india and Australia will clash for the 4th test at Dharamshala. The series is tied 1-1 and this test can be anybody's game. On home pitches, India is a formidable side now, but about 6 decades back India was not the powerhouse of cricket as it is today. With the 4th test starting one is reminded of the Indian victory over Australia in 1959 at Kanpur. It was a sweet moment and the first ever victory over the formidable Aussies. At that time the President and PM Jawaharlal Nehru congratulated the Indian team. The victory was sweeter as earlier on a tour to England, India had lost all five test matches and the first test at Delhi against Australia had been lost by an innings.
Inclusion of Jasu Patel
The test was played in 1959 and the Aussies had a formidable line up with Neil Harvey and Norman O'neal. The team was led by the astute all rounded Richi Benaud. India did not have any big names and a new captain in GS Ramchand. The chairman of the BCCI and chief selector Lala Amarnath, however, was a shrewd man. He went down to Kanpur and got prepared for a slow turner. He also brought in40-year-oldold spinner from Gujarat, Jasu Patel. Patel had done nothing of note in all the tests he had played and his inclusion was a surprise. But the Lala insisted and overruled the captain and Jasu was in the team.
Kanpur test
India batted first at Kanpur after Ramchand won the toss.
India was bowled out for 152. it looked like a familiar tale as the Aussies reached 125 for 1 with Harvey stroking the ball fluently. Jasu had not been given the ball by Ramchand. A furios Lala accosted Ramchand during the tea interval. After tea reluctantly Jasu was given the ball. Things began to happen as Jasu hit the right line and length.
He spun his off breaks prodigiously on the helpful wicket and took 9-69 in 36 overs. Austraila was bowled out for 219.
Patel's feat
India showed more resilence in their second innigs and reached 291 with the left hander Contractor htting 73. Davidson the Australian seamer took 7-93. The Aussies needed 226 to win and it was on the cards they would do it.
This time Ramchand handed the ball straightway to Jasu Patel and the Aussies just could not face him as they collapsed for 105, losing the match by 119 runs. Patel took 14 wickets in the match to establish an Indian record. But he faded away and took only five more test wickets in subsequent tests. His performance at Kanputr will live for all time to come. The Aussies will be fearing a turning wicket but it apears Dharmshala will have a seamers wicket so the contest during the 4th test will be more even.