Australia back with a bang !!!!!!!

Australia entered the 4th test with 0-1 in the series, it was a must win game for them if they want to win the Ashes this year. On the other hand England were 5 days away from regaining the Ashes, ie if they win this they win the Ashes. Australia brought Stuart Clark in place of Nathan Hauritz on a fresh seamer friendly Headingley wicket, England on the other hand had to make a change forcefully with Flintoff being ruled out, Steve Harmison gets a game. England won the toss and elected to bat.

Headingley,
4th Test, Day 1

England were in trouble straight a way, Strauss was dismissed by Siddle, North took a brilliant catch, Hilfenhaus got Bopara trap in front, Johnson got Bell fending at a rising delivery, and then Clark got in to the act taking the wickets of Collingwood, Cook and Broad before lunch. England were in deep trouble with 72 for 6 at Lunch, easily not the sort of start they would have wanted after winning the toss.

After lunch Prior played a few attacking shots (frankly he had to play). But things got worse when a fired up Siddle satrted banging the ball, and soon England innings folded after lunch at 102 in just 33.5 overs, Siddle picked up all the 4 wickets after lunch, and finished the innings with dream figures of 5 for 21 of 9.5 overs.
In reply, Australia lost Katich early for a duck, but then it was an uphill task for English bowlers as Watson & Ponting started a virtual assault on English bowlers scoring at well over 6 runs an over. Ponting in particular looked in sublime form and was particularly severe on any thing short. Both batsmen reached their half centuries soon after tea and raised a 100 run stand. Watson completed is 3rd successive fifty before getting out to Onions then Broad dissmed Ponting and Hussey in quick succession. England looked like getting into the game with Australia at 151 for 4. But Clark and North had other ideas, they droped anchor and provided no more hiccups. Australia ended the day at 196 for 4 and are obviously in commanding position. If England batting was disappointing their bowling was no better, particularly Onions and Anderson who kept bowling short rather then pitching it up.

Headingley,
4th Test, Day 2

Australia started day 2 all guns blazing, even the circumspect North got into the groove and started playing shots, Clarke continued in his own merry way. The duo added 152 runs their 3rd 100 partnership, before Clarke departed for a well compiled 93, he was unlucky to have missed his 3rd 100 of the series though. Then Haddin departed early off Harmison for 14, Johnson joined North at 323 for 6 and added 70 for the 7th wicket, Johnson yet again proved his worth with the bat scoring 27 runs.
North added further 46 runs with Clark for the 9th wicket and completed his 100. Stuart Clark played a cameo of 32 of just 22 balls with 3 sixes. Australian innings finally ended at 445, with virtually unassailable lead of 343 runs. Broad was the pick of the English bowlers, recording his best figures of 25.1-6-91-6. Rest of the bowlers were ordinary to say the least.
England started well second time around, with big task ahead both the openers were cautious early on, then the flury of wickets before the end of days play, ruled any chance of English revival. Johnson and Hilfenhaus not letting England of the hook taking all the wickets between them. England ended day 2 at 82 for 5 with Prior at the crease and only bowlers to follow, we are in for an early finish tomorrow.

Headingley,
4th Test, Day 3

The ridding was very much on the wall as far as England are concerned as they lost both the overnight batsmen inside the first 40 minutes of play. Both were taken by Hilfenhaus. Then the 8th wicket partnership between Broad and Swann gave English supporters something to cherish. The duo cmpiled the 2nd fastest 100 runs partnership ever in Test history both added 108 runs of just 75 balls. Both completed their half centuries before getting out and played some scorching shots all around the wicket. Broad in particular was very aggressive scoring 61 of just 49 balls. Swann was the highest scorer though with 62 of 61 balls. England finally bowled out for 263 runs , Johnson getting five-for. ENgland didn't even play out 100 overs in 2 innings, with Johnson getting his form back, Clark's inclusion this all pace attack is looking much more potent. Players will get a much needed break and England will have to do all the thinking before the next game at The Oval, if they are to regain the Ashes, whereas a draw would do it for the Aussies, but they might want to stamp their authority in Tests again with a win at Oval. What ever happens we are in for a treat for sure, don't forget Flintoff is expected to be fit and would be looking for one last Hurrah in Tests.

