Dropped after scoring a century
Aslam Siddiqui
picked for the next. Additions/corrections are welcome.
48 & 116 RJ Hartigan Aus v Eng Adelaide 1907-08
140 & 4 SC Griffith Eng v WI Port-of-Spain 1947-48
112 & dnb AG Ganteaume WI v Eng Port-of-Spain 1947-48
8 & 156* EAB Rowan SAf v Eng Johannesburg(2)1948-49
26 & 121 JDB Robertson Eng v NZ Lord's 1949
3 & 102 C Washbrook Eng v WI Nottingham 1950
104*& dnb CA Milton Eng v NZ Leeds 1958
166 & 3 Khalid Ibadullah Pak v Aus Karachi 1964-65
19 & 102* VL Manjrekar Ind v NZ Madras 1964-65
137 & dnb KF Barrington Eng v NZ Birmingham 1965
246*& dnb G Boycott Eng v Ind Leeds 1967
13 & 142 J Benaud Aus v Pak Melbourne 1972-73
107 & 56 RE Redmond NZ v Pak Auckland 1972-73
24 & 103 DM Wellham Aus v Eng The Oval 1981
102 & 9* RJ Shastri Ind v WI St John's 1982-83
105 & dnb Ijaz Faqih Pak v Ind Ahmedabad 1986-87
108 & dnb PL Symcox SAf v Pak Johannesburg 1997-98
156*& 14 JP Crawley Eng v SL The Oval 1998
107 & 0 GA Hick Eng v SL The Oval 1998
9 & 102 M Azharuddin Ind v SAf Bangalore 1999-00
101 & dnb Saeed Anwar Pak v BD Multan 2001-02
61 & 140 MG Vandort SL v BD Colombo(SSC) 2002
100*& dnb ML Love Aus v BD Cairns 2003
125 & 77* SM Katich Aus v SL Sydney 2003-04
Notes:
1. Ganteaume and Redmond played in only one Test each.
2. Barrington was dropped for slow scoring against 'mediocre'
bowling.
3. Boycott was dropped for some unspecified 'disciplinary
reasons'.
4. Hartigan, Griffith, Ganteaume, Milton, Ibadullah and
Wellham were all scoring a century on debut.
5. Wellham also scored a century on his first-class debut for
NSW against Victoria and then had the misfortune of being
dropped for the next match!
6. Manjrekar's century was in his last Test innings. Supposedly
was dropped from the side for poor fielding.
aslam
GO PACERS!!!
Southpaw
Near miss: DB Vengsarkar 94 & 0 Ind vs. WI St. John's 1982-3
-Samarth.
>
> aslam
> GO PACERS!!!
chessplayer
interesting reading.
Deepak Shodhan from India made a century in his debut test match. And
he did so against Pakistan no less. Coming in at no. 7. (This was in
the late 50's or 60's). He was dropped after just two test matches. His
test average stands at 60 plus, which is higher than Tendulkar's or
Dravids. Another point to note is that he was actually an allrounder.
Imagine a player of that calibre. Those were the days of immense
politics in Indian cricket. (Still exists today but not as blatantly as
in those days).
> aslam
> GO PACERS!!!
Jim Ley
wrote:
>Some players who scored a century in one Test and then were not
>picked for the next. Additions/corrections are welcome.
>125 & 77* SM Katich Aus v SL Sydney 2003-04
201* JC Gillespie
Unless all Englands dreams come true...
Jim.
Geico Caveman
Redmond has to be there ? Played only one Test (acc. to 1) => his only Test
=> his first Test => Debut ?
dp
>
> Near miss: DB Vengsarkar 94 & 0 Ind vs. WI St. John's 1982-3
Even closer: Alex Tudor 99* vs NZ in 1999.
dp
>
> -Samarth.
>
> >
> > aslam
> > GO PACERS!!!
Andrew Dunford
"dp" <dpus...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1146028864.2...@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> Southpaw wrote:
> >
> > Near miss: DB Vengsarkar 94 & 0 Ind vs. WI St. John's 1982-3
>
> Even closer: Alex Tudor 99* vs NZ in 1999.
