Match-winners in tests of overseas series in 1960's and 1970's

[Straight Drive]

A look at the match-winners in the tests that India won in the three overseas series win in NZ (1968), WI (1971) and England (1971). Draw's have been excluded. There was one loss against NZ which has been excluded as well.

 

I have  picked the top 2 run scorers and 2 two wicket-takers in the won tests as top performers.

 

New Zealand (1968)

My  Player of the series: Prasanna

 

Scorecard: 1st Test
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17295/scorecard/63019/new-zealand-vs-india-1st-test-india-tour-of-new-zealand-1967-68

 

My  Player of the match: Ajit Wadekar

 

1st Test Batting:
First Innings - Wadekar (80), Engineer - (63)

Second Innings - Wadekar (71), Engineer (29)

1st Test Bowling:

First Innings: Abid Ali - 4/26, Bapu Nadkarni - 2/31

Second Innings: Prasanna - 6/94, Bapu Nadkarni - 1/13

 

Overall 1st Test toppers -
2 batsmen (Wadekar - 151 runs & Engineer - 92 runs).
2 bowlers (Abid Ali 4/26 & Prasanna 6/94).

 

 

Scorecard - 3rd Test
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17295/scorecard/63021/new-zealand-vs-india-3rd-test-india-tour-of-new-zealand-1967-68

 

My  Player of the match: Prasanna

 

3rd Test Batting:
First Innings - Wadekar (143), Engineer - (44)

Second Innings - Abid Ali (36), Engineer (18)

3rd Test Bowling:

First Innings: Prasanna - 5/32, Rusi Surti - 3/44

Second Innings: Bapu Nadkarni - 6/43, Prasanna - 3/56

 

Overall 3rd test toppers -
2 batsmen (Wadekar - 148 runs & Engineer - 62 runs).
2 bowlers (Prasanna 8/88 & Bapu Nadkarni 7/65).

 

Scorecard: 4th Test
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17295/scorecard/63022/new-zealand-vs-india-4th-test-india-tour-of-new-zealand-1967-68

My  Player of the match:
Prasanna

 

 

4th Test Batting:
First Innings - Pataudi (51), Engineer - (44)

Second Innings - Rusi Surti (99), Chandu Borde (65)

4th Test Bowling:

First Innings: Prasanna - 4/44, Bedi - 2/21

Second Innings: Prasanna - 4/40, Bedi - 3/14

 

Overall 3rd test toppers -
2 batsmen (Rusi Surti - 127 runs & Chandu Borde - 106 runs).
2 bowlers (Prasanna 8/84 & Bedi 5/35).

Overall Series toppers:
Top batsmen : (Wadekar - 328 runs @ 46.85 & Rusi Surti - 321 runs @ 45.85)
Top bowlers : (Prasanna - 24 wkts @ sr 49.4 avg 18.79 & Bedi 16 wkts @ sr 66 avg 23.18)

West Indies (1971)

 

My  Player of the series: Sunny

 

Scorecard

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17261/scorecard/63067/west-indies-vs-india-2nd-test-india-tour-of-west-indies-1970-71

 

My  Player of the match: Dilip Sardesai

 

Lets look at the performance of the test which we won:

2nd Test Batting:
First Innings - Sunny (65), Sardesai - 112, Solkar (55), A Mankad (44).

Second Innings - Sunny (67), Mankad (29)

2nd Test Bowling:

First Innings: Prasanna - 4/54, Bedi 3/46.

Second Innings: Venkat - 5/95, Bedi 2/50.

 

Overall test toppers -
2 batsmen (Sardesai - 115 runs & Sunny - 132 runs).
2 bowlers (Prasanna 6/130 & Bedi 5/96).

 

Overall Series toppers:
Top batsmen : (Sunny - 774 runs @ 154.80 & Sardesai - 642 runs @ 80.25)
Top bowlers : (Venkat - 22 wkts @ sr 78.9 avg 33.81 , Prasanna - 11 wickets @ sr 87.1 avg 37 & Bedi - 15 wkts @ sr 124.2 avg 43.73)

 

England (1971)

My Player of the series: Chandrasekhar

 

Scorecard
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17255/scorecard/63078/england-vs-india-3rd-test-india-tour-of-england-1971
 

My Player of the match: Chandrasekhar

I would give Player of the Match to both Wadekar and Chandra. Did well in adverse conditions and when it mattered most.

 

Overall test toppers -
2 batsmen (Sardesai - 94 runs & Wadekar- 93 runs)
2 bowlers (Prasanna 8/114 & Venkat 4/107)

 

Overall series toppers -
Top batsmen : (Wadekar - 204 runs @ 34 & Engineer - 172 runs @ 43)
Top bowlers : (Chandrasekhar - 13 wickets @ sr 67.4 avg 29.15 , Venkat - 13 wkts @ sr 69.4 avg 26.92)

Wadekar handled the pace bowlers in swing conditions and against a new ball. He imo was the star batsman in this test. Engineer was second best. England had got lead and looked strong favorites to win until Chandra bamboozled them with spin.

Edited February 14, 2019 by Straight Drive