All Stars 11 (Part 2)

1. Virender Sehwag
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
69 119 4 5757 319 50.06 15 18


Born 20 October 1978, in Delhi, India is one of the leading batsmen in the Indian cricket team. He played his first One Day International in 1999 and joined the Indian Test cricket team in 2001. Sehwag made his Test debut in late 2001 in the First Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein as a middle-order batsman and scored 105 on debut despite that South African went on to win. In April 2009, Sehwag became the only Indian to be honored as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for his performance in 2008.
Sehwag holds many records including the highest score made by an Indian in Test cricket (319), the fastest triple century in the history of international cricket (off only 278 balls). Sehwag also holds the distinction of being one of three batsmen in the world to have ever surpassed 300 twice in Test cricket, and the only one to score two triple centuries and take a five-wicket innings haul. Also his last 11 centuries have all been in excess of 150.

2. Gautam Gambhir
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
25 45 3 2271 206 54.07 6 10

Born 14 October 1981, in Delhi, he made his Test debut against Australia in the fourth Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy but did himself no favours by getting out for 3 and 1. He made amends in his second Test, however, scoring 96 against the South Africans. His maiden Test century came against Bangladesh in December 2004. Gambhir's second coming at the international level has been a brilliant blessing for India. In his earlier avatar Gambhir was classified as a batsman who made the cut in the limited-overs format due to his ability to improvise, but one who lacked the technique to succeed in Test cricket. He scored 858 runs at over 61 in seven matches as of December including a double century against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He is the only Indian batsman to score more than 300 runs in four consecutive Test series. On 15 July 2009, he replaced Mohammad Yousuf as the number one ranked batsman in ICC Test rankings.

3. Rahul Sharad Dravid
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
134 233 27 10823 270 52.53 26 57

Born 11 January 1973 , made his Test debut 20 June 1996 v England scored a fine 95, and showed he belongs to this stage. He is one of the most experienced cricketers in the Indian national team. He is the best No. 3 batsman to play for India - and might even be considered one of the best ever by the time his career is done. He averages around 60 at that position, more than any regular No. 3 batsman in the game's history, barring Don Bradman, he also averages more overseas - around 60, again - than at home. Dravid was honored as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000. He was also awarded the ICC Player of the Year and the Test Player of the Year at the inaugural awards ceremony held in 2004.
Known as the Wall due to his ability to bat for long durations, he is the third Indian batsman, after Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, to have scored more than 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He is the first and the only batsman to score a century in all ten Test playing nations. With more than 182 catches, Dravid currently holds the world record of the highest number of catches in Test cricket. Dravid has also been involved in more than 75 century partnerships with 18 different partners — a world record. At one point during this run, he carved up four centuries in successive innings, and hit four double-centuries in the space of 15 Tests, including in historic away-wins at Adelaide and Rawalpindi.

4. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
159 261 27 12773 248* 54.58 42 53

Born April 24, 1973 in Mumbai known as the master blaster, is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. In 2002, Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, next to Donald Bradman. In September 2007, the Australian leg spinner Shane Warne rated Tendulkar as the greatest player he has played with or against. Tendulkar was the only player of the current generation to be included in Bradman's Eleven. Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in both Test matches and ODIs, and also the batsman with the most centuries in either form of the game. The first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined, he now has more than eighty international centuries. the second ever player to score 10 Test centuries against Australia, after only Sir Jack Hobbs of England more than 70 years back. He was involved in an unbroken 664-run partnership in a Lord Harris Shield inter-school game in 1988 with friend and team mate Vinod Kambli, who would also go on to represent India. The destructive pair reduced one bowler to tears and made the rest of the opposition unwilling to continue the game. Tendulkar scored 326* in this innings and scored over a thousand runs in the tournament.

