Who scored the first double century for India against England?
(29 December 2001)
In 1963-64, Mike Smith led a depleted though doughty squad to India,
leaving behind big names like Ted Dexter, Fred Trueman, Tony Lock and
Brian Close. The gaping holes left by these giants in the lineup,
however, appeared to have been filled adequately by the first innings of
the fourth Test at Delhi. Bowling India out for 344, in which Hanumant
Singh scored a century on debut, England then made 451, composed largely
of Colin Cowdrey's 151.
India replied with renewed vigour. ML Jaisimha and Budhi Kunderan
provided a steady opening stand, and when captain MAK Pataudi walked in
at number four, the first-innings deficit had almost been wiped out. The
Indian batsmen, in fact, managed to bat out the remaining time in the
match, reaching the highest total of the game - 463/4.
In the process, MAK Pataudi scored an unbeaten 203, an astounding effort
considering his pitiable lack of form with the bat in that series.
Pataudi was also in his first full series as captain, which imposed
added pressure on him. That Test, and indeed the entire five-match
series, yielded no result, but Pataudi reached a personal landmark by
becoming the first to score a double century for India against England.
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