He was injured and hence unavailable for T2 at Lord's. It caused a bit of a
stink with Hussain at the time because he played several matches for Surrey
between T1 and T2 before reporting injured just prior to T2 starting.
Andrew
dp
Thanks. I thought he had been dropped, because he didn't play in Tests
for quite some time after that 99* (I see on Cricinfo that it was close
to 2 years).
dp
>
> Andrew
Andrew Dunford
In terms of injuries, Tudor made Shane Bond look like an ever-present.
Andrew
ramap...@gmail.com
>
> 9 & 102 M Azharuddin Ind v SAf Bangalore 1999-00
>
>
> 6. Manjrekar's century was in his last Test innings. Supposedly
> was dropped from the side for poor fielding.
>
sleuths.
Ramapriya
alvey
> Some players who scored a century in one Test and then were not
> picked for the next. Additions/corrections are welcome.
>
> 13 & 142 J Benaud Aus v Pak Melbourne 1972-73
By what you wrote, JB does not qualify here as he was actually dropped
before he scored this 100. Iirc, the XII for the next test (Pak?) was named
before he batted in the 2nd innings. The 100 did however get him in the
squad for the following tour of the WI but all he got there was a good tan.
alvey
Bob Dubery
Aslam Siddiqui wrote:
> 3. Boycott was dropped for some unspecified 'disciplinary
> reasons'.
As I recall the situation was that Boycs was told that once he had his
ton he should accelerate as England were looking to declare, but what
happened was that Boycs got his ton and then did NOT accelerate.
diivolunt
>Deepak Shodhan from India made a century in his debut test match. And
>he did so against Pakistan no less. Coming in at no. 7. (This was in
Pakistan was playing their first ever series, India was trying out
second XIs against them. In lakhnau test, 7 indians were dropped from
first test team alone.
>the late 50's or 60's). He was dropped after just two test matches. His
>test average stands at 60 plus, which is higher than Tendulkar's or
>Dravids. Another point to note is that he was actually an allrounder.
who never got a wicket in tests. he was not even complete allrounder at
ranji level as his 73 wickets in 43 matches attest, he was a support
bowler. Indian line up those days had Umrigar, Amaranth, Ramchand,
Phadkar, Hazare, Mankad all six of whom were better allrounders than
Shodhan!
>Imagine a player of that calibre. Those were the days of immense
>politics in Indian cricket. (Still exists today but not as blatantly as
>in those days).
well you asked for it Mr. chess player:
Deepak Shodhan was not that better than allrounder than even his
brother. first joke was that he was picked inadvertently.
He had been around 5 years and averaged around 15. He had apperared
against visiting sides 5 times scoring 11,0,1,12,23.
He scored 89* against pakistanis for west and then scored 119 unbeaten
in a dead match for Gujarat against Hazare.
Jyoti scored 98 in 1st innings against hazare, Jasu patel and Gorphade,
all 3 India colors.
In the dead innings, VK, CK and DK Gaekwad were bowling halwa when
contractor and Deepak helped themselves to a ton each. Hazare then
mentioned Shodhan to Amarnath.
Now Hazare must have meant more compact batsman Jyoti what with Hazare,
mankad, amarnath, Ramchand, Phadkar already available as allrounders!
The selectors letter came for Mr. Shodhan and Deepak took the enclosed
ticket!
He scored a ton coming in at #8. Sharing stands with allrounders
Phadkar and Ramchand who came in at #9.
He was picked for windies tour of 1953 where he was out of his depth.
Bagged a pair against barabados, and finally crowned an unfortunate
tour by injuring himself.
Australia cancelled the 1953-54 tour and then Australian XI tour was
also not allowed. Third commonwealth side was asked to tour. Shodhan
was selected for first Indian XI match and scored 45 and 54. This was
Jyotindra, the right brother who supposedly missed the boat, first time
around:-), Deepak too played, scoring 4 and 0.
In other matchs against visitors, Deepak scored 41 and 3, 0 and 25.
