Wisden

CricInfo News

CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

ARCHIVE
This month
This year
All years


The Electronic Telegraph Tetley's Challenge Series: Derbyshire v Indians
Neil Hallam - 13-16 June 1996

Day 1: Mongia set to open in Test

Derbyshire (80-3) trail the Indians (229) by 149 runs

The object lesson in common sense application provided by Nayan Mongia's unbeaten 77 was in such stark contrast to the inadequacy of the rest of India's upper batting that his promotion to opener for the Second Test at Lord's next week must now be rubber-stamped.

India's management had already indicated that this was the likeliest response to the frailties revealed at Edgbaston and the fact that Vikram Rathore and Ajaysinhji Jadeja fell within eight overs of the tourists being put in, underlined their most debilitating problem.

Devon Malcolm bowled like a man with a message in claiming four for 60, but India's 229 all out in 66 overs had still to be counted a conspicuous under-achievement.

It looked slightly better as Derbyshire toiled to 80 for three in 32 overs, but this, too, was more a product of injudicious batting than anything extreme in the conditions or inspired in the bowling.

Tim Tweats sliced a fast-footed drive, Adrian Rollins chopped a wide ball into his stumps and Derbyshire were wobbling when Chris Adams, a double century-maker in his last game, was out.

India's batting was flawed by similar misjudgments before Mongia was joined in partnerships with Salil Ankola and Venkat Raju.

Rathore, undone by a degree of extra bounce, left with a pointed and unseemly examination of his upper arm, Jadeja jabbed at some late away swing and India were facing embarrassment at 63 for five when Saurav Ganguly fell and Mohammad Azharuddin played round a straight one.

Kumble became the first victim of left-arm seamer Kevin Dean on his first-class debut and Javagal Srinath and Paras Mhambrey also edged to second slip but two sixes from Ankola signalled more effective support for Mongia's four-hour vigil.


Day 2: Jones puts Derbyshire in control

Second day of four: Indians (229 & 86-1) trail Derbyshire (409) by 94 runs

The Indians followed an inadequate batting display with a ragged performance in the field as Derbyshire amassed 409 for a lead of 180 to inflate hopes of a first victory over them since 1932.

A total of 72 extras, including 41 no balls, showed the sloppiness of the Indians' cricket and the fact that a 98-over day finished 40 minutes late despite 31 from leg-spinner Anil Kumble, also indicated general lassitude.

Derbyshire's highest total against the Indians - beating their 366 in 1946 - was built around Dean Jones's 93 and a fourthwicket stand of 125 with John Owen.

Jones hit 13 fours in his 175-ball innings before falling lbw, but Michael May, on his first-class debut, grafted to 49 and Phil DeFreitas rattled up 38 off 31 balls.

The Indians' dejection was complete when Devon Malcolm joined Karl Krikken in a last-wicket stand of 51 before the latter became the first batsman in Derbyshire's history to be dismissed for handling the ball.

Krikken, on 70, used a hand to waft the ball clear after chopping a delivery from Javagal Srinath towards his stumps only the 43rd player to perish thus in first- class cricket and the first since Graham Gooch against Australia at Old Trafford in 1993.


Day 3: Malcolm on high as India hit low

Derbyshire beat India by 10 wkts

India will be virtually frogmarched in disgrace to Lord's for the second Test after a blazing condemnation of their attitude from their captain, Mohammad Azharuddin, and cricket manager, Sandeep Patil, following a chastening 10-wicket defeat by Derbyshire.

The tourists were routed with four-and-a-half sessions unused, Devon Malcolm taking four for 28 to finish with match figures of eight for 110 and confirm that his spirits are fully restored following the miseries of South Africa.

But it was the appearance of Malcolm to open the Derbyshire innings and score a dozen of the 13 runs needed for only the county's second victory over India which sparked the furious outburst from the Indian management.

Patil explained: ``Azza completely lost his cool in the dressing room and lashed out over this. He will now take a very hard line on every issue between now and the second Test with the complete support of the tour management.

``It was an insult and a humiliation to see Malcolm coming out to bat like that but we do not blame Derbyshire or their captain Dean Jones. It was all our own fault and we ought to be completely ashamed of what is happening.

``Batting, bowling, fielding, attitude - you name it and we are having a problem with it because people seem to be living on past glories or thinking they can do as they please. That is five defeats so far on this tour and we can't go on fooling ourselves that we can perform like this and get away with it.''

India lost nine wickets to crash out for 192 and Jones added: ``It's a great result for us and for England because it was vital that we didn't let India rebuild confidence.''

Malcolm, who produced a brute of a bouncer to remove Azharuddin, admitted: ``I take a lot of satisfaction from feeling good and bowling well again because I was very low after South Africa. Eight wickets against the tourists has to mean something and I've certainly not abandoned hope of playing for England again -not with an Ashes series coming up next summer.''


Source: The Electronic Telegraph
Editorial comments can be sent to The Electronic Telegraph at et@telegraph.co.uk