5. Sourav Chandidas Ganguly
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
113 188 17 7212 239 42.17 16 35

Born 8 July 1972 he was India's most successful Test captain to date, winning 21 tests out of 49 tests he captained. made his Test debut at Lord's alongside Rahul Dravid. Some felt he couldn't play the bouncer, others swore that he was God on the off-side; some laughed at his lack of athleticism, others took immense pride in his ability to galvanise a side. Sourav Ganguly's ability to polarise opinion led to one of the most fascinating dramas in Indian cricket. According to Rahul Dravid in the off side there’s first God then Ganguly. He scored a century, becoming only the third cricketer to score a century on debut at Lord's, after Harry Graham and John Hampshire. In the next Test match at Trent Bridge he made 136, thus becoming only the 3rd batsman to make a century in each of his first two innings (after Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharran). Ganguly announced that the Test series against Australia would be his last, he scored 324 runs at an average of 54.00.

6. Vangipurappu Venkata Sai Laxman
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50
105 174 25 6741 281 45.24 14 39

Born November 1, 1974, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. At his sublime best, VVS Laxman is a sight for the gods. Wristy, willowy and sinuous, he can match - sometimes even better - Tendulkar for strokeplay. His on-side game is comparable to his idol Azharuddin's, yet he is decidedly more assured on the off side and has the rare gift of being able to hit the same ball to either side. Laxman made his Test debut in 1996, scoring a fifty against South Africa at Ahmedabad. However, he was unable to cement his place in a star-studded Indian middle order. Instead, he was asked to open the innings, starting in South Africa in 1997. Laxman intermittently continued in this role for nearly three years, but without any consistent success. The Australians, who have suffered more than most, paid the highest compliment after India's 2003-04 tour Down Under by admitting they did not know where to bowl to him. He became the second Indian batsman after Tendulkar to score more than 2000 runs against the Australians. He has scored 6 out of his 13 test hundreds, and 4 out of his 6 ODI hundreds against Australia. He has two double-hundreds in tests, both of them against Australia, including his personal best of 281 at Kolkata. He has also scored 10 fifties in tests and 2 in ODIs against Australia. He is one of the few players who have played 100 Tests but have never played in the Cricket World Cup.


7.Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Avg 100 50 Ct St
37 59 7 1962 148 37.73 1 16 92 18


Born 7 July 1981 in Ranchi, Bihar. Initially recognized as an extravagantly flamboyant and destructive batsman, Dhoni has come to be regarded as one of the coolest heads to captain the Indian ODI side. Dhoni is an aggressive right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. Following his good one-day form against Sri Lanka, Dhoni made his debut in December 2005. Dhoni scored his maiden century in the second Test at Faisalabad,against Pakistan in 2006 off just 93 balls.

8. Anil Kumble
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 10
132 2506 106* 17.77 6 619 29.65 10/74 35 8

Born 17 October 1970 in Bangalore, Karnataka . He is currently the leading wicket-taker for India in both Test and One Day International matches. At present he is the third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and one of only three bowlers to have taken more than 600 Test wickets. He is one of only two bowlers in the history of cricket to have taken all 10 wickets in a test innings, the other being Jim Laker of England. His last match was against Australia at his favourite venue, the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi. Kumble was a right-arm leg spinner with an unorthodox style, most famous for his flipper. He started his career as a medium pacer, which has given him a useful faster delivery. He took his first 50 Test wickets in just 10 Test matches, the fastest an Indian bowler had achieved the milestone. He went on to become the second fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 Test wickets (in 21 Test matches), after Erapalli Prasanna. On 6 October 2004, Kumble became only the third spinner in the history of Test cricket (after Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan) and the second Indian bowler (after Kapil Dev) to capture 400 Test wickets. Reaching the mark took him 30 fewer Test matches than it took Kapil Dev, and 7 fewer than Warne. Kumble was the second player in the history of the game (after Warne) to score 2000 runs and take over 600 Test wickets. Anil Kumble also holds the world record for most wickets leg before wicket. On 10 August 2007, Kumble scored his maiden century, with an innings of 110 not out against England to.He took 118 Test matches to reach his maiden Test hundred, which is a record, beating Chaminda Vaas who had held this record previously with 96 Tests. He is one of the 4 bowlers, alongside Richard Hadlee, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, and the only Indian bowler ever, to have taken 5 wickets in a Test innings more than 30 times. He also holds the world record for the largest number of caught-and-bowled dismissals in tests, 35 - which forms 5.65% of his total wickets. He is also one of 4 Indian bowlers to have conceded over 250 runs in a Test match, although he took 12 wickets in that match. He is known for bowling tirelessly, having bowled 72 overs in a Test innings once. He is also remembered for his tenacity in bowling even when injured, especially after an incident in a match against West Indies where, despite having his broken jaw being heavily taped, he came back to prise out the wicket of Brian Lara. He has taken 104 Australian scalps in 17 matches at an average of 27.5. No bowler in history won India more Test matches than Anil Kumble.