He did score 112 against them for Indian Universities towards end of
that tour. (he played for Indian universities against all visitors from
1948 to 1956, obviously a graduate student).
He then proceeded to take up a job abroad and did not even play for
next three years in any form of the game. So, definatley it was not
poiticis which kept him out.
Coming back in 1957, he did well in Ranjis, best ever for him. and also
scored a fighting 23 and 25 for Baroda against windies but he was way
down behind a lot of talents available. That was his last hurrah. He
payed 2 games over final three years retiring in 1962.
JH who probably missed the boat literally in 1953, failed against kiwis
in 1956 and though preformed adequately, failed against windies too in
1958. Likes of Hardikar, kenny et all were coming up and JH was never
in contention again.
in 1950s, there was lot of politics but it was all over board and in
front of everyone. selectors would walk out and refuse to sign their
names to team sheets while an indian captain would be dragged into the
toilet (yes) and forced to resign on the spot by the selectors. A
captain would be appointed and when asked for a price of railway ticket
to come to the next test center would told to go take a hike and new
captain appointed.
Chairman of selectors would pick a man from nets and ask him to open
for India over objections of his fellow selectors. A marathi speaking
brahmin selector would object to selection of gujarati speaking brahmin
bowler from his own state and walk out of selection meetings because of
Maharashtra-Gujarat tension going on and exclaim proudly that he did it
for Maharashtra.
regards
Pranshu B Saxena
diivolunt
Like John Benaud, Manjrekar was supposedly already dropped before he
went to score the ton after the rains let up and India could bat last 2
sessions.
even so, his dropping was not preforamance related.
He retired in anger.
regards
Pranshu B Saxena
chessplayer
diivolunt wrote:
> Chess player wrote
> >Deepak Shodhan from India made a century in his debut test match. And
> >he did so against Pakistan no less. Coming in at no. 7. (This was in
>
> Pakistan was playing their first ever series, India was trying out
> second XIs against them. In lakhnau test, 7 indians were dropped from
> first test team alone.
>
> >the late 50's or 60's). He was dropped after just two test matches. His
> >test average stands at 60 plus, which is higher than Tendulkar's or
> >Dravids. Another point to note is that he was actually an allrounder.
>
> who never got a wicket in tests. he was not even complete allrounder at
> ranji level as his 73 wickets in 43 matches attest, he was a support
> bowler. Indian line up those days had Umrigar, Amaranth, Ramchand,
> Phadkar, Hazare, Mankad all six of whom were better allrounders than
> Shodhan!
>
> >Imagine a player of that calibre. Those were the days of immense
> >politics in Indian cricket. (Still exists today but not as blatantly as
> >in those days).
>
> well you asked for it Mr. chess player:
>
>
> Deepak Shodhan was not that better than allrounder than even his
> brother. first joke was that he was picked inadvertently.
That doesn't say much. The same joke went around for Steve Waugh when
he was picked and played for Australia. The saying went that forget
being the best batsman in his team (whether it was his state team or
for Australia). He's not even the best batsman in his family. This was
before Mark Waugh was picked for Australia. I do know the Shodhan
family personally. I know about his brother Jyotindra Shodhan. Yes, his
brother was more talented a sporstsperson than Deepak. There is little
doubt about that. However, talent alone doesn't mean much. His brother
did not take any one sport seriously although he had the talent to
excel in most sports.
>
> He had been around 5 years and averaged around 15. He had apperared
> against visiting sides 5 times scoring 11,0,1,12,23.
> He scored 89* against pakistanis for west and then scored 119 unbeaten
> in a dead match for Gujarat against Hazare.
There you go again. What does that matter. The fact was that he was
picked for India and in his debut test match scored a century against
no less a team than Pakistan. I believe he did so coming in at no. 7 or
8. Even today when you see his batting average it stands at 60 plus.
And he could also bowl. How can you drop such a player.
>
> Jyoti scored 98 in 1st innings against hazare, Jasu patel and Gorphade,
> all 3 India colors.
