November 1956 brought cricket lovers to the iconic Eden Gardens in Calcutta for the second Test of the Australia tour of India. The stadium, already famous for its atmosphere and history, became the stage for a gripping Test match between Vijay Hazare’s India and Ian Johnson’s Australia.
Australia entered the contest with confidence, boasting experienced names like Neil Harvey, Richie Benaud, Jim Burke, and a menacing pace attack. India, still shaping its identity in world cricket, looked for inspiration from stalwarts such as Polly Umrigar, Subhash Gupte, and the rising opener Pankaj Roy.
Across five days of fluctuating fortunes, both sides fought hard, but Australia’s disciplined batting and strategic bowling earned them a 94-run victory, giving them a crucial lead in the series.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Australia – 2nd Test |
| Dates | 10–14 November 1956 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Calcutta |
| Toss | Australia won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Australia won by 94 runs |
| Match Format | 5-day Test |
| Umpires | K. N. Anantharaman & S. K. Ghosh |
| Significance | A hard-fought battle showcasing Benaud’s rise, Harvey’s brilliance & India’s spirited fight |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | Australia (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare (c) | Ian Johnson (c) |
| Pankaj Roy | Jim Burke |
| Vinoo Mankad | Colin McDonald |
| Polly Umrigar | Neil Harvey |
| Subhash Gupte | Keith Miller |
| Nari Contractor | Richie Benaud |
| Gul Mohammad | Ron Archer |
| C. D. Gopinath | Len Maddocks (wk) |
| Dattu Phadkar | Ian Meckiff |
| Amarnath | Alan Davidson |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Ken Mackay |
Australia 1st Innings – 177 all out
Australia started cautiously against India’s spinning duo of Vinoo Mankad and Subhash Gupte, who found early rhythm in Calcutta’s turning conditions.
Neil Harvey (73) played a classy innings, driving fluently and countering spin with authority. However, regular wickets limited Australia to 177.
India’s bowlers shone:
- Subhash Gupte – 5/54 (world-class leg-spin masterclass)
- Vinoo Mankad – 3/51
Australia 1st Innings Scorecard
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Burke | 12 | b Gupte |
| Colin McDonald | 9 | c Sen b Mankad |
| Neil Harvey | 73 | c Umrigar b Gupte |
| Keith Miller | 16 | b Mankad |
| Ron Archer | 10 | c Roy b Mankad |
| Richie Benaud | 8 | c Phadkar b Gupte |
| Ian Johnson (c) | 6 | lbw Gupte |
| Ken Mackay | 15 | b Gupte |
| Alan Davidson | 14 | b Umrigar |
| Len Maddocks (wk) | 3* | Not out |
| Ian Meckiff | 0 | b Gupte |
| Total | 177 all out | 62.4 overs |
India 1st Innings – 136 all out
India’s reply never quite settled. Alan Davidson’s pace and swing troubled the top order, while Richie Benaud used flight and sharp leg-spin to perfection.
Only Polly Umrigar (34) and Nari Contractor (22) showed notable resistance.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 10 | c Maddocks b Davidson |
| Vinoo Mankad | 6 | lbw Davidson |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 14 | c Harvey b Mackay |
| Polly Umrigar | 34 | b Benaud |
| Nari Contractor | 22 | c Burke b Johnson |
| Gul Mohammad | 12 | b Davidson |
| C. D. Gopinath | 9 | c Maddocks b Benaud |
| Dattu Phadkar | 8 | b Mackay |
| Amarnath | 6 | c Harvey b Mackay |
| Subhash Gupte | 5 | b Benaud |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 4* | Not out |
| Total | 136 all out | 55 overs |
Australia led by 41 runs.
Australia 2nd Innings – 244 all out
Australia’s second innings proved decisive in the match. Jim Burke (59) and Neil Harvey (69) constructed important partnerships, stabilizing the innings after early wickets.
Richie Benaud contributed a valuable 29, continuing to show his growing maturity as an all-rounder.
India’s spinners again bowled well, but the fielders dropped a few crucial catches.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Burke | 59 | c Roy b Mankad |
| Colin McDonald | 22 | b Gupte |
| Neil Harvey | 69 | c Sen b Gupte |
| Keith Miller | 11 | b Mankad |
| Ron Archer | 27 | c Umrigar b Phadkar |
| Richie Benaud | 29 | c Gupte b Mankad |
| Ian Johnson (c) | 6 | c Gopinath b Mankad |
| Ken Mackay | 8 | b Gupte |
| Alan Davidson | 3 | c Hazare b Phadkar |
| Len Maddocks (wk) | 4* | Not out |
| Ian Meckiff | 0 | c Sen b Gupte |
| Total | 244 all out | 89.2 overs |
Australia set India a target of 286.
India 2nd Innings – 191 all out
India began the chase confidently with Pankaj Roy (40) and Mankad (33) putting up a promising start. However, a middle-order collapse once again tilted the match in Australia’s favour.
Richie Benaud (4/65) delivered a match-winning spell, supported by Davidson’s accuracy and Mackay’s discipline.
Though Umrigar (42) fought hard, India eventually fell short by 94 runs.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 40 | lbw Benaud |
| Vinoo Mankad | 33 | c Maddocks b Davidson |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 18 | c Miller b Mackay |
| Polly Umrigar | 42 | c Harvey b Benaud |
| Nari Contractor | 22 | c Maddocks b Meckiff |
| Gul Mohammad | 6 | lbw Benaud |
| C. D. Gopinath | 9 | b Davidson |
| Dattu Phadkar | 10 | c Archer b Johnson |
| Amarnath | 5 | b Mackay |
| Subhash Gupte | 3 | c Maddocks b Benaud |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 1* | Not out |
| Total | 191 all out | 70.4 overs |
Australia won by 94 runs
Highlights of the Match
- Neil Harvey’s twin gems (73 & 69) showcased world-class temperament.
- Richie Benaud’s all-round brilliance (4/65 & 29) highlighted his rise as a future legend.
- Subhash Gupte’s superb 9-wicket match reaffirmed his status as one of the greatest leg-spinners in cricket.
- India fought bravely but suffered two costly batting collapses.
- Eden Gardens once again served a gripping Test filled with drama and skill.