9. Harbhajan Singh
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 10
77 1497 66 17.01 7 330 30.42 8/84 23 5

Born on 3 July 1980 in Jalandhar, Punjab. A specialist off spinner, he has the second-highest number of Test wickets by an off spinner behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan. Made his test debut against Australia in 1998, but made his mark in the historic 2001 series angainst Australia where he took 32 wickets in three Tests, including the first Test hat-trick by an Indian, while none of his team-mates managed more than three. The Wisden 100 study conducted by Wisden in 2002 rated all four of Harbhajan's efforts in the Second and Third Tests of that series in the top 100 bowling performances of all time, the most for any bowlerHe has never quite managed to reach those heights again, but he remains an irresistible force on home pitches where he can be unplayable once he manages an opening.

10. Zaheer Khan
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 4w
65 883 75 13.79 3 210 33.84 5/29 7 11

Born 7 October 1978, Shrirampur, Ahmednagar. A left arm pace bowler, Zaheer is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and can swing the old ball at some pace., as a batsman also holds the record for the highest Test score by a No. 11. He might just as easily have come from the Pakistani pace stable: well-built, quick and unfazed by a batsman's reputation. After initially struggling to establish himself as a new-ball bowler, he came of age on the 2002 tour of the West Indies, when he led the line with great heart. His subsequent displays in England and New Zealand established him at the forefront of India's new pace generation, but a hamstring injury ruled him out for most of 2003-04. Later some lackluster performance forced him out of the team for over an year. He played a season of county cricket in England which proved fruitful, as he came back with vigour and consistency. He led India’s attack to England in 2006-07 as India won the series their after 20 years.

11. Javagal Srinath
Mat Runs HS Avg 50+ Wkts Avg BBI 5w 10
67 1009 76 14.21 4 236 30.49 8/86 10 1

Born August 31, 1969 in Mysore, Karnataka. Arguably the nation's fastest-ever bowler, Javagal Srinath heralded a period of awakening for Indian pace bowling, after Kapil Dev's swing had fired popular imagination. And when he retired from international cricket of 11 years in 2003, Srinath was second only to Kapil in number of Test wickets by an Indian paceman. On his day, Srinath was outstanding. With a strong shoulder action, he hit the pitch with force, and bowled mainly incutters and inswingers, though in the right conditions he could move it the other way. He learned to harness the power of the old ball off the seam rather than in the air, the finest demonstration of which was his 6 for 21 at Ahmedabad in 1996-97 to bowl out South Africa in the fourth innings. He often gave the impression that he could have done more.

Play fantasy cricket and win useful prizes !!!!!