I have already mentioned my respect for his brother. There is no
argument there. That does not take away from the fact that Mr. Deepak
Shodhan did not deserve to be dropped. You can further argue that his
brother should also have been taken.
> In the dead innings, VK, CK and DK Gaekwad were bowling halwa when
> contractor and Deepak helped themselves to a ton each. Hazare then
> mentioned Shodhan to Amarnath.
> Now Hazare must have meant more compact batsman Jyoti what with Hazare,
> mankad, amarnath, Ramchand, Phadkar already available as allrounders!
>
> The selectors letter came for Mr. Shodhan and Deepak took the enclosed
> ticket!
>
> He scored a ton coming in at #8. Sharing stands with allrounders
> Phadkar and Ramchand who came in at #9.
> He was picked for windies tour of 1953 where he was out of his depth.
> Bagged a pair against barabados, and finally crowned an unfortunate
> tour by injuring himself.
It is this kind of thinking that has been the bane of Indian cricket.
Even after he excelled in his debut test match you drop him after two
more test matches. The WI tour may have been difficult but he should
have been persisted with. Maybe after playing about 7 or 8 test matches
if he continued to do badly he could have been dropped. So, that is
exactly my point. Even though he excelled in his debut test match they
simply dropped him after a not so good windies tour, where he probably
played just two test matches.
Today at least a player of that calibre would have gotten at least 4 or
5 more test matches. That was exactly my point. There was immense
politics in those days.
>
> Australia cancelled the 1953-54 tour and then Australian XI tour was
> also not allowed. Third commonwealth side was asked to tour. Shodhan
> was selected for first Indian XI match and scored 45 and 54. This was
> Jyotindra, the right brother who supposedly missed the boat, first time
> around:-), Deepak too played, scoring 4 and 0.
> In other matchs against visitors, Deepak scored 41 and 3, 0 and 25.
>
> He did score 112 against them for Indian Universities towards end of
> that tour. (he played for Indian universities against all visitors from
> 1948 to 1956, obviously a graduate student).
>
> He then proceeded to take up a job abroad and did not even play for
> next three years in any form of the game. So, definatley it was not
> poiticis which kept him out.
See, after they dropped him in the first place where was the question
of being that motivated. In those days there was almost no money in
cricket. People played for pride and for whatever little it offered
them. Even a decent job somewhere was a far better alternative. So, the
point here is that once he was dropped his career was as good as over.
>
> Coming back in 1957, he did well in Ranjis, best ever for him. and also
> scored a fighting 23 and 25 for Baroda against windies but he was way
> down behind a lot of talents available. That was his last hurrah. He
> payed 2 games over final three years retiring in 1962.
>
> JH who probably missed the boat literally in 1953, failed against kiwis
> in 1956 and though preformed adequately, failed against windies too in
> 1958. Likes of Hardikar, kenny et all were coming up and JH was never
> in contention again.
>
> in 1950s, there was lot of politics but it was all over board and in
> front of everyone. selectors would walk out and refuse to sign their
> names to team sheets while an indian captain would be dragged into the
> toilet (yes) and forced to resign on the spot by the selectors. A
> captain would be appointed and when asked for a price of railway ticket
> to come to the next test center would told to go take a hike and new
> captain appointed.
>
> Chairman of selectors would pick a man from nets and ask him to open
> for India over objections of his fellow selectors. A marathi speaking
> brahmin selector would object to selection of gujarati speaking brahmin
> bowler from his own state and walk out of selection meetings because of
> Maharashtra-Gujarat tension going on and exclaim proudly that he did it
> for Maharashtra.
You have certainly done your homework but statistics only tells you
part of the story. I don't believe you can justify dropping a player
after just 3 tests when he has made a century against a good team on
his debut test match. When his average stands at 60 plus and when he
can also contribute as a bowler. As I mentioned if he had played
another 5 or 6 test matches and continued to do poorly then fair
enough. As I mentioned above in those days there was almost no money in
cricket. Not playing for ones country and the family would also put
pressure that you must look for a job as there is no future EVEN IF YOU
DID PLAY FOR YOUR COUNTRY. In fact even test cricekters earned peanuts.
