on its spinner-
friendly tracks. Derek 'Deadly' Underwood claimed 54 wickets in 16 Tests
in the land that also produced his great contemporary, Bishan Singh
Bedi. A left-arm spinner, Underwood bowled at a respectable pace off a
laboured run-up of about 10 yards. He was unplayable on rain-affected
wickets, also known as sticky dogs, and this made him a wonderful asset
in England.
Making his debut as a 17-year-old for Kent, Underwood caught the
attention of the discerning by becoming the youngest to claim 100 first-
class wickets in his debut county season. A glittering Test career was
not too far away and, when 21, he made his international debut against
Sir Gary Sobers' West Indies.
From June 1966 to February 1982, Underwood played 86 Tests, claiming 297
wickets. But for the two years that he spent as a part of Packer's
circus, he might have become the second spinner to 300 Test wickets
after the great West Indian off-spinner Lance Gibbs. He also claimed
2465 first-class wickets in a county career over 25 years. The next
highest Test wicket-taker for England in India happens to be left-arm
pacer John Lever, who claimed 37 wickets in eight Tests.
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