Play fantasy cricket and win useful prizes !!!!!
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Crunching Numbers from Lords

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• Strauss crosses 5000 runs mark, during is knock of 161 runs. He now has 18 centuries, 4 at lords.
• Andrew Strauss became the fifth batsman to score 1000 runs or more at an average of 67.64 at Lords.
• Strauss and Cook went past the pair of Mike Atherton and Graham Gooch to take fourth place in the list of top opening partnerships for England. The pair now averages 47.07 for 2589 runs with seven century-stands
• Together with Cook, Strauss forged the highest first-wicket partnership by an England combination at Lord's (196) in an Ashes Test, bettering by 14 runs the 83-year-old record held by Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe (182)
• The duo posted the highest first-wicket stand in England since Colin Cowdrey and Peter Richardson at Trent Bridge in 1956 (204). It was England's best in any Ashes Test since Graham Gooch and Mike Atherton put together 213 at Adelaide in 1990-91.
• Mitchell Johnson gets to 100 wickets in Test Cricket.
• Onions & Anderson add 47 for 10th wicket is a record for England at Lords.
• Michael Hussey's 51 was only his second half-century in 10 innings this year. He's averaged a modest 29 in 2009, compared to his overall average of 54.29.
• 145.23 Matt Prior's strike rate - he scored 61 off 42 balls. It's the highest strike rate for a 50-plus score in 2009.
• 123.6 The most overs Australia have batted in the fourth innings of a Test. Those were eight-ball overs - against South Africa in 1950 - which convert into 165 six-ball overs. The record against England is 115 eight-ball overs (153.2 six-ball ones).

Freddie helps England break Aussie stranglehold after 75 years!!!

Andrew Flintoff playing his last test series sealed the faith of Aussies with a match winning spell of top class fast bowling. It was only his 3rd five for for England in test cricket and first since last Ashes in England in 2005.

Lords, 2nd Test, Day 1

Although Flintoff pushed the nails on the coffin, it all started on first session of Day 1 itself, when captain courageous Andrew Strauss after winning the toss added 196 for the first wicket with Alistair Cook. Cook was unlucky though to miss out on a century, when he was dismissed by Johnson for 95. Such was there assault on Aussies that Mitchell Johnson there strike bowler was hit for 77 runs in his first 11 overs and as many as 15 four's were hit of him. The Aussies came back strongly with wickets in the final session, but were handed a blow when Hauritz while attempting a catch of Strauss, dislocated his finger and could not bowl any further in that innings. The first day undoubtedly belong to Andrew Strauss who remained not out for 161 at the end of Day 1. With honours even with scoreboard reading 364 for 6.

Lords, 2nd Test, Day 2

The Aussies came back strongly 2nd morning, with the pick of the bowlers on day 1 Ben Hilfenhaus dismissing Strauss on the 2nd bowl of the day. Strauss failed to add a run to his 161 but that could not undermine the importance of this innings. With 2 more wickets Aussies had the advantage scoreboard showing 378 for 9. Yet again the 10th wicket pair proved their nemesis. The duo of Anderson and Onions added 47 runs off just 52 balls. Anderson played some scorching shots in his cameo of 29 off 25 balls. England ended their innings on a high, with a formidable first innings score of 425, Aussies had some catching up to do. They soon found themselves in trouble, when Hughes and Ponting departed early, Australia 10 for 2. Both wickets were taken by Anderson, who along with his opening partner Flintoff looked deadly with his swing. Katich and Hussey started cautiously, and ensured no further hiccups till lunch. After lunch they started playing shots which gave English bowlers a chance to comeback and with some rain around Aussies found themselves in deep trouble loosing 6 for 46 in final session, 156 for 8 when bad light forced the close of play early. Aussies were tested with some good short pitched stuff during that period, especially by Broad. England took the honors on day 2 with Australia needing a further 70 runs to avoid the follow-on. Strauss had some decision to make on whether to enforce follow-on or not.

Lords, 2nd Test, Day 3

Day 3 saw some stern resistance from the Australian tail enders as they added 59 runs more but couldn't cross the 225 run mark to avoid the follow-on. Which laid Strauss to make a decision,with a lead of 210 runs and sun shining, Strauss decided not to enforce the follow-on. Again it was a good start by the openers and again Johnson looked a shadow of himself. But Hauritz dismissed both the openers and ignited an Aussie revival, for the next 2-3 hours bowlers toiled hard, there were numerous plays and misses, as Pieterson and Bopara toiled hard. They were made to work hard for runs. And the pressure soon paid off as both batsmen departed. That brought Matt Prior to the crease who along with Collingwood decimated the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground. It was a treat to watch the free flowing innings by Prior. Before departing he had scored 61 of just 42 balls. Then Collingwood and Flintoff helped England cross the 300 run mark. England ended day 3 at 311 for 6, with a lead of 521 runs, they were in total command.

