Blast from the past: When Vinoo Mankad spent 19 hours on the field

In this series, TOI looks at past tours of India to England...

1946

England were still reeling under the after-effects of the Second World War when a team from undivided India toured in 1946. In fact, proper first-class cricket had just resumed when the Indians, led by Iftikhar Ai Khan Pataudi, arrived for a four-month long sojourn in a wet summer. Pataudi had incidentally represented England in the Bodyline Series in 1932-33.

Only six in the Indian squad had Test experience against an England side which had the likes of captain Wally Hammond, Denis Compton, Bill Edrich and

Len Hutton

. England summarily won the first Test at Lord's by 10 wickets as

Alec Bedser

took 11 wickets and Joe Hardstaff scored a double ton. India held on for a draw in Manchester in the second Test and rain spoiled the party in the third Test at the Oval. The high point for India was the last wicket partnership of 249 between Chandu Sarwate and Shute Banerjee against Surrey, which is still the second-highest first-class partnership for the 10th wicket.

Result: England won 3-match series 1-0

1952

India were still on a high after having beaten England in Madras the preceding year when they reached England for the first tour after the independence -- their five-day Test series. They resumed their second innings in the first Test with a deficit of only 41 runs. However, they were reduced to 0/4 as Fred Trueman and Alec Bedser wreaked havoc.

The tour went downhill from there: they lost the first Test by 7 wickets, second by 8 at Lord's, third by an innings and 207 runs in Manchester while rain helped them avoid a whitewash at the Oval. At 35, Vinoo Mankad showed why he was India's first great allrounder with his effort at Lord's (72 & 184; 5/196) spending 19 hours on the field out of the total 25 hours.

Result: England won 4-match series 3-0.

(To be continued)