The Hindu : Sport : ‘A great moment, a credit to team effort’

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Thursday, Aug 09, 2007
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Sport

‘A great moment, a credit to team effort’

K.C. Vijaya Kumar

Chandrasekhar took six wickets in the second inningsIndia’s first ever Test and series win in England

— Photo: The Hindu photo archives

HAIL THE HEROES: B.S. Chandrasekhar, the chief architect of India’s fantastic win in the 1971 Oval Test leads team-mates through an appreciative crowd.

Bangalore: Rahul Dravid’s men are on the cusp of history.

The third Test commencing at the Oval on Thursday presents an opportunity for India to register a rare series victory in England and out here in Bangalore, a wiry man with a hoary history prefers to keep mum rather than stir up his memories.

B.S. Chandrasekhar and the Oval are inextricably tied together. “It’s a long time ago and to be honest I cannot recollect much,” says Chandrasekhar initially with that famous touch of modesty that has often forced him to consciously avoid the spotlight.

The legendary leg-spinner’s exploits in the Oval Test, in August 1971, helped Ajit Wadekar’s men notch up India’s first Test series victory in England.

Playing the lead role

India won that third Test by four wickets to pocket the series 1-0 and Chandrasekhar played the lead role to perfection with a match haul of eight for 114, which included an incisive second innings spell of six for 38.

Prodded and cajoled to ride the nostalgia train, Chandrasekhar reluctantly opens up and soon those black-and-white photographs of the 1971 trip take a life of their own.

“To be honest I am not the kind of bowler who thinks too much about the conditions or the wicket. I keep bowling and in that Test I did not have any specific plans. In fact there was a bit of pressure on me as I was coming back after missing out on the tour to the West Indies and in the first two Tests, before the one at Oval, I hadn’t done much though I did get wickets in the matches against the Counties.

Even in the Oval Test I didn’t do much in the first innings (two for 76) but in the second, we bowled them out for 101 in quick time and I was getting a wicket once in two overs and so there was not even time to plan anything. It all happened too quickly!” Chandrasekhar recalls.

Was the team conscious about scoring a historical high?

“Yes we were aware that it was India’s first Test series victory in England.

“It was a great moment for us and we were very happy with the way we performed. To beat England in England in those cold conditions was a tough task but we did it and it is a credit to our outstanding fielding and team-effort. Our close-in fielders like Eknath Solkar gave exemplary support and made it easy for us to get those wickets.

The crucial wicket

As for the wickets, well as I said earlier it all happened too fast but I think getting opener Jameson was a crucial wicket. I intercepted a drive and the ball grazed my fingers and rolled onto the stumps and Jameson was outside the crease, that run-out I think set it up for us,” Chandrasekhar says.

The spell that ruined Illingworth’s men and increased the halo around Ajit Wadekar’s captaincy, however, ranks a bit low for Chandrasekhar.

“Yes I know people immediately associate me with that spell in Oval. May be it is because we won the Test and series but for me the spells I bowled to Garry Sobers and Bob Simpson in the Sixties were better. I always enjoyed bowling to the West Indies in those days,” confesses Chandrasekhar.

And as the interview winds to a close, that famous ‘underplaying-the-self’ motive comes into play.

“Please mention our fielders, please write about the way our team performed, I think that is more important,” implores Chandrasekhar.

Those humble words are a welcome contrast to this age of excess where needless showmanship often leaves a bitter aftertaste.

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