The final Test of India’s 1952 tour of England brought them to the historic Kennington Oval, London, where the match unfolded between July 24 and 29, 1952. For India, led by Vijay Hazare, this was an opportunity to leave the tour with pride after struggling in the earlier Tests.
England, captained by Len Hutton, were one of the strongest sides of the era, packed with legends like Denis Compton, Alec Bedser, and the rising star Tom Graveney. India, still finding their rhythm in international cricket, entered the Test eager to fight and avoid a clean sweep.
Persistent rain, gritty batting from India, and disciplined English bowling produced a match that swung back and forth before eventually ending in a well-earned draw, India’s first positive result on the 1952 tour.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs India – 3rd Test |
| Dates | 24–29 July 1952 |
| Venue | The Oval, London |
| Toss | England won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test |
| Umpires | Frank Chester & C. S. Elliott |
| Significance | India avoided a 3-0 series defeat; a morale-boosting draw |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | England (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare (c) | Len Hutton (c) |
| Pankaj Roy | Reg Simpson |
| Vinoo Mankad | Peter May |
| Polly Umrigar | Tom Graveney |
| Madhav Apte | Denis Compton |
| Dattu Phadkar | Godfrey Evans (wk) |
| Gul Mohammad | Trevor Bailey |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Jim Laker |
| Hemu Adhikari | Johnny Wardle |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Alec Bedser |
| Ramchand | Fred Trueman |
England 1st Innings – 326 all out
England, batting first under bright skies, got off to a steady start, with Len Hutton (73) and Peter May (55) solidifying the innings. The middle order contributed consistently, led by Denis Compton (69) and Tom Graveney (43).
India’s bowlers showed discipline, with Vinoo Mankad (5/142) leading the attack through long spells of accurate left-arm spin. Ghulam Ahmed supported with key wickets as England were bowled out for 326.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Len Hutton (c) | 73 | c Apte b Mankad |
| Reg Simpson | 24 | c Sen b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Peter May | 55 | b Mankad |
| Tom Graveney | 43 | c Roy b Phadkar |
| Denis Compton | 69 | c Hazare b Mankad |
| Godfrey Evans (wk) | 18 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Trevor Bailey | 17 | c Sen b Mankad |
| Jim Laker | 6 | lbw Mankad |
| Johnny Wardle | 12 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Alec Bedser | 4* | Not out |
| Fred Trueman | 2 | b Phadkar |
| Total | 326 all out |
India 1st Innings – 235 all out
India’s reply was anchored by their captain Vijay Hazare, who scored a resilient 56, battling Bedser’s swing and Trueman’s pace. Support came from Madhav Apte (42) and Umrigar (33), but regular wickets hurt India’s chances of matching England’s total.
Alec Bedser (4/52) was the standout bowler, delivering a masterclass in seam bowling.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 18 | c Evans b Trueman |
| Madhav Apte | 42 | c Hutton b Bedser |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 56 | b Bailey |
| Vinoo Mankad | 21 | lbw Bedser |
| Polly Umrigar | 33 | c Compton b Wardle |
| Gul Mohammad | 17 | c Evans b Laker |
| Dattu Phadkar | 14 | b Bedser |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 10 | c May b Bailey |
| Hemu Adhikari | 9 | c Graveney b Laker |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 6 | b Bedser |
| Ramchand | 4* | Not out |
| Total | 235 all out |
England 2nd Innings – 181/6 declared
England’s second innings was shortened by rain interruptions. Hutton (47) and Compton (45) helped build a quick lead, while India’s bowlers, led again by Mankad (2/64) and Phadkar (2/39), kept things in control.
England declared at 181/6, setting India a distant target of 273 with limited time remaining.
India 2nd Innings – 80/3 (Match Drawn)
India began the chase cautiously. With weather threatening and the pitch slowing down, the priority became survival rather than victory.
Madhav Apte (30)* and Hazare (15) played patiently as India reached 80/3 before bad light ended play. The draw gave India a morale-lifting end to a tough tour.
Match Drawn
Highlights of the Match
- India achieved their first non-defeat of the 1952 England tour.
- Vijay Hazare’s gritty 56 anchored India’s first innings.
- Vinoo Mankad’s 5 wickets in the first innings showcased his world-class skill.
- England’s batting was led by Hutton, Compton, and May, all delivering key contributions.
- Rain interruptions played a major role, especially on Days 4 and 5.
- The draw prevented a 3-0 whitewash and helped India end the tour with resilience and pride.