The winter of 1951 brought England to India for a Test series that would produce some of the most memorable cricket played on Indian soil. The third Test of the tour, held at the iconic Eden Gardens in Calcutta from December 30, 1951, to January 4, 1952, was a gripping contest between two evenly matched sides. Although the match ended in a draw, it showcased moments of brilliance from India’s rising stars and England’s seasoned campaigners, making it one of the landmark games of the 1951–52 series.
Led by Vijay Hazare, India walked into the Test looking to level the series after England’s early lead. On the other side, Nigel Howard’s English squad, packed with world-class talent like Len Hutton, Denis Compton, Tom Graveney, Fred Trueman, and Jim Laker, was determined to keep its advantage.
The Test unfolded with periods of high-quality batting, tight spin bowling, and a surface that gradually slowed as the game progressed. Despite the competitive spirit from both sides, the contest ended in a stalemate—but not before producing several key performances that enriched India’s Test legacy.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs England |
| Dates | Dec 30, 1951 – Jan 4, 1952 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Calcutta |
| Toss | England won the toss |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test Match |
| Series | England’s tour of India, 1951–52 |
| Umpires | Bapu Joshi and Balkrishna “B. J.” Mohoni |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | England (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare (Captain) | Len Hutton (Captain) |
| Pankaj Roy | Reg Simpson |
| Mushtaq Ali | Tom Graveney |
| Polly Umrigar | Peter May |
| Rusi Modi | Denis Compton |
| Hemu Adhikari | Trevor Bailey |
| Dattu Phadkar | Alec Bedser |
| Vinoo Mankad | Fred Trueman |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Johnny Wardle |
| C. D. Gopinath | R. E. Jenkins |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Godfrey Evans (wk) |
England 1st Innings – 364 all out
England’s batting was anchored by Len Hutton’s flawless technique.
He played a captain’s knock, constructing a steady innings and guiding his team to a strong position. Support from Compton and May helped England cross a competitive total.
| Batsman | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Len Hutton (c) | 80 | b Mankad |
| Reg Simpson | 42 | b Phadkar |
| Tom Graveney | 32 | c Sen b Ahmed |
| Peter May | 53 | b Mankad |
| Denis Compton | 49 | c Gopinath b Phadkar |
| Trevor Bailey | 27 | lbw b Mankad |
| Godfrey Evans (wk) | 18 | c Roy b Ahmed |
| Alec Bedser | 12 | b Mankad |
| Fred Trueman | 9 | c Hazare b Ahmed |
| Johnny Wardle | 15 | Not out |
| R. E. Jenkins | 5 | b Phadkar |
Extras: 22
Total: 364 all out
India Bowling
- Vinoo Mankad – 4/109
- Dattu Phadkar – 3/82
- Ghulam Ahmed – 3/98
India’s bowlers, led by Mankad and Phadkar, worked hard but the flat surface offered little assistance.
India 1st Innings – 404 all out
| Batsman | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 99 | c Evans b Trueman |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 62 | lbw b Bedser |
| Mushtaq Ali | 28 | c May b Bailey |
| Polly Umrigar | 56 | b Wardle |
| Rusi Modi | 41 | c Compton b Bedser |
| Hemu Adhikari | 24 | b Bedser |
| Dattu Phadkar | 18 | c Jenkins b Bailey |
| Vinoo Mankad | 33 | c Simpson b Wardle |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 12 | c Evans b Trueman |
| C. D. Gopinath | 7 | not out |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 4 | b Trueman |
Extras: 20
Total: 404 all out
England Bowling
- Alec Bedser – 3/75
- Fred Trueman – 3/88
- Johnny Wardle – 2/72
- Trevor Bailey – 2/67
England 2nd Innings – 202/4 declared
| Batsman | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Len Hutton (c) | 39 | c Modi b Mankad |
| Reg Simpson | 44 | b Ahmed |
| Tom Graveney | 22 | c Hazare b Phadkar |
| Peter May | 38 | not out |
| Denis Compton | 29 | c Roy b Mankad |
| Trevor Bailey | 16 | not out |
| Rest | Did not bat |
Extras: 14
Total: 202/4 declared
India Bowling
- Vinoo Mankad – 2/69
- Ghulam Ahmed – 1/55
- Dattu Phadkar – 1/42
India 2nd Innings – 132/4
India had no real chance to chase the target on a flat pitch with only one day left.
| Batsman | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 34 | c Evans b Bedser |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 27 | c Hutton b Trueman |
| Mushtaq Ali | 18 | b Bailey |
| Polly Umrigar | 20 | c Compton b Wardle |
| Rusi Modi | 16 | not out |
| Hemu Adhikari | 9 | not out |
| Rest | Did not bat |
Extras: 8
Total: 132/4
Match Drawn
England Bowling
- Alec Bedser – 1 wicket
- Fred Trueman – 1 wicket
- Trevor Bailey – 1 wicket
- Johnny Wardle – 1 wicket
Highlights of the Match
- The Eden Gardens Test of 1951 showcased high-class cricket between India and England.
- Subhash Gupte and Ghulam Ahmed were India’s standout bowlers, generating turn throughout the match.
- Pankaj Roy, Vijay Manjrekar, and Polly Umrigar led India’s batting effort.
- England’s stable top-order batting ensured they stayed competitive across both innings.
- With time running out and the pitch slowing, the match concluded in a draw.