The winter of 1961 brought the third Test of the England tour of India to the iconic Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. Fresh from draws in Bombay and Kanpur, both teams sought momentum in this pivotal middle encounter. India, led by Nari Contractor, chose to bat first on a pitch offering runs but also assistance to bowlers at times. England, captained by Ted Dexter, responded with measured intent in their only innings.
After runs flowed freely from India’s batting lineup and England posted a steady reply, the match eventually ended in a draw — a testament to absorbing batting, intermittent rain interruptions, and stiff resistance from both sides over five days.
Venue & Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs India, 3rd Test |
| Dates | 13–18 December 1961 |
| Venue | Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi |
| Toss | India won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test Match |
| Umpires | S. V. Kumaraswamy & B. Satyaji Rao |
| Series | England tour of India, 1961–62 |
Team Lineups (Playing XI)
| India (Playing XI) | England (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Nari Contractor (c) | Peter Richardson |
| M. L. Jaisimha | Geoff Pullar |
| Vijay Manjrekar | Ken Barrington |
| Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi | Mike Smith |
| Polly Umrigar | Ted Dexter (c) |
| Chandu Borde | Bob Barber |
| Salim Durani | John Murray (wk) |
| Farokh Engineer (wk) | David Allen |
| A. G. Kripal Singh | Barry Knight |
| Ramakant Desai | Tony Lock |
| Subhash Gupte | David Smith |
India 1st Innings – 466 all out
India’s first innings was dominated by a massive partnership between M. L. Jaisimha and Vijay Manjrekar. Jaisimha’s elegant 127 and Manjrekar’s unbeaten 189 anchored the side to a strong total of 466. Other notable contributions came from Chandu Borde (45) and Nari Contractor (39). England managed to take all 10 wickets, but India’s batting depth ensured a commanding total.
| Batsman | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| M. L. Jaisimha | 127 | c & b D. R. Smith |
| Nari Contractor (c) | 39 | c Pullar b Lock |
| Vijay Manjrekar | 189* | Not out |
| Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi | 13 | c Richardson b Allen |
| Polly Umrigar | 22 | lbw b Allen |
| Chandu Borde | 45 | b Barber |
| Salim Durani | 18 | b Allen |
| Farokh Engineer (wk) | 1 | lbw b Allen |
| A. G. Kripal Singh | 2 | run out |
| Ramakant Desai | 5 | lbw b Knight |
| Subhash Gupte | 0 | b Knight |
| Extras | 5 | |
| Total | 466 all out |
England 1st Innings – 256/3
In reply, England were steady, led by a composed Geoff Pullar (89) and a majestic Ken Barrington (113)*, who remained unbeaten. Ted Dexter supported with a capable 45. England reached 256/3 before the close of play, successfully avoiding a batting collapse and ensuring parity after India’s large total.
| Batsman | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Richardson | 1 | lbw b Desai |
| Geoff Pullar | 89 | c Manjrekar b Kripal Singh |
| Ken Barrington | 113* | Not out |
| Mike Smith | 2 | b Gupte |
| Ted Dexter (c) | 45* | Not out |
| Extras | 6 | |
| Total | 256/3 (114 overs) |
Match Summary
- India’s first innings showcased outstanding batting depth, with Manjrekar and Jaisimha’s massive stand setting the tone.
- England’s reply was anchored by Barrington’s double-figure century and Pullar’s near-century.
- With no further innings completed due to time lost (including days without play and a long first innings), the match ended in a draw.
- All four matches in the first three Tests of the series ended drawn before India clinched wins later in the tour. Wikipedia
Highlights of the Match
- Vijay Manjrekar’s 189* was the defining innings, dominating England’s attack.
- M. L. Jaisimha’s elegant 127 provided the foundation for India’s huge first-innings total.
- Ken Barrington’s 113* rescued England’s reply, anchoring their performance.
- The match highlighted the value of sustained partnerships in timeless batting conditions. ESPN