So, although you can quote statistics let me just say that I know the
family personally and I agree with your points about his brother
Jyotindra. Jyotindra was more talented but as I mentioned did not take
his talents as seriously. Maybe if he was more committed he could have
become a great player. However, as regards Deepak I feel he should have
played at least another 5 or 6 test matches and then should have been
dropped if he continued to fail. He should never have been dropped
after just two more test matches. After that the motivation was gone as
the family also puts pressure. Even if one would dedicate themselves to
play for the state etc. where would that get one. Even if one would get
selected to play again for the country even then so what. There was no
money even for a test cricketer. In fact even if Deepak had continued
to play for India and done well eventually his parents might still have
asked him to quit and start a business or work for some big company.
So, getting dropped at that stage meant it was all over. He should
never have been dropped in the first place and then as I said there was
no motivation (from family and others) to allow him to come back. He of
course would have wanted to play for India but how can one even think
(in those days) of supporting a family just by doing something one
loves. Therefore, it was just not possible to play cricket in a serious
professional way.
I must say that you do have a good knowledge about the past of Indian
cricketers and even good statistics about their state scores. Since you
know so much about the talents of Jyotindra I presume that you must be
from Gujarat and probably from Ahmedabad.
>
> regards
> Pranshu B Saxena
dp
<snip stuff about Shodhans>
Nice post chessplayer.
dp
diivolunt
You wanted Deepak shodhan to have been given 6 more tests as tries even
if he failed!
That would have meant that he should have been given three more years!
India used to have 1 home series every 2 years in those days and those
who succeeded in ranjis would get preference.
Deepak Shodhan played his 3 tests in 1952-53 season. Granted he
avareged 60 while he averaged 20s till that point in first class.
India did not play any tests in 1953-54 season and no home tests for
1954-55 season,
They did not select Jyoti because PH Punjabi frankly had better claims
for Pakistan tour. In 1955-56, they played 5 tests against New Zealand
at home. In 1956-57, they played 3 tests at home against Australia. In
1957-58, again India did not play any tests. In the seasons 1954 to
1957, Deepak Shodhan was out of country most of the time. He did not
even play any ranji matches, when he was not even present to be
selected, how can he be selected!!
Second point, his replacement in the Indian side for Pakistan tour was
PH Punjabi who had cracked the ton in "test" against Commonwealth XI on
his debut ala Deepak. One can argue that PH Punjabi faced better attack
in Iverson, Loxton and Loader.
So it was not politics that kept Shodhan out, his statemate Punjabi
replaced him. Shodhan was not even playing to be selected. and Jyoti
was the Gujarat captain in succession to his brother. PH Punjabi who
kicked around kanpur for some time in 1970s was commented on a great
talent too! That is where most likely i met the shodhans, they were in
their 40s then or at Mr. Raizada's place in Delhi or the wedding in
delhi in 1983.
After Punjabi was not a raging success on the Pakistani tracks, he was
replaced in in 1955-56 home series by another Gujarati left hander,
Nariman Contractor. (remember the gaekwad brothers and halwa bowling
which saw Deepak get his ton, Contractor was his partner scoring his
own first ton then.)
In 1958, when after gap of 4 years Deepak did return, he actually
joined the Ranji star XI of Baroda. He actually had his best season i
think but was it enough to trump likes of Ramchand, Contractor or
rising star of Borde. In the crucial match against Gujarat, he scored
60 odd while Contracter scored 167 and Jyoti actually scored 84.
Deepak always said he was a offspinner who could bat a bit. Maybe, in
the confusion of 1958 when we tried like 30 players in 5 tests, we
could have tried him again. But he was given the opportunity to stake
his claim where he scored 23 against ramadhin, trumped by fellow team
mates Gorphade who smashed a devil may care 57 while rising star Chandu
Borde scored 24.
Borde and Gorphade from Baroda made it to Test team that season. Borde
scored a 109 and 96. Gorphade smashed a 50.
