The final week of October 1956 brought one of the most intriguing early contests between India and Australia. The two sides met at the Brabourne Stadium, Bombay, from October 26 to 31, 1956, in a Test match filled with resilience, tactical brilliance, and notable individual performances.
Led by Ian Johnson, Australia arrived in India as one of the strongest teams in world cricket, packed with stars like Richie Benaud, Neil Harvey, and Keith Miller. India, under Polly Umrigar, looked to test their growing confidence at home after a series of closely fought matches.
What followed was a fascinating Test, featuring disciplined batting from both teams, long spells of patient bowling, and conditions that made scoring challenging. The result was a well-fought draw, with India showing grit against one of the era’s toughest Australian sides.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Australia – Only Test |
| Dates | 26–31 October 1956 |
| Venue | Brabourne Stadium, Bombay |
| Toss | Australia won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test |
| Umpires | S. K. Gupta & C. H. Sharma |
| Significance | A hard-fought draw showcasing India’s defensive maturity against top-tier opposition |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | Australia (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Polly Umrigar (c) | Ian Johnson (c) |
| Pankaj Roy | Colin McDonald |
| Vijay Manjrekar | Jim Burke |
| Vinoo Mankad | Neil Harvey |
| Subhash Gupte | Keith Miller |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Richie Benaud |
| Chandu Borde | Ron Archer |
| Dattu Phadkar | Ken Mackay |
| Naren Tamhane (wk) | Gil Langley (wk) |
| Ramchand | Ian Craig |
| D. K. Gaekwad | Alan Davidson |
Australia 1st Innings – 328 all out
Winning the toss, Australia opted to bat on a dry pitch expected to help spinners as the match progressed. Colin McDonald (104) laid the foundation with a well-crafted century, showing impeccable technique. Support came from Neil Harvey (67) and Jim Burke (54), who built partnerships that kept the scoreboard moving.
India’s spinners performed admirably, especially Subhash Gupte (4/100), who troubled the Australians with sharp leg-spin. Vinoo Mankad (3/80) kept things tight from the other end.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Colin McDonald | 104 | c Tamhane b Gupte |
| Jim Burke | 54 | b Mankad |
| Neil Harvey | 67 | c Roy b Gupte |
| Ian Craig | 28 | c Umrigar b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Keith Miller | 12 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Ron Archer | 11 | c Tamhane b Gupte |
| Ken Mackay | 17 | c Manjrekar b Mankad |
| Richie Benaud | 10 | b Mankad |
| Ian Johnson (c) | 9 | b Phadkar |
| Alan Davidson | 4 | c Roy b Gupte |
| Gil Langley (wk) | 2* | Not out |
| Extras | 10 | |
| Total | 328 all out | (approx. 116 overs) |
India 1st Innings – 251 all out
India’s response started steadily, with Pankaj Roy (49) and Vijay Manjrekar (47) showing good touch. Captain Polly Umrigar (56) anchored the middle order with a resilient half-century.
However, Australia’s varied attack, featuring Davidson, Benaud, and Miller, kept producing breakthroughs. Richie Benaud (4/72) was the standout, using the turning surface to excellent effect.
Despite gritty partnerships, India were bowled out for 251, trailing by 77 runs.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 49 | c Miller b Davidson |
| Polly Umrigar (c) | 56 | c Harvey b Benaud |
| Vijay Manjrekar | 47 | b Archer |
| Vinoo Mankad | 21 | lbw Benaud |
| Chandu Borde | 18 | c Craig b Benaud |
| Ramchand | 15 | c Langley b Miller |
| D. K. Gaekwad | 12 | c Johnson b Davidson |
| Dattu Phadkar | 10 | b Benaud |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 4 | c McDonald b Archer |
| Subhash Gupte | 6 | not out |
| Naren Tamhane (wk) | 8 | b Davidson |
| Extras | 5 | |
| Total | 251 all out |
Australia 2nd Innings – 208/5 declared
Australia’s second innings was about building a safe lead. Colin McDonald (57) continued his fine form, while Neil Harvey (43) and Burke (38) added crucial runs.
India’s bowling remained disciplined, especially Ghulam Ahmed (3/65) and Gupte (2/60), who prevented the visitors from running away with the match.
Australia declared at 208/5, setting India a target of 286 with limited time left.
Top Performers: McDonald 57, Harvey 43, Ghulam Ahmed 3/65
India 2nd Innings – 180/5 (Match Drawn)
India began their chase cautiously, knowing survival was the priority. D. K. Gaekwad (52) played the anchor role, batting with patience and technique. Support came from Mankad (37) and Manjrekar (29), who helped India negotiate long spells from Australia’s spinners.
As the light faded and overs dwindled, India held firm, finishing at 180/5, securing a hard-earned draw against one of the world’s most formidable cricketing units.
Match Drawn
Highlights of the Match
- A gritty Test where both teams demonstrated discipline and patience.
- Colin McDonald’s superb century (104) set up Australia’s strong first innings.
- Polly Umrigar’s fighting 56 kept India alive in the first innings.
- Richie Benaud’s 4/72 showcased his early mastery of leg-spin.
- India’s spinners, Gupte and Ghulam Ahmed, bowled brilliantly on a wearing surface.
- D. K. Gaekwad’s composed 52 in the final innings ensured India saved the match.
- The draw highlighted India’s growing maturity against top-tier opponents.