An one odd test match was played between India and England at Bombay (it wasn't Mumbai yet), in the month of February, 1980. It was called "The Jubilee Test" - a special test match to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of cricket matches played between the two nations.
Those days, there used to be a rest day scheduled in between, after the 3rd day of a Test match. This match, apart from being the Jubilee test, was special on another account. The rest day was scheduled on 16th of February, after the 1st day of the Test match, rather than the 3rd day. This was due to the Total Solar Eclipse which was viewed in many parts of India on 16th of February that year.
This match was memorable for mutiple reasons. Chasing India's first imnings total of 242, England was reeling at 5 wickets down with a meagre 58 on board.
Soon came the English wicket keeper Bob Taylor at the crease, only to be given out caught behind from a Kapil Dev delivery early in his innings. He protested with the skipper Vishwanath standing at the slip of not getting a nick. The ever gentleman Vishwanath, felt that Taylor was right and recalled him to bat.
Smiling at the other end was his partner, the danger man at the height of his form who earlier snapped 6 wickets out of India's first innings, the indomitable Ian Botham.
Needless to say, Bob and Botham made the most out of this decision. They went on a 100 run partnership, with Botham himself scoring a century, managing to carve out a valuable 50 plus first innings lead.
The English side showly recovered from that point, gaining steam and turning the match their way. Botham took 7 wickets in Indian second innings to polish off the home team for a paltry 149. England won this historic test by 10 wickets, aided by Botham's 10 wicket haul and century at a crucial moment.
It was Botham's test and expectedly he was the "Man of the Match". But the results could've been different, if Vishy didn't recall Taylor at a crucial juncture. Such gentlemanly gestures in the Gentleman's game, are now thing of past - a history by itself.
Those days, there used to be a rest day scheduled in between, after the 3rd day of a Test match. This match, apart from being the Jubilee test, was special on another account. The rest day was scheduled on 16th of February, after the 1st day of the Test match, rather than the 3rd day. This was due to the Total Solar Eclipse which was viewed in many parts of India on 16th of February that year.
This match was memorable for mutiple reasons. Chasing India's first imnings total of 242, England was reeling at 5 wickets down with a meagre 58 on board.
Soon came the English wicket keeper Bob Taylor at the crease, only to be given out caught behind from a Kapil Dev delivery early in his innings. He protested with the skipper Vishwanath standing at the slip of not getting a nick. The ever gentleman Vishwanath, felt that Taylor was right and recalled him to bat.
Smiling at the other end was his partner, the danger man at the height of his form who earlier snapped 6 wickets out of India's first innings, the indomitable Ian Botham.
Needless to say, Bob and Botham made the most out of this decision. They went on a 100 run partnership, with Botham himself scoring a century, managing to carve out a valuable 50 plus first innings lead.
The English side showly recovered from that point, gaining steam and turning the match their way. Botham took 7 wickets in Indian second innings to polish off the home team for a paltry 149. England won this historic test by 10 wickets, aided by Botham's 10 wicket haul and century at a crucial moment.
It was Botham's test and expectedly he was the "Man of the Match". But the results could've been different, if Vishy didn't recall Taylor at a crucial juncture. Such gentlemanly gestures in the Gentleman's game, are now thing of past - a history by itself.
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