October 1956 brought another challenging chapter in Indian cricket history. India hosted the mighty Australians at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Madras, for the second Test of the series from October 19 to 23, 1956. Facing a world-class Australian side, captained by Ian Johnson, India fought valiantly but narrowly succumbed to a heavy defeat by just an innings and 5 runs.
The match showcased emerging Indian talents like Vijay Manjrekar, Nari Contractor, and the indomitable Vinoo Mankad, who tried to counter the Australian onslaught. Despite the loss, the close margin highlighted India’s growing competitiveness against the top teams of the era.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs. Australia – 2nd Test |
| Dates | 19–23 October 1956 |
| Venue | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Madras |
| Toss | Australia won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Australia won by an innings and 5 runs |
| Match Format | 5-day Test |
| Umpires | B. Satyavati & V. S. Deshpande |
| Significance | Close contest against Australia; strong individual performances by India |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | Australia (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Polly Umrigar | Ian Johnson (c) |
| Nari Contractor | Neil Harvey |
| Vijay Manjrekar | Colin McDonald |
| Pankaj Roy | Richie Benaud |
| Chandu Borde | Ray Lindwall |
| Vinoo Mankad (c) | Alan Davidson |
| Rusi Surti | Wally Grout (wk) |
| Subhash Gupte | Jim Burke |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Lindsay Kline |
| Dattu Phadkar | Ian Meckiff |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Brian Booth |
Australia 1st Innings – 320 all out
Winning the toss, Australia batted first on a placid Madras pitch. The top order, led by Neil Harvey (102), displayed textbook strokeplay. Colin McDonald added a patient 56, while Ian Johnson’s captaincy was evident in constructing steady partnerships.
India’s bowlers fought hard. Vinoo Mankad (4/91) led the attack, supported by Subhash Gupte (3/72), keeping Australia under control at various points. Australia were eventually bowled out for 320, setting a challenging target for India.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Neil Harvey | 102 | b Gupte |
| Colin McDonald | 56 | c Contractor b Mankad |
| Ian Johnson (c) | 43 | b Phadkar |
| Richie Benaud | 22 | b Gupte |
| Ray Lindwall | 32 | b Mankad |
| Alan Davidson | 21 | lbw Mankad |
| Jim Burke | 18 | c Umrigar b Phadkar |
| Wally Grout (wk) | 15 | b Gupte |
| Lindsay Kline | 7 | b Mankad |
| Ian Meckiff | 2 | b Gupte |
| Brian Booth | 2* | Not out |
| Extras | 2 | |
| Total | 320 all out |
India 1st Innings – 168 all out
India’s reply was fragile against Australia’s pace and spin attack. Vijay Manjrekar (52) resisted with poise, while Nari Contractor contributed a fighting 36. The rest of the batting lineup struggled against the disciplined bowling of Ray Lindwall (5/48) and Alan Davidson (3/45).
India were bowled out for 168, conceding a first-innings lead of 152 runs.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Polly Umrigar | 23 | b Lindwall |
| Nari Contractor | 36 | c Grout b Davidson |
| Vijay Manjrekar | 52 | b Lindwall |
| Pankaj Roy | 12 | b Lindwall |
| Chandu Borde | 11 | c Harvey b Davidson |
| Vinoo Mankad (c) | 9 | b Lindwall |
| Rusi Surti | 6 | b Lindwall |
| Dattu Phadkar | 8 | c Davidson b Lindwall |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 6 | b Davidson |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 3 | b Lindwall |
| Subhash Gupte | 2 | b Lindwall |
| Extras | 2 | |
| Total | 168 all out |
India 2nd Innings – 147 all out
Following on, India batted again under immense pressure. Vijay Manjrekar (45) once more provided resistance, supported by Chandu Borde (33).
Australia’s pace spearheaded by Lindwall (6/41) and Davidson (4/35) dismantled India’s lineup, ensuring a victory by an innings and 5 runs.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Polly Umrigar | 14 | b Lindwall |
| Nari Contractor | 12 | b Davidson |
| Vijay Manjrekar | 45 | c Grout b Lindwall |
| Pankaj Roy | 7 | b Lindwall |
| Chandu Borde | 33 | c Harvey b Lindwall |
| Vinoo Mankad (c) | 9 | b Lindwall |
| Rusi Surti | 8 | b Davidson |
| Dattu Phadkar | 10 | b Lindwall |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 5 | b Davidson |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 4 | b Lindwall |
| Subhash Gupte | 0 | b Davidson |
| Extras | 5 | |
| Total | 147 all out |
Australia won by an innings and 5 runs
Highlights of the Match
- Australia dominated the match but India’s Manjrekar (52 & 45) and Borde (33) showed glimpses of fight.
- Ray Lindwall (11 wickets in match) was the key destroyer, demonstrating world-class pace and swing.
- Vinoo Mankad (4/91) stood out for India’s bowling effort.
- The narrow margin highlighted India’s improving resistance against top-tier sides.
- Madras witnessed some of the finest early post-independence cricket contests.