The 1959 Indian tour of England was one of the most challenging overseas campaigns in the early history of Indian cricket. Following defeats at Nottingham and Lord’s, India travelled to Headingley, Leeds, for the third Test, determined to show greater resistance. However, on a pitch favoring disciplined English batting and incisive bowling, England piled up an imposing total and dominated throughout.
Led by seasoned campaigners like Colin Cowdrey and Ken Barrington, England produced a batting masterclass, while India’s fragile batting lineup faltered against pace and accuracy. The result was a heavy defeat by an innings and 173 runs, deepening India’s struggles on the tour.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs India, 3rd Test |
| Dates | July 2–4, 1959 |
| Venue | Headingley, Leeds |
| Toss | India won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | England won by an innings and 173 runs |
| Match Format | 5-day Test Match |
| Umpires | F. S. Lee & W. E. Phillipson |
| Significance | Third Test of India’s 1959 tour of England |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | England (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | Gilbert Parkhouse |
| Arvind Apte | Geoff Pullar |
| Jayasinghrao Ghorpade | Colin Cowdrey |
| Chandu Borde | Peter May (c) |
| Polly Umrigar (c) | Ken Barrington |
| Datta Gaekwad* | Brian Close |
| Bapu Nadkarni | John Mortimore |
| Naren Tamhane (wk) | Roy Swetman (wk) |
| Surendranath | Fred Trueman |
| Subhash “Fergie” Gupte | Alan Moss |
| Ramakant Desai | Harold Rhodes |
India 1st Innings – 161 all out
Electing to bat first, India’s innings collapsed under disciplined English bowling. Fred Trueman and Harold Rhodes shared the bulk of the wickets, while only a handful of batsmen reached double figures. Bapu Nadkarni (27) and Datta Gaekwad (25) offered brief resistance, but India were dismissed for 161.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 2 | c Swetman b Rhodes |
| Arvind Apte | 8 | b Moss |
| Jayasinghrao Ghorpade | 8 | c Swetman b Trueman |
| Chandu Borde | 0 | c Swetman b Rhodes |
| Polly Umrigar (c) | 29 | c Trueman b Moss |
| Datta Gaekwad* | 25 | c Cowdrey b Rhodes |
| Bapu Nadkarni | 27 | c Parkhouse b Rhodes |
| Naren Tamhane (wk) | 20 | c Moss b Trueman |
| Surendranath | 5 | c Close b Trueman |
| Fergie Gupte | 21 | c Swetman b Close |
| Ramakant Desai | 7* | not out |
| Extras | 9 | |
| Total | 161 all out |
England 1st Innings – 483/8 declared
England responded with a commanding batting display. Colin Cowdrey led the charge with a superb 160, while Gilbert Parkhouse (78) and Geoff Pullar (75) provided strong starts. Ken Barrington also contributed a fine 80 as England declared at 483/8, setting India a daunting target.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Parkhouse | 78 | c Tamhane b Desai |
| Geoff Pullar | 75 | c Borde b Nadkarni |
| Colin Cowdrey | 160 | c Ghorpade b Gupte |
| Peter May (c) | 2 | b Desai |
| Ken Barrington | 80 | c Tamhane b Nadkarni |
| Brian Close | 27 | b Gupte |
| John Mortimore | 7 | b Gupte |
| Roy Swetman (wk) | 19* | not out |
| Fred Trueman | 17 | c Desai b Gupte |
| Alan Moss | ||
| Harold Rhodes | ||
| Extras | 18 | |
| Total | 483/8 declared |
India 2nd Innings – 149 all out
Facing a massive deficit, India again struggled. Chandu Borde top-scored with 41, while Polly Umrigar made 39, but England’s bowlers once more ran through the lineup. Brian Close (4/35) and John Mortimore (3/36) were especially effective. India were dismissed for 149, sealing an innings defeat.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 20 | c Swetman b Trueman |
| Arvind Apte | 7 | c Close b Moss |
| Jayasinghrao Ghorpade | 0 | lbw b Trueman |
| Chandu Borde | 41 | c May b Close |
| Polly Umrigar (c) | 39 | c Trueman b Mortimore |
| Datta Gaekwad* | 8 | c Close b Close |
| Bapu Nadkarni | 11 | c Barrington b Close |
| Naren Tamhane (wk) | 9* | not out |
| Surendranath | 1 | c Cowdrey b Mortimore |
| Fergie Gupte | 1 | c Close b Close |
| Ramakant Desai | 8 | c Cowdrey b Mortimore |
| Extras | 4 | |
| Total | 149 all out |
Match Result
England won by an innings and 173 runs
This comprehensive victory showcased England’s superior batting depth and bowling discipline. Cowdrey’s century and Barrington’s half-century framed a mammoth innings, while India’s batsmen repeatedly faltered against seam and spin.
Highlights of the Match
- India’s batting collapsed twice under pressure on a lively Headingley surface.
- Colin Cowdrey’s magnificent 160 was the cornerstone of England’s colossal total.
- Ken Barrington and Geoff Pullar both played vital innings to build partnerships.
- England declared strongly, leaving India with an unmanageable target.
- Brian Close and John Mortimore shone with the ball in India’s second innings.
- The innings defeat underscored the gulf between the teams during India’s 1959 English summer.