Recent discussions on Asia XI took us to @BCCI's Gupte's 9-for in Kanpur 1958, which inevitably led to writing about @windiescricket's triumphant series where for the first time ever a West Indian pace bowler took 25+ wickets in a Test series.
In fact, there were two.
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In fact, there were two.
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West Indies tour of India (& Pakistan) in 1958/59 was before our time. In the absence of extended highlights, we will string together some anecdotes and stats from our library.
This was the first Test series since 1939 without any of the famous three Ws in the squad.
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This was the first Test series since 1939 without any of the famous three Ws in the squad.
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In the 1st Test at Mumbai, only Kanhai scored fluently against Gupte's well-flighted leggies.
Wes Hall on debut and Roy Gilchrist on his first tour outside England proved too hostile for India.
Sobers made 142* with a runner in the 3rd inns; but India saved the Test.
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Wes Hall on debut and Roy Gilchrist on his first tour outside England proved too hostile for India.
Sobers made 142* with a runner in the 3rd inns; but India saved the Test.
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2nd Test in Kanpur was famous for Gupte's 9-102.
With both sides finishing level on the 1st inns (222), Sobers walked in after both openers were dismissed without scoring. He made a free-flowing 198 (runout) to set a target of 444.
PS: Imagine Benaud commentary here!
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With both sides finishing level on the 1st inns (222), Sobers walked in after both openers were dismissed without scoring. He made a free-flowing 198 (runout) to set a target of 444.
PS: Imagine Benaud commentary here!
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Wes Hall, leading the attack only in his 2nd Test, was struggling at Tea on Day 2. Team manager Berkeley Gaskin told him to "stop fighting it, and slip the ball through".
Hall had been bowling into the ground like it was turf; he instead started "gliding the ball in".
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Hall had been bowling into the ground like it was turf; he instead started "gliding the ball in".
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Having routed the Indian middle order with 6-50 in the 1st innings, Hall took 5-76 in the 2nd (incl. 4-32 in 8.1 overs with the 2nd new ball) to lead WI to victory with ~80 mins to spare.
He became the youngest non-English pace bowler to take a 10-for in Test history.
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He became the youngest non-English pace bowler to take a 10-for in Test history.
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Following a modest start to his career (as WK-opener on debut) with an avg of 30, and without a century in 23 inns; Kanhai scored a splendid 256 in Kolkata (3rd Test).
100s from Butcher and Sobers, his 6th century in just 6 Tests (all in 1958), took WI total past 600.
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100s from Butcher and Sobers, his 6th century in just 6 Tests (all in 1958), took WI total past 600.
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With Gilchrist's return for the 3rd Test, Gaskin realised that the Indian batsmen would be uncomfortable with his extreme pace.
Hence, they would try to score off Hall through cutting if he consistently bowled round the wicket for longer spells to induce edges behind.
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Hence, they would try to score off Hall through cutting if he consistently bowled round the wicket for longer spells to induce edges behind.
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Gilchrist sent down 23 hostile overs (13 were maidens); and took 3 for just 18. Hall executed his part for 3-31; and continued with the tactics in the next inns (f/o); and dismissed the opener (Roy) for 0 and the 1st inns top scorer (Umrigar) for 2: both caught behind.
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Hall took 3-55 in the 2nd inns. Gilchrist (6-55) wrecked the lower order to bowl India out for a paltry 154 (after 1st inns 124).
WI's winning margin of inns & 336 runs remained the biggest* until 2002 when another Gilchrist (Adam) went berserk.
*where all 11 batted
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WI's winning margin of inns & 336 runs remained the biggest* until 2002 when another Gilchrist (Adam) went berserk.
*where all 11 batted
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WI beat India comfortably again in the 4th Test (Chennai) to win the series. India might have lost by an inns margin for the 2nd Test running had Alexander enforced the follow-on.
Gupte continued to labour hard while the fearsome duo of Hall and Gilchrist marched on.
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Gupte continued to labour hard while the fearsome duo of Hall and Gilchrist marched on.
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India produced their best performance in the 5th Test deadrubber to manage a draw in Delhi, where Chandu Borde failed by 4 runs to equal the feat of Hazare (100 in each inn of a Test for Ind).
It was an unfortunate miss, but is remembered more for Borde's hit-wicket.
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It was an unfortunate miss, but is remembered more for Borde's hit-wicket.
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On Day 5, Manjrekar alerted Borde when the last over was being bowled.
On 96, Borde hooked Gilchrist for 4; and the crowd barged in. But, Borde touched the bails; and was given out hitwicket.
Gupte's 0-144 was the only time he conceded 50+ runs without taking a wkt.
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On 96, Borde hooked Gilchrist for 4; and the crowd barged in. But, Borde touched the bails; and was given out hitwicket.
Gupte's 0-144 was the only time he conceded 50+ runs without taking a wkt.
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Gupte's series bowling avg of 42.13 remains the highest for any bowler who took a 10-for in the same series.
927 runs he conceded is also a record for a non-Ashes series.
Lack of support was evident in 2nd best bowler, Ramchand, taking only 5 wkts (to Gupte's 22).
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927 runs he conceded is also a record for a non-Ashes series.
Lack of support was evident in 2nd best bowler, Ramchand, taking only 5 wkts (to Gupte's 22).
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Top 5 scorers were all West Indians, with Sobers and Kanhai exceeding 500 for the series. Umrigar and Pankaj Roy produced respectable returns of 300+.