Lords, 2nd Test, Day 4

The possible threat of rain forced Strauss to declare first up in the morning, setting Australia a herculean task of scoring 522 runs in 2 days. Australian's were in trouble straight away thanks to some poor umpiring decisions, while Katich given out to a no ball, Hughes catch was not referred to the third umpire, replays showed that ball clearly bounced before reaching Strauss at slip, Australia 34 for 2 also had to contain with a recharged Flintoff playing his last test at the Mecca of cricket Lords. Ponting looked good but dragged one back on his stumps of Broad, then Hussey was given out to another controversial decision, though I must admit it looked out from the naked eye, replays confirming otherwise. Swann was finding some sharp turn and drift and soon found North's stumps too, Australia at 128 for 5 and a threat of loosing out inside 4 days. Then came Haddin who provided much needed support to Clarke who looked in sublime touch. The duo added 185 runs before the close of play, with Clarke completing his century and Haddin his half century in process. All of a sudden 522 runs was not looking like that many with Australia ending day 4 at 313 for 5 and two batsmen at 125 and 80 respectively, we had a game on our hands.

Lords, 2nd Test, Day 5

The history was beckoning both teams; England who have not beaten Australia at Lords since 1934 and Australia who could possibly chase down a world record total. Anderson opened the attack with exceptional display of swing bowling kept Clarke at bay. Flintoff was next up and dismissed Haddin on the 4th ball of the over. After that Aussies had their backs to the wall and Flintoff ran through their tail, with a wonderful display of fast bowling in spell of 10 overs. He finished with figures of 27-4-92-5, he was equally well supported by Swann who finished with 28-3-87-4 and of-course with the all important wicket of Michael Clarke. Mitchell Johnson's brisk 63 runs helped Australia cross 400 runs. In the end 522 runs proving too much for Australia but they fought hard and who knows if a couple of decision's would have went their way, they might have overhauled this total. But they must remember what happened against India in Sydney test last year, So they mustn't blame the umpires now and should focus on getting the right combination for the next test otherwise they might end up with the same fate they did in 2005.

All Stars 11 ( Part 1)

India played its first ever test against England in 1932 which they ended up loosing by 158 runs. It took them 19 years and 25 tests before they could register first ever test win.India wasn’t as good as the Aussies, England or West Indies. But they too had their share of stars. We can divide India’s Cricketing history in two parts the first 60 years.1932-1992 and from 1992-till now. The classification of the “All Stars 11” is done in the same way. Here’s the All Stars 11 part 1 (1932-1992). The criteria for selecting the All Stars 11 was the cricketer must have played atleast 40 tests.

1. SM Gavaskar (1971-1987 )

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	0 12
125	214	16	10122	236*	51.12	34	45

Born on 10 July 1949 in Bombay, Maharashtra ,widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in test match history, Gavaskar set world records during his career for the most runs and most centuries scored by any batsman. Made his debut against the West Indies in 1971. He was widely admired for his technique against fast bowling, afterall how many opening batsmen average 65.45 against the West Indies. He was the first Indian to aggregate more than 700 runs in a series, and this 774 runs at 154.80 remains the most runs scored in a debut series by any batsman. Incidently Gavaskar didn't score a century on home soil until 1976.He captained India to nine victories and eight losses, but most of the games were drawn, 30. He was named the wisdon cricketer of the year in 1979.

