The first Test in England after World War II was played against India?
(2 August 2002)

Although war-time saw many Services games of cricket played around England, it wasn't until India toured in 1946 that Test cricket resumed in that country. The first match at Lord's, expectedly enough, saw as many as nine debuts, the war having cut down the career of many veterans in their prime.

One of the debutants also ended up stealing the show. Alec Bedser, swing bowler who was to become one of England's best in the years to come, picked seven wickets for 49 in his and India's first innings, keeping them down to just 200. Joe Hardstaff then resuscitated the English innings after Lala Amarnath had taken four quick top-order wickets. Hardstaff made an unbeaten 205, and even though Amarnath took five wickets, England reached 428.

Bedser was at the root of India's destruction in the second essay as well, taking four wickets to take his match tally to 11. Debutant Vinoo Mankad made a resolute 63 at the top of the order, top-scoring for his side, but India could only manage 275 in the second innings.

England galloped comfortably to the target of 48, taking the first Test by 10 wickets. They were to triumph in the series as well, but the biggest winner was undoubtedly cricket. After six years of wartime atrocities that came close to destroying man's faith in man, cricket had set about rebuilding that faith again as only sport can.

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