This series, however to us, was about the two fiery fast bowlers.
Hall took 30 wkts at 17.7 & Gilchrist 26 at 16.1.
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This series, however to us, was about the two fiery fast bowlers.
Hall took 30 wkts at 17.7 & Gilchrist 26 at 16.1.
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Hall's Kanpur 11-for in Gilchrist's absence meant the 'pair' took 10+ wkts in each of the 5 Tests.
Two visiting pacers taking 25+ wkts in a Test series in Asia has only happened once since: the mighty Windies in India in 1983 when Marshall and Holding took 30+ wkts.
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Two visiting pacers taking 25+ wkts in a Test series in Asia has only happened once since: the mighty Windies in India in 1983 when Marshall and Holding took 30+ wkts.
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Since the 1958/59 series, there have been 4 instances of Windies pacers taking 25+ wkts in a series in India. Which of the 4 do you consider to be the best performance and why?
Also, are there other (visiting) pace bowling series performance in Asia you rate higher?
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Also, are there other (visiting) pace bowling series performance in Asia you rate higher?
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What happened next?
Gilchrist was sent home, due to off field friction with Alexander (Capt.) and over-aggressive bowling (beamers), before the Pakistan leg of 3 Tests.
Pak beat WI comfortably on the Karachi mat; and clinched the series in Dhaka with a Fazal 12-for.
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Gilchrist was sent home, due to off field friction with Alexander (Capt.) and over-aggressive bowling (beamers), before the Pakistan leg of 3 Tests.
Pak beat WI comfortably on the Karachi mat; and clinched the series in Dhaka with a Fazal 12-for.
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The series was decided in a very low scoring Test at Dhaka. This was the lowest aggregate (537) Test match since 1907 when all 40 wkts fell. All other lower aggregate Tests took place in 1896 or before.
Fazal took 6-34 & 6-66; Wes almost matched him with 4-28 & 4-49.
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Fazal took 6-34 & 6-66; Wes almost matched him with 4-28 & 4-49.
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The absence of Gilchrist was acutely felt.
Hall had a strong opinion on having a stable opening partner. He went through a few b/w Gilchrist & Griffith. He claimed the biggest disadvantage was batsmen didn’t play shots against him when there wasn't a quality partner.
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Hall had a strong opinion on having a stable opening partner. He went through a few b/w Gilchrist & Griffith. He claimed the biggest disadvantage was batsmen didn’t play shots against him when there wasn't a quality partner.
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Kanhai (215) & Sobers' (72) attractive stand; and Hall's 5-for (incl. hat-trick: 1st by a West Indian) helped win the deadrubber.
It was @TheRealPCB's first loss at home, ending their 11-Test unbeaten streak at home from inauguration.
No other nation even managed 3.
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It was @TheRealPCB's first loss at home, ending their 11-Test unbeaten streak at home from inauguration.
No other nation even managed 3.
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Lahore Test climax and 3-0 series win in India made this the most successful tour WI had undertaken since 1950 in Eng.
Due to the immense popularity of the tied Test series v Aus in 1960/61, some tend to forget the significance of 1958/59 for Sobers, Kanhai and Hall.
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Due to the immense popularity of the tied Test series v Aus in 1960/61, some tend to forget the significance of 1958/59 for Sobers, Kanhai and Hall.
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1958/59 tour of India & Pakistan would set the tone for West Indies becoming the best travellers in the 1960s.
WI won 37.9% of their away Tests (11 of 29); while no other team managed 30%. The next best were Australia's 29.7% (11 of 37) and England's 19.1% (9 of 47).
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WI won 37.9% of their away Tests (11 of 29); while no other team managed 30%. The next best were Australia's 29.7% (11 of 37) and England's 19.1% (9 of 47).
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92 yrs ago, WI pace began with Francis, Constantine and Herman Griffith; later Martindale, Gomez and Gilchrist joined.
Wes Hall, however, became the first Windies pace bowler to take 100 Test wkts; and fell just short of 200, which would later be overcome by Roberts.
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Wes Hall, however, became the first Windies pace bowler to take 100 Test wkts; and fell just short of 200, which would later be overcome by Roberts.
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During Hall's career, WI only played 52 Tests whereas England had 105 (Aus 72, Ind 56).
Hall did not miss a single Test in the first 9+ years; and in less than a year from missing his first Test, his Test career ended.
That's a career worthy of twice as many Tests.
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Hall did not miss a single Test in the first 9+ years; and in less than a year from missing his first Test, his Test career ended.
That's a career worthy of twice as many Tests.
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With many great pacers following in his footsteps, Hall might not be ranked among the best.
But, the idea that sides could be destroyed by pace in Asia was somewhat a foreign concept until @ImranKhanPTI and the great 70s/80s West Indians demonstrated it consistently.
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But, the idea that sides could be destroyed by pace in Asia was somewhat a foreign concept until @ImranKhanPTI and the great 70s/80s West Indians demonstrated it consistently.
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Among the 39 pace bowlers to take 50+ Test wickets in Asia, including the great Pakistanis, Wes Hall still owns the best Test bowling average (20.05)!
For that and numerous other reasons, Sir Wesley Winfield Hall is held in the highest esteem by @CricVestigate staff.
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For that and numerous other reasons, Sir Wesley Winfield Hall is held in the highest esteem by @CricVestigate staff.
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