Deepak's test stats may be 60 but his ranji stats always were in low
20s.
Even in this season of despair, when India was rattled and a fresh team
might be sent to England, he averaged 30 in Ranjis and never stood a
chance. He hardly played 2 matches after that.
As for financial condition, Deepak Shodhan came from a well-off family
and could have afforded to play for India without seeking a job. and it
was 1950s. You were married off first and then found a job. He was at
university for almost 10 years! His university teammate Pankaj Roy was
established test star while Deepak was still studying.
Actually, his indian teammate from 1953 tour Madhav Apte who scored
almost 500 runs in that series, never played for India again. Why don't
you question that? (I think being Shodhan family friend, you should be
aware of Aptes very well also.).
C Ramaswami averages 59.66 after playing two tests for India, such a
great talent was never given a chance again. Isn't that a travesty of
justice? Russi Modi scored 543 runs in his last full series at age of
26, why was'nt he picked again?
Uday Merchant averaged 60 in first class over 11 years! why was he
denied a chance.
Yogendra Mohan Chaudhury who can claim his place was usurped several
times was listed by all commentators and game watchers even into 80s to
be one of three best #3s for India. He never even got a test place in
1950s!
I never heard him express a sign over that, only when the horses would
not win!
CK Nayudu automatic pick averaged only 25 in tests while rated as best
Indian #3 bar Vengsarkar till 1980s, certain Lala Amarnath averaged 24
in offical tests. Anyone would tell you they were far greater batsmen
than Shodhan or Ramaswami.
or the Good old Doctor, the history of world is divided into phases,
Hammurabi, Ramases, Pericles, Alexander, Ceaser, Justinian, Gutenbourg
et all (of course most of renknowned historians of world never ventured
out of Shenjen zone).
Similarly, Cricket has Grace, Bradman, Sobers and now Tendulkar.
Grace the greatest allrounder averaged 32 and took 9 wickets! But no
one will question his preeminence.
CS Nayudu the great spinner took 3 test wickets in 11 tests! when asked
to select a winning all time Indian XI in 1960, Amarnath picked CS over
Gupte.(163 test wickets!)
Actually, you can ask Deepak's family wether he got 6000 or 10,000 in
1987 pension award. (it was 2000/Test)
See according to me, he played 5 tests, scored 234 runs at 39. The
commonwealth tests were counted by Indian board deep into 1960s. Only
around 1965 or so Indian Annuals started agreeing with Wisden. The
Cricket year by B&H 1996 also stated that statistics, Indian especially
may be different from the source :-)
Umrigar played 59 official tests, got the award of 148K counting the
commonwealth tests. 1958 ones were not counted.
CK played 7 official, got 16000. Hazare played 30 tests got 100,000, he
had played as many 20 against Tennysons, Australians services, england
services and commonwealths.
Indian cricket magazines even in 1978 mentioned when Gavaskar scored
his 13th test century in Melbourne Test that he has overtaken Hazare's
12 "test" centuries and Umrigar's 12 official test centuries. A letter
to editor in next issue pointed out Gavaskar 's 203 against Sri Lanka
to which the editor replied that Sri Lanka tests were not even counted
in 1930s, 40s or 50s by Board as full matches.
When Gavaskar scored the 205 against Windies, the cricketworld
mentioned him passing Umrigar's 15 test tons adding with tounge in
cheek that 203 vs Lanka was not counted!
I like discussing old Indian players even state level guys. Maybe, we
can start a threads on some of these, we can start of with Uday
Merchant.
As for knowing Shodhans, my grandfather umpired in 1950s and my dad
broke Lala's heart by joining IBM instead of playing cricket while
Uncles reached various levels from league to Tests. and they never were
bitter about not getting chances.
It was a different era, different outlook to cricket.
