March 1953 marked another important chapter in Indian cricket’s early tours to the Caribbean. India arrived at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, for the second Test of the series against a strong West Indies side renowned for explosive batting and aggressive fast bowling. The match, played from March 11 to 17, 1953, turned into a long and absorbing contest showcasing resilience, determination, and classic Test-match temperament.
Led by Vijay Hazare, India entered the contest with the objective of improving their overseas record. The West Indies team, captained by the iconic Jeffrey Stollmeyer, featured batting giants like Everton Weekes, Frank Worrell, and Clyde Walcott, making them one of the most formidable units of the era.
The match eventually ended in a well-earned draw, thanks to strong batting performances on both sides and the persistence of bowlers who had to toil hard on a flat Trinidad surface. India showed admirable fight through centuries from Polly Umrigar and a strong supporting cast, steering the game into safe territory.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | West Indies vs India – 2nd Test |
| Dates | 11–17 March 1953 |
| Venue | Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test (timeless extensions due to interruptions) |
| Umpires | C. Thomas & Cortez Jordan |
| Significance | A high-scoring Test highlighting India’s batting progress overseas |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | West Indies (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare (c) | Jeffrey Stollmeyer (c) |
| Pankaj Roy | Allan Rae |
| Polly Umrigar | Everton Weekes |
| Vijay Manjrekar | Clyde Walcott |
| Vinoo Mankad | Frank Worrell |
| Dattu Phadkar | Gerry Gomez |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Denis Atkinson |
| Madhav Apte | Alfred Valentine |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Clifford McWatt (wk) |
| Subhash Gupte | John Trim |
| Rusi Modi | Sonny Ramadhin |
West Indies 1st Innings – 581/8 declared
Winning the toss, West Indies took full advantage of a batting-friendly surface. The legendary trio of Weekes, Walcott, and Worrell dominated India’s bowling throughout the innings.
The highlight was Everton Weekes’ superb 195, an innings filled with elegance, timing, and powerful strokeplay. Walcott (118) added to India’s misery with another century, while captain Stollmeyer (59) and Rae (45) provided the perfect platform.
India’s spinners, Subhash Gupte (4/179) and Mankad (2/154), worked tirelessly, but the Caribbean charge proved relentless.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Jeffrey Stollmeyer (c) | 59 | b Gupte |
| Allan Rae | 45 | c Modi b Gupte |
| Everton Weekes | 195 | c Umrigar b Gupte |
| Clyde Walcott | 118 | c Sen b Mankad |
| Frank Worrell | 41 | b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Gerry Gomez | 29 | c Apte b Phadkar |
| Denis Atkinson | 30 | c Sen b Mankad |
| Clifford McWatt (wk) | 20* | Not out |
| Alfred Valentine | 1 | c Hazare b Gupte |
| Total | 581/8 declared |
India 1st Innings – 346 all out
India’s response was anchored by the reliable Polly Umrigar, who played one of his finest overseas Test innings, a magnificent 130, blending patience with controlled aggression. His partnerships with Manjrekar (52) and Hazare (42) helped India avoid the follow-on pressure.
However, the West Indies’ spin twins Valentine (4/92) and Ramadhin (3/85) kept striking at crucial moments, limiting India to 346, still far behind the West Indian tally.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Pankaj Roy | 23 | b Valentine |
| Madhav Apte | 18 | c Walcott b Atkinson |
| Vijay Hazare (c) | 42 | b Ramadhin |
| Polly Umrigar | 130 | c McWatt b Valentine |
| Vijay Manjrekar | 52 | b Ramadhin |
| Rusi Modi | 21 | c Weekes b Valentine |
| Dattu Phadkar | 17 | c Stollmeyer b Trim |
| Vinoo Mankad | 14 | lbw Valentine |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 6