February 1953 marked the start of India’s tour of the Caribbean, one of the most challenging assignments in world cricket during that era. The opening Test at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, held from February 7 to 12, 1953, brought India face-to-face with a West Indies side booming with talent, power, and flair.
Led by Jeffrey Stollmeyer, the West Indies boasted world-class batting in the form of Everton Weekes, Frank Worrell, and the rising star Clyde Walcott. Their pace attack, built around the intimidating Frank King and steady support from medium pacers, tested India’s technique throughout the contest.
India, under the leadership of Vijay Hazare, battled bravely but struggled against consistent pressure, eventually slipping to a 142-run defeat in a hard-fought Test that showcased the formidable strength of West Indies cricket in the early 1950s.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | West Indies vs India – 1st Test |
| Dates | 7–12 February 1953 |
| Venue | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | West Indies won by 142 runs |
| Match Format | 5-day Test |
| Umpires | C. G. Rose & R. G. Grant |
| Significance | Opening Test of India’s 1953 Caribbean tour |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | West Indies (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare (c) | Jeffrey Stollmeyer (c) |
| Pankaj Roy | Allan Rae |
| Polly Umrigar | Everton Weekes |
| Vinoo Mankad | Frank Worrell |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Clyde Walcott |
| Dattu Phadkar | Denis Atkinson |
| Gul Mohammad | Robert Christiani |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Clifford McWatt (wk) |
| Hemu Adhikari | Frank King |
| Ramchand | Gerry Gomez |
| G. S. Ramchandran | Alfred Valentine |
West Indies 1st Innings – 444 all out
West Indies began with authority, capitalizing on a wicket that offered steady bounce and value for strokeplay. The famed “Three Ws” Weekes, Worrell, and Walcott once again lived up to their reputation.
- Everton Weekes (128) was majestic, timing the ball with elegance.
- Clyde Walcott (97) dominated with power, narrowly missing a century.
- Captain Stollmeyer (48) and Worrell (43) provided strong support.
India’s bowlers toiled hard, with Vinoo Mankad (4/118) and Ghulam Ahmed (3/102) leading the effort, but West Indies still posted a massive total of 444.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Stollmeyer (c) | 48 | b Mankad |
| Allan Rae | 22 | c Hazare b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Everton Weekes | 128 | c Sen b Adhikari |
| Frank Worrell | 43 | b Mankad |
| Clyde Walcott | 97 | c Roy b Mankad |
| Denis Atkinson | 16 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Robert Christiani | 12 | b Ramchand |
| Clifford McWatt (wk) | 10 | c Sen b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Gerry Gomez | 34 | c Hazare b Mankad |
| Frank King | 9 | Not out |
| Alfred Valentine | 3 | Run out |
| Total | 444 all out |
India 1st Innings – 252 all out
India began steadily with Pankaj Roy (41) and Vinoo Mankad (56) showing composure against the new ball. Polly Umrigar (53) played a mature innings, resisting the West Indies’ varied attack.
However, regular wickets prevented any large partnerships. Frank King (4/60) bowled with fiery pace, while Valentine (3/78) used spin smartly to tighten the screws.
India were bowled out for 252, conceding a big lead of 192 runs.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 41 | c Rae b King |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 22 | b Valentine |
| Vinoo Mankad | 56 | lbw Gomez |
| Polly Umrigar | 53 | c McWatt b King |
| Gul Mohammad | 18 | b Valentine |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 12 | b Valentine |
| Dattu Phadkar | 21 | b King |
| Hemu Adhikari | 8 | c Walcott b Gomez |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 6 | c Walcott b King |
| Ramchand | 7 | b Gomez |
| Ramchandran | 4* | Not out |
| Total | 252 all out |
West Indies 2nd Innings – 176 all out
West Indies looked to accelerate, but India bowled admirably in the second innings. Ghulam Ahmed (4/61) and Mankad (3/50) exploited the wearing surface to trouble the hosts.
Worrell (33) and Walcott (29) contributed, but the West Indies were restricted to 176, giving India a target of 369.
India 2nd Innings – 227 all out
Chasing 369 was always a stiff task, and early wickets derailed India’s hopes. Although Umrigar (59) and Mankad (42) showed resilience, sustained pressure from Gomez (4/45) and Valentine (3/70) sealed India’s fate.
India were dismissed for 227, handing West Indies a 142-run victory.
West Indies won by 142 runs
Highlights of the Match
- West Indies’ batting dominance, led by Weekes (128) and Walcott (97), set the platform.
- Vinoo Mankad’s all-round performance (56, 4/118, 3/50) was a major positive for India.
- Polly Umrigar played two fighting innings but couldn’t prevent defeat.
- Frank King’s pace (4/60) troubled India consistently.
- India’s collapses in both innings proved costly.
- The Test underlined West Indies’ status as one of the most formidable teams of the era.