Actually another gentleman mentioned by Aslam in this thread, Nasim Ul
Ghani is a good family friend who would sometimes talk about pakistani
cricket politics and his career path but his eyes would have a strange
gleam which makes me think he never regretted a moment of his playing
days whatever happenned.
regards
Pranshu B Saxena
vijay...@my-deja.com
diivolunt wrote:
>
> Actually another gentleman mentioned by Aslam in this thread, Nasim Ul
> Ghani is a good family friend who would sometimes talk about pakistani
> cricket politics and his career path but his eyes would have a strange
> gleam which makes me think he never regretted a moment of his playing
> days whatever happenned.
>
As a left-arm quick he took a six-for and won Pakistan a test in
the caribbean a decade and a half before Wadekar's team triumphed
over a weakened WI. And he scored a test 100 as well. He should
have been a bonafide star of 50s Pak, yet the names most
frequently heard are the Mohammads, Fazal, Kardar, Burki and Nazar
He was also involved in Pak cricket admin into the 80s.
Can you shed more light on him?
Vijay
chessplayer
It doesn't matter if one came from a well to do family or not. Cricket
was never regarded as a serious profession. It was at best considered a
past time by the family members. They would much rather their son go
into some business (as most Gujaratis would prefer). One could simply
not go off playing cricket as it did not earn much. This was not an
option. It would be one thing if he continued to play for India.
However, not playing for India would mean the end period. In fact as I
stated in my earlier post, even if he had played for India he might
have had to leave cricket eventually. However, that is only conjecture
on my part.
You did mention that he could have been tried for one series. Okay
fine. Maybe not 5 or 6 test matches as that may have been too much at
that time. 2 or 3 more test matches would have been fine. But that was
not to be.
and it
> was 1950s. You were married off first and then found a job. He was at
> university for almost 10 years! His university teammate Pankaj Roy was
> established test star while Deepak was still studying.
>
> Actually, his indian teammate from 1953 tour Madhav Apte who scored
> almost 500 runs in that series, never played for India again. Why don't
> you question that? (I think being Shodhan family friend, you should be
> aware of Aptes very well also.).
I am not aware of the Aptes. Maybe my father would know of them.
However, I am not saying that Apte should not have been tried. My point
was only regarding Deepak Shodhan. Not the injustices done to other
players of that time. There certainly were injustices done to other
players.
>
> C Ramaswami averages 59.66 after playing two tests for India, such a
> great talent was never given a chance again. Isn't that a travesty of
> justice? Russi Modi scored 543 runs in his last full series at age of
> 26, why was'nt he picked again?
It certainly was a travesty of justice when you mention these other
players. They too should have been given opportunities. Just because
injustice was done to Deepak does not take away the injustices done to
other players as well.
> Uday Merchant averaged 60 in first class over 11 years! why was he
> denied a chance.
Cannot comment on these players. I never saw them play and did not know
against whom they made their runs. However, I once again repeat. I am
not defending the injustices done to other players. Only mentioning the
injustice done to someone I know. Of course injustices have been done
to various players in the history of Indian cricket.
>
> Yogendra Mohan Chaudhury who can claim his place was usurped several
> times was listed by all commentators and game watchers even into 80s to
> be one of three best #3s for India. He never even got a test place in
> 1950s!
> I never heard him express a sign over that, only when the horses would
> not win!
>
> CK Nayudu automatic pick averaged only 25 in tests while rated as best
> Indian #3 bar Vengsarkar till 1980s, certain Lala Amarnath averaged 24
> in offical tests. Anyone would tell you they were far greater batsmen
> than Shodhan or Ramaswami.
>
> or the Good old Doctor, the history of world is divided into phases,
> Hammurabi, Ramases, Pericles, Alexander, Ceaser, Justinian, Gutenbourg
> et all (of course most of renknowned historians of world never ventured
> out of Shenjen zone).
> Similarly, Cricket has Grace, Bradman, Sobers and now Tendulkar.
>
> Grace the greatest allrounder averaged 32 and took 9 wickets! But no
> one will question his preeminence.