2. Vinoo Mankad (1946-1959)

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	Wick	BBI	Avg
44	72	5	2109	231	31.47	5	6	162	8/52	32.32

(12 April 1917 - 21 August 1978) An effective batsman and slow left arm orthodox bowler, he played in 44 Tests for India, and made 2109 runs at an average of 31.47 including five Test centuries with a top score of 231. He also took 162 wickets at the average of 32.32, including eight five-wicket hauls. He is one of the three cricketers to have batted in every position, from the first to the last, during his Test career. Mankad was the first player in more than 30 years to score a 100 and take five wickets in the same Test and the first Indian to achieve this feat. In 1956 he hit 231 against New Zealand at Chennai and together with Pankaj Roy established the world record opening partnership of 413 runs which stood for 52 years.

3. DB Vengsarkar (1976-1992)

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	0 15
116	185	22	6868	166	42.13	17	35

Born 6 April 1956 in Rajapur, Maharashtra , he was one of the most stylish batsmen of his time. He was also known by the nickname 'Colonel'. While the West Indies pacemen dominated the cricket world, Dilip Vengsarkar was one of the few batsmen who was successful against them, and scored 6 centuries against the likes of Marshall, Holding and Roberts. He has the distinction of scoring three consecutive Test match centuries at Lord's. From 1986 to 1988, in 16 Tests, he scored eight hundreds. He was the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1987.

4. GR Viswanath (1969-1983)

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	0
91	155	10	6080	222	41.93	14	35	10

Born on 12 February 1949 in Bhadravathi, Karnataka. He was one of the worlds finest batsmen in the 1970s. Viswanath, popularly nicknamed Vishy, had an elegant and wristy batting style which emphasised timing rather than power. He was an artist rather than a run-machine. On his Test match debut, Viswanath scored a century and a duck against Australia at Kanpur in 1969, one of only three batsmen to have done this in their first match. He averaged over 50 against two of the most feared attacks of that era. A feat of Viswanath's career is that India never lost a game in which he scored a century. Especially memorable was an unbeaten, match winning 97 against a rampaging Andy Roberts at Madras in 1974-75. Viswanath often excelled on pitches others found difficult - witness his match winning 124 out of 255 on another fiery, bouncy Madras wicket against West Indies in 1978-79, and innings of 83 and 79 against New Zealand on a Christchurch greentop in 1975-76. He played the game in its true spirit.

5. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (1961-1975)

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	0
46	83	3	2793	203*	34.91	6	16	7

Born on January 5, 1941 in Bhopal, Also known as the The Nawab of Pataudi, arguably, India's greatest captain ever. He led India in 40 of 46 Tests he played in, and won 12 of them. Under him, India achieved their first overseas Test victory against New Zealand in 1967. As a batsman he was boldly adventurous and unorthodox for his times, and unafraid to loft the ball over the infield. His Test average was a modest 34, but what he could have achieved with complete sight is a matter of conjecture.

6. PR Umrigar (1948-1962)

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	Wick	BBI	Avg
59	94	8	3631	223	42.22	12	14	35	6/74	42.08

Born on 28 March 1926, he was primarily a middle-order batsman, as a bowler, he was an accurate offspinner and could even open the bowling, sending down outswingers. He captained the Indian team in eight Test matches from 1955 to 1958. When he retired in 1962, he had played in more Tests (59), scored more Test runs (3,631), and recorded more Test centuries (12), than any other Indian player. He scored the first double century by an Indian in Test cricket against New Zealand in Hyderabad. He scored 130 not out going in at No.7 in India’s first ever test win against England in 1951. He is only one of two Indian cricketers (Vinoo Mankad being the other) to score a century and take five wickets in an innings - a feat he achieved against West Indies at Port of Spain in 1962. He died on 7^th November 2006.

