Memory lane... something for the oldies

[Mr. Wicket]

Was just re-reading Mike Atherton's excellent autobiography and there was a fun bit on Navjot Sidhu and his abooze of John Emburey in England's hysterically disastrous tour of India in '93. For those who may need memories refreshed, Emburey had come on that tour expected to be England's frontline spinner. In a few of the warmup games (ah, the days with warmup gameS - rather than a single 3 day before teams went off into the first test, or worse still, the tonty tonty), Embers got to bowl to Sidhu who murdered him in typical Sidhu fashion. By the beginning of the first test, so many of Emburey's deliveries had been smashed back over his head that his form and confidence were rock bottom, England left him out of their XI and went in with a rookie Ian Salisbury (one of their many, many shocking decisions that tour ). David Hopps wrote some fantastic reports on that series for the Guardian that are still archived on RSC. (Hey Chandan, Prof, Lurker, Baasu - remember back when media reports were genuinely informative and entertaining reading, rather than the standard CI cliche list we get these days?) Another startling assault came from Sidhu, who emerged from strokeless beginnings to launch Emburey for four sixes over long on in as many overs. Kambli chipped in once himself, so when Em-burey had Sidhu caught at short leg he had conceded 33 runs - 30 of them in sixes - in his first 25 balls. In the one day warmup that followed v. the Board President's XI, England made 245/8 - India chased it down with Sidhu mauling Emburey (7.4-0-59-0) in the run chase. Hopps: Sidhu, recalled to India's one-day squad, marked the occasion with 130 not out, off 135 balls. He is a heavily bearded man of mournful demeanour, but if he spends the entire tour hitting Em- burey for six he must eventually break into a smile. Emburey disappeared for three more sixes yesterday, making 12 in all in only 28.4 overs on tour. Sidhu has launched nine of them, all more or less over long-on, as he has advanced down the pitch with absolute certainty. There was one occasion yesterday when he gestured towards a group of supporters to move from behind the bowler's arm, presumably in the interests of crowd safety. Emburey left the Kotla stadium wiping a handkerchief against his left eye and, although the tears were caused only by an eye in- fection, figs. of 7.4-0-59-0 were enough to drive him to distrac- tion. It may be that in his desire to bowl his off-spin a touch slower he has come down to a hittable speed. His change of method, which served him well in England last summer, is begin- ning to look like a mid-life crisis. Emburey's second spell began with the Indians requiring 69 off the last 10 overs and Sidhu, who had moved through the 90s with dangerous over-caution, a single short of his century. That over cost 19, including two successive leg-side sixes by Sharma and two pitch invasions. The first, for Sharma's 50, was joined by several scampering two-year-olds; the second, greeting Sidhu's hundred, inexplicably attracted a much older audience. In the first ODI, Emburey didn't get a chance to bowl to Sidhu, who - mercifully for Embers - was bowled second ball by Paul Jarvis. Hopps reported on his dismissal: At times Jarvis brought the ball back sharply. His second ball yorked Sidhu for a duck (Emburey, freed from the fear of another frenzy of sixes, was among the first to embrace him). He still finished with 8-0-49-0 with Goddy and Kambli hammering him. He was dropped for the next ODI and the first two tests, then came back for the third at Bombay where he finished with figures of 2/144 for the match to wrap up what I imagine was one of his worst tours ever. Any other recollections of this series? I am pretty sure the likes of Chandan, Outsider, SJS and co. should have some interesting things to share.

[Chandan]

Oh boy!! What a blast from from the past...Sidhu's sixes! Don't we miss that? Where are these quality reports archived, Salil? Since I just do not feel like reading cricinfo anymore and PTI and other agencies aren't any better, I really yearn for good cricket writing.

[DomainK]

Thanks Wicky, a very interesting read. Sidhu's batting against spin is a little under rated and not as well known as it should be. He was one of the best ever against spin bowling and sometimes, like in the case above, was an absolute nightmare for a spinner. Shane Warne rated him very highly, even though they did not play much against each other. Thanks for the read.

[The Outsider]

