Cricket History - India's First Test Win In England In 1971

India created history by winning their first ever Test match – and series – in England on the 1971 tour. They had an excellent outing. Of their 19 matches, they won 7, drew 11, and lost just 1. Two of India's wins – against Leicestershire and Warwickshire – were by an innings.

Ajit Wadekar and Sunil Gavaskar both crossed the 1,000-run mark, while Gundappa Viswanath got 946. The four Indian spinners shared 197 wickets, in which the close-in fielders played key roles. Farokh Engineer, released by Lancashire for the Test matches, was excellent on either side of the stumps. And unlike many of their early tours, almost none of them picked up a major injury.

It had started with a rain-hit Test match at Lord's. India needed to chase 183 on the last day. They were 21/2 when Engineer pushed a ball from John Snow towards mid-wicket, and he and Gavaskar set off for a single.

The six-foot-six Snow then crashed into the five-foot-five Gavaskar. There was no serious harm, but Gavaskar fell on the ground, and his bat flew away. As both got up, Snow picked up the bat and threw it to Gavaskar.

At lunch, Snow apologised to Alec Bedser, the Chairman of Selectors; Mike Griffith, Board Secretary; and Gavaskar. However, he was dropped from the second Test match, at Old Trafford. He returned for the decider, at The Oval. Once back, he bowled a searing bouncer that tore the chain off Gavaskar's neck.

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Meanwhile, Gavaskar and Engineer added 66 in 50 minutes for the third wicket. India needed only 96 with 8 wickets in hand, but the Indian middle-order collapsed. India were 145/8 when rain stopped further play.

England dominated the second Test match as well. This time rain came when India, chasing 420, were on 65/3 on Day 4. The entire fifth day was washed out. Peter Lever, who replaced Snow, scored 88 and took 5/70 in the first innings, that too in his home ground.

It rained in India's next two matches too, against Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire. Then they came to The Oval, where history was created.

India pulled off a historic win in the Third Test at The Oval by 4 wickets after being 71 behind on first innings. They bowled England out for only 101 in the second innings with Bhagwat Chandrasekhar claiming 6–38.