7. Kapil Dev (1978-1994)

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	Wick	BBI	Avg
131	184	15	5248	163	31.05	8	27	434	9/84	29.64

Born on 6 January 1959, Chandigarh one of the greatest all-rounders of all time was named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century. The Haryana Hurricane was a right-arm pace bowler noted for his graceful action and potent outswinger, he was a natural striker of the ball. He often helped India in difficult situations by taking the attack to the opposition. He retired as highest wicket taker in both forms of the game and to date is the only person to take 400 wickets and score more than 5,000 runs in test cricket. \in the series against Pakistan in 1979-80, became the youngest Test player to achieve the all-round double of 100 Wickets and 1000 Runs and in 25 matches (although Ian Botham took just 21 matches to achieve the same feat) and finished the series with 32 wickets (Ave: 17.68) and 278 runs that included 2 fifties. India's tour of Australia in 1980-81 had the looks of the familiar Indian series as India were 1-0 down and were defending a meager 143 runs and Kapil Dev virtually ruled out with a groin injury. Kapil willed himself to play the final day with pain-killing injections and removed the dangerous Australia middle order. Kapil won the match for India with the innings bowling performance of 16.4-4-28-5. If he had played at any other time - not when Imran Khan, Ian Botham and Richard Hadlee were contemporaries - he would surely have been recognised as the best allrounder in the world.

8. SMH Kirmani (1976-1986)

Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	100	50	0	Ct	St
88	124	22	2759	102	27.04	2	12	7	160	38

Syed Mujtaba Hussain Kirmani was born on December 29, 1949 in Madras. Popularly known as 'Kiri', Syed Kirmani is generally regarded as the finest wicket keeper to play for India. Kirmani made his debut against New Zealand and in his second Test, equalled the world record of six victims in an innings. He had 17 catches and two stumpings against Pakistan in 1979-80 and it equalled Naren Tamhane's Indian record for a single series. Against England in 1981–82, he did not concede a single bye in three consecutive Tests while 1964 runs were scored.

9. BS Bedi (1966-1979)

Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	Avg	BBI	BBM	SR	5w	10w
67	118	21364	7637	266	28.71	7/98	10/194	80.3	14	1

Born 25 September 1946 in Amritsar, formed part of the famous Indian spin quartet.His bowling has been described as graceful, even beautiful, and full of guile and artistry.In 2008, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack named Bedi as one of the five best cricketers to have not been selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. He said that he has always washed his own clothes, calling it "the best exercise for your shoulders and fingers", when pointing out that spin bowling requires suppleness of limbs. He finished with 1560 first-class wickets, more than any other Indian bowler. He was forthright and outspoken throughout his playing career, and inevitably courted controversies: objecting to the use of Vaseline by England bowler John Lever in 1976-77, declaring India's second innings at Kingston in protest against intimidatory bowling by the West Indians in 1976 and, famously, threatening to dump the Indian cricket team in the sea in 1990, when he was the coach.

10. EAS Prasanna (1962-1978)

Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	Avg	BBI	BBM	SR	5w	10w
49	86	14353	5742	189	30.38	8/76	11/140	75.9	10	2

Born on May 22, 1940, made his debut Test cricket match at Madras against England in 1961. His first overseas tour to the West Indies was a tough one and he did not play another Test for five years. He left the sport for a period to finish his engineering degree, returning in 1967. A bowler with an attacking mindset, he was also patient, and would bait a batsman for over after over, attempting to induce a mistake. He has written an autobiography, One More Over.

11. BS Chandrasekhar (1964-1979)

Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	Avg	BBI	BBM	SR	5w	10w
58	97	15963	7199	242	29.74	8/79	12/104	65.9	16	2

Born May 17, 1945 in Mysore, Considered amongst the top echelon of leg-spinners, Chandrasekhar along with E.A.S. Prasanna, Bishen Singh Bedi and Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan constituted the Indian spin quartet that dominated spin bowling in the 1960s and 1970s. Overcoming a polio attack which withered his right wrist as a child, so that he always used his left arm for throwing, he became one of the most successful leg spin bowlers in cricket history.. He was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1972 and won the Wisden's "Best bowling performance of the century" award in 2002, for his 6 wickets for 38 runs against England at the Oval in 1971 which helped India to a series win. He was instrumental in India's first win in Australia in 1978, taking 12 for 104 at Melbourne. He also holds the dubious record of scoring fewer runs (167) off his bat than wickets (267) taken in Test Cricket.