This was a really fun series, which highlighted the ineptitude of the English perfectly. However, the background for the Indian team going into the series was no less in shambles. After Srikkanth had been stripped off the captaincy following the tour to Pakistan in '89-'90, Azhar was appointed as the test captain. India went on a series of away tours immediately after and kept lurching from one loss to another. They lost the subsequent series in New Zealand, England, Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Sandwiched in between was the poor World Cup showing and Azhar was really under the pump going into the series. At first his own form had stood firm in New Zealand, England, and the World Cup but towards the end of this run he was a lost man. He could not buy a run anywhere with some particularly embarrassing dismissals in South Africa. His captaincy was never brilliant, but in the South Africa tour it really touched a nadir. The '92-'93 tour to South Africa was devoid of any spark from either side. The average run rates during the series would have been around the 2 runs per over mark from both teams. South Africa were still very young in test cricket and were afraid of pushing for wins and India were just happy to hang around. There were rumors of a rift brewing between Azhar and Kapil at this time as well, with Kapil eyeing a return to captaincy. It was in this background that the series began and was the starting point of the Krumblers which would dominate the 90s in India. Perhaps Azhar was so bruised after all those consecutive losses, perhaps he realized that the only way to hold on to captaincy was a solid win against England. Whatever the reasons, Wadekar was appointed as the manager in this tour and India unabashedly prepared turning tracks. The opening test was perhaps the most memorable of the series. On a dry, crumbling wicket which started to take sharp turn after a few hours of play, England had gone in with 4 fast bowlers, presumably to bounce out the Indians given their shortcomings against the short ball . Azhar played a masterpiece on a tough track. There was only one score above 50 in the match besides Azhar's run a ball 182. And the match well and truly embarked the trio of Kumble, Chauhan, and Raju who would win so many tests in India during the decade. Azhar had risen from the dead again. By the time the series was over, he was again a hero. Given his penchant for Calcutta, perhaps it appropriately happened there. Perhaps the least talked about aspect of the series was a superb spell of swing bowling by Prabhakar in the last test at Bombay. Kapil and Prabhakar had done a steady job throughout and chipped in with the odd wickets in the first spell. In the final innings of the series with England trailing by 200 odd on the first innings, Prabhakar really made the ball move both ways. He bowled Gooch with an absolute beauty and also picked up Stewart and Atherton in the spell. Of course, the spinners cleaned up after that. But in a series dominated by spin, bat, and close in fielders it was refreshing to see a pace bowler have his say.

[kabira]

I remember this series vividly especially last two ODis, India down 3-1, two back to back games in Gwalior. What a knock from Azhar in last ODI. Those late cuts off Malcolm is still etched in my memory. England had their moments. In first test india were 3 down for almost nothing, Then there was blistering partnership between Azhar and Sachin. IIRC its was Eden Gardens. Man those where days of dust bowls. Bring back those dust bowls please.

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[kabira]

The 130 odd not out from Sidhu in 5th ODI, winning us the game when it looked like we may lose it was probably sidhu's best ODI knock chasing under pressure. His other two best will be Banglaore Q/F and Sharjah 100. Manoj Prabhakar had decent technique to become steady opener, he could have served us more. I had read about Mike Gatting's batting against our spinners. His sweeps and I was waiting to see him live against our spinners. It was great battle, our spinners won it easily except for one innings or two. Wasn't he cleaned bowled by Chauhan trying to sweep him??

[Lord]

great read for ur youngsters.btw,whos this Sharma,who got 50 n there was pitch invasion?

[zaheer]

great read for ur youngsters.btw' date='whos this Sharma,who got 50 n there was pitch invasion?[/quote'] I guess Ajay Sharma

[gloryof83]

Fantastic blast from past. That Azhar innings was something to behold!!! btw... from The Gaurdian Reports for the second test

The Guardian 13 February 1993 - Tendulkar builds a mountain - David Hopps in Madras. India v England: second Test, second day Although he is still two months short of his 20th birthday, Sachin Tendulkar formally announced at the Chepauk Stadium yes- terday that he has long outgrown the brief impetuosity of his teenage years. The serious business has now begun in earnest, as if anybody ever doubted that it would. With a career-best 165, Tendulkar helped to fashion one Indian record and provided an awesome indication of the personal achievements which lie within his reach. India's declared first innings of 560 for six was their highest total on home soil against England, who were grateful to reach the close without further mishap at 19 for nought. Tendulkar, even at such an early stage of his career, can anticipate nothing less than his eventual coronation as the most prolific Test run- scorer in history. Illness, injury, even sheer boredom could intervene over the course of his next 20 years. But there are fewer doubts about Tendulkar's durability than the survival of Test cricket itself. This was an exemplary performance. For six hours he did not as much repel a persevering England at- tack as ingest it, regarding everything placed before him as further sustenance for his prodigious appetite.

Boss :hail:

[Chandan]

great read for ur youngsters.btw' date='whos this Sharma,who got 50 n there was pitch invasion?[/quote'] Yes. It was Ajay Sharma and this was the match I this: http://static.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1992-93/ENG_IN_IND/ENG_IND-BPRES-XI_13JAN1993.html Why don't we have as many FC matches before the tests?

[Mr. Wicket]

gloryof83, Wonderful post and thank you for sharing that article! (Please do chime in more on these threads and share these sorts of posts.) David Hopps was amazingly prescient.

[achilles]

Navjot Singh Sidhu is the BEST bastman (in the past 2 decades) India has produced when facing spinners.