This is one of the problems I feel has overtaken Indian cricket. Just
because someone has class he is taken with the notion that we see
talent in him. Even though that person does not perform. While I am not
against that and talent must be persisted with if one feels that it is
rare, how can you discount performance. To me test cricket is test
cricket. If one has performed in test match cricket you give him
opportunities. To remove someone (especially in those days when there
was no motivation money or otherwise) meant that coming back was very
very difficult. Plus as I mentioned in my earlier post, there was no
motivation as family pressure took over. That mean one's career was as
good as over. One could not just play cricket all the time as that
would not support ones family. (Even if one were well to do one still
had to find means to earn a living for ones own self respect). Business
was the usual thing most Gujaratis went into and at least if Deepak had
played a few more tests it was fine. But once he was dropped, pressure
from all over comes and then the player himself cannot take his cricket
that seriously.
I never really said Deepak was bitter. Merely that I felt injustice was
done to him.
diivolunt
chances to give an idea that only 11 can be selected for a Test side
and Tests were at premium back then. India played just 52 in 1950s and
only 39 in whole of 1960s. Just because in this current day and age
you have grown up with Test stars playing just test matches and a dozen
a year! and do not have time for down-ticket campaigning does not mean
that same standards applied back then. Ponting has played 40 odd tests
and 1 sheffield shield match since 2003 for example. MhD Kaif an ODO
star did not turn out for UP for 3 years in Ranjis.
Yes it was good that you do well in Tests but next test match comes
around 2 years later, what is the guarantee that you are on top of your
game. You have to consistently do well in local matches and in those
days, India regularly held Test trial matches before every series.
Deepak Shodhan failed in those as i mentioned as did Madhav Apte.
Pankaj Roy was guaranteed Indian captaincy in 1959 australian series
till the test trials where Ramchand (who actually got lot of halwa
bowling thanks to his buddy Roy) starred and won the last minute
captaincy.
GS Ramchand lead his team out on Kanpur morning having not slept the
night because his employer had fired him that night and given a day's
notice to him to move his family out of company flat in Mumbai. He
spent the night with Lala Amarnath, chairman of selectors, trying to
get accomodation for his family in railways waiting house while trying
to send money (he sent in parcel, the money was collected in annas and
chavannis in a thaila) to them. He walked out to play and rest is
history.
Family pressures indeed!
Deepak might have been in contention in 1958 because we did try 30
players many of which deserved test caps and there were still many
which were left hanging but as i mentioned he failed in the trial.
I agree that cricket was not serious professional option back then but
even proven players who tried seriously to get in could not make it
like Madhav Apte and Yogendra Mohan. It is the love of game which
counted. Farookh engineer was a misonomer in 1970s sometimes because he
tried too hard having been in the era when tests come far and few in
between and thought his juniors like Gavaskar took it a little easy :-)
Imagine Gavaskar taking it a bit easy :-)
Most of the players also in those days were middle to upper middle
segement. Nana Joshi was i think not so well off but again got a lot of
caste support. Surendranath got bad breaks later down the line and
Scyld Berry of Indian cricket journalism (i to my eternal shame,
honestly forgot his name right now, Scyld Berry sometimes writes like
him) ended up committing suicide in 1976 due to rank poverty which was
very depressing (Ritwik Ghatak's sister Mahashweta wrote a moving
obituary highlighting his love for game and also hockey which brought
him to that fate.)
regards
Pranshu B Saxena
diivolunt
I had written an article for him some time back. maybe around 1995.
will dig that up. He is what we might call a character!
In management we are taught there are nine roles in a team. Most of us
at beginning of career are a shaper, i always thought of myself as a
plant, the role i ended up playing all too often, Nasim ul Ghani would
be the Teamworker. He was not a top batsman or a bowler but can be
counted to do his bit whenever needed. He is still very big in PCB. He
was an easy going manager during the "fixing" era and even chairman of
selectors recently.
You know the time he opened against australia in 1972 was because,
regular openers refused to open as they were scared of Lillee. It was a
very courageous knock. Again, teamworker, when team needed him, he was
willing to do his best. when spotlight shone, retreated behind the
shapers. aka your Mohammads and lot.
regards
Pranshu B Saxena