In January 1934, the excitement of Test cricket traveled from Bombay to Calcutta, as the now-legendary Eden Gardens hosted its first-ever Test match. Following a defeat in the series opener, C. K. Nayudu’s Indian team was eager to demonstrate their strength against Douglas Jardine’s formidable English side. Before a passionate Calcutta crowd, India delivered a performance of immense grit and resilience, batting through the final day to secure a hard-fought draw. This match was a landmark moment, heralding the arrival of Test cricket at an iconic venue and highlighting India’s growing determination on the world stage.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs. India, 2nd Test |
| Dates | 5–8 January 1934 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Calcutta |
| Toss | England won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 4-day Test Match |
| Umpires | Frank Tarrant & J. G. O’Hea |
| Debut | First-ever Test match at Eden Gardens |
Team Lineups
| India Team (Playing XI) | England Team (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| C. K. Nayudu (Captain) | Douglas Jardine (Captain) |
| Dilawar Hussain (Wicket-keeper) | Les Ames (Wicket-keeper) |
| Naoomal Jaoomal | Cyril Walters |
| Wazir Ali | Bryan Valentine |
| Lala Amarnath | Charlie Barnett |
| Mushtaq Ali | Maurice Leyland |
| Vijay Merchant | James Human |
| Lall Singh | James Langridge |
| Mohammad Nissar | Hedley Verity |
| Amar Singh | Stan Nichols |
| M. J. Gopalan | Nobby Clark |
England 1st Innings – 403 all out
After winning the toss, England posted a strong first-innings total of 403. The innings was anchored by solid contributions from James Langridge (70) and Maurice Leyland (69), with Cyril Walters adding a valuable 59. For India, Amar Singh was the most successful bowler, claiming four wickets.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Cyril Walters | 59 | c Gopalan b Amar Singh |
| Bryan Valentine | 3 | c Dilawar Hussain b Nissar |
| Charlie Barnett | 12 | b Nissar |
| Maurice Leyland | 69 | c & b Gopalan |
| Douglas Jardine (c) | 29 | c Nayudu b Amar Singh |
| Les Ames (wk) | 39 | c & b Amar Singh |
| James Human | 13 | b Amar Singh |
| James Langridge | 70 | not out |
| Hedley Verity | 27 | b Nayudu |
| Stan Nichols | 2 | b Nayudu |
| Nobby Clark | 14 | c Gopalan b Nayudu |
| Extras | 66 | |
| Total | 403 all out | (142.5 overs) |
India 1st Innings – 247 all out
In response, India battled hard but were dismissed for 247, conceding a first-innings lead of 156 runs. Debutant wicket-keeper Dilawar Hussain was the top scorer with a determined 59. England’s attack was led by Hedley Verity and Nobby Clark, who both took four wickets each.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Naoomal Jaoomal | 1 | c Jardine b Nichols |
| Wazir Ali | 24 | b Clark |
| Lala Amarnath | 48 | b Verity |
| Vijay Merchant | 26 | b Clark |
| C. K. Nayudu (c) | 36 | c Ames b Verity |
| Dilawar Hussain (wk) | 59 | b Clark |
| Mushtaq Ali | 9 | b Verity |
| Amar Singh | 24 | c Human b Verity |
| M. J. Gopalan | 11 | c Ames b Clark |
| Mohammad Nissar | 0 | Not out |
| Lall Singh | 0 | Absent hurt |
| Extras | 9 | |
| Total | 247 all out | (103.5 overs) |
England 2nd Innings – 7/2 declared
England made a brief appearance in their second innings, declaring at 7 for 2 in a strategic move to set India a target and push for a result.
India 2nd Innings – 237/2
Facing a target of 164, India showed great composure. Rather than chasing victory and risking defeat, the batsmen focused on securing a draw. Vijay Merchant (54) and the impressive debutant Dilawar Hussain (57) both scored crucial half-centuries, guiding India to safety as the match ended in a draw.
Highlights of The Match
- This was the first-ever Test match played at the iconic Eden Gardens in Calcutta.
- India achieved its first-ever draw against England, a significant result that demonstrated the team’s fighting spirit.
- Wicket-keeper Dilawar Hussain made a remarkable Test debut, scoring half-centuries in both of India’s innings (59 and 57).
- Amar Singh once again proved his class, leading India’s bowling attack with figures of 4/106 in the first innings.
- The match drew massive crowds, confirming the arrival of Test cricket as a major spectacle in Calcutta and reinforcing its growing popularity across the country.
