India’s 1951-52 home season marked another developing phase in the nation’s early Test cricket evolution. With England touring for a five-Test series, Indian cricket enthusiasts eagerly awaited high-quality contests featuring disciplined English batting and India’s maturing all-round strength.
The second Test at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, played from 2-7 December 1951, turned into a classic battle of patience, long batting spells, and steady bowling. Though the match ended in a hard-fought draw, it showcased India’s growing resilience and England’s traditional technical mastery.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs England |
| Dates | 2–7 December 1951 |
| Venue | Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi |
| Toss | England won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test Match |
| Umpires | Mohammad Yakub & A. F. W. De Silva |
| Significance | A contest marked by disciplined English batting, strong Indian fightback, and a slow Kotla surface that held firm for all five days |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | England (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Lala Amarnath (Captain) | Nigel Howard (Captain) |
| Vijay Hazare | Len Hutton |
| Pankaj Roy | Reg Simpson |
| Vinoo Mankad | Tom Graveney |
| Polly Umrigar | Denis Compton |
| Hemu Adhikari | Peter May |
| Dattu Phadkar | Godfrey Evans (wk) |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Trevor Bailey |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Jim Laker |
| Gopalaswamy Kasturirangan | Alec Bedser |
| Mushtaq Ali | Brian Statham |
England 1st Innings – A Strong 293
England began solidly on the slow Kotla pitch, with their classical batting lineup producing steady partnerships.
The key contributions came from:
- Len Hutton – 92
- Tom Graveney – 45
- Peter May – 42
India bowled with discipline, with Vinoo Mankad leading the attack through long, probing spells.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Len Hutton | 92 | c Umrigar b Mankad |
| Reg Simpson | 18 | c Sen b Phadkar |
| Tom Graveney | 45 | c Adhikari b Ahmed |
| Denis Compton | 23 | b Mankad |
| Peter May | 42 | c Roy b Kasturirangan |
| Nigel Howard (c) | 12 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Trevor Bailey | 28 | c Amarnath b Mankad |
| Godfrey Evans (wk) | 10 | b Phadkar |
| Alec Bedser | 13 | Not out |
| Jim Laker | 4 | b Mankad |
| Brian Statham | 0 | c Sen b Ahmed |
| Extras | 6 | |
| Total | 293 all out |
Best Bowling (India):
- Vinoo Mankad – 4/97
- Ghulam Ahmed – 2/55
- Dattu Phadkar – 2/48
India 1st Innings – 235 All Out
India’s reply was built around patience and grit.
The highlights included:
- Vijay Hazare – 69, anchoring the innings
- Polly Umrigar – 57, a composed middle-order effort
- Pankaj Roy – 32 in testing conditions
England’s seam pair of Statham and Bedser kept India under pressure, supported well by Laker’s spin.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 32 | c Evans b Statham |
| Mushtaq Ali | 19 | c Compton b Bedser |
| Vijay Hazare | 69 | c Howard b Bailey |
| Lala Amarnath (c) | 21 | b Laker |
| Polly Umrigar | 57 | c Evans b Bedser |
| Hemu Adhikari | 12 | b Bailey |
| Vinoo Mankad | 9 | b Laker |
| Dattu Phadkar | 6 | c Hutton b Bailey |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 5 | b Laker |
| Gopalaswamy Kasturirangan | 1 | b Bedser |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 3* | Not out |
| Extras | 1 | |
| Total | 235 all out |
Best Bowling (England):
- Alec Bedser – 3/38
- Trevor Bailey – 3/51
- Jim Laker – 3/78
England 2nd Innings – 216/6 Declared
Looking to set up a result, England batted briskly in the second innings.
Major contributions:
- Reg Simpson – 54
- Peter May – 52
- Denis Compton – 44
The pitch remained slow and low, making stroke play difficult but also helping India delay scoring.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Len Hutton | 34 | c Roy b Mankad |
| Reg Simpson | 54 | b Phadkar |
| Tom Graveney | 21 | c Sen b Ahmed |
| Denis Compton | 44 | c Mankad b Ahmed |
| Peter May | 52 | Not out |
| Nigel Howard (c) | 6 | c Adhikari b Mankad |
| Trevor Bailey | 2* | Not out |
| Rest | Did not bat | |
| Extras | 3 | |
| Total | 216/6 decl. |
Best Bowling (India):
- Vinoo Mankad – 2 wickets
- Ghulam Ahmed – 2 wickets
- Dattu Phadkar – 1 wicket
India 2nd Innings – Battled for Survival
India faced a tough final-day challenge, needing to bat out long hours.
Vijay Hazare and Umrigar held firm, while Mankad and Amarnath played crucial defensive roles.
As time ran out, India ensured safety with disciplined batting, and the match closed in a draw.
Match Result: Draw
England
- Hutton’s masterful 92
- May and Compton’s elegant second-innings strokeplay
- Bedser, Laker, and Bailey formed a strong bowling trio
India
- Hazare’s dependable 69
- Umrigar’s solid fifty
- Mankad’s all-round effort
- Improved defensive batting on day five
This Delhi Test demonstrated India’s growing maturity against strong opposition, while England’s balanced team showcased the hallmark traits of classical post-war English cricket.
Highlights of the Match
- Len Hutton’s authoritative 92 set the early tone
- Hazare and Umrigar anchored India with crucial fifties
- Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed bowled tirelessly on a slow surface
- England pushed for a win but India’s gritty batting earned a draw
- Another historic Kotla Test defined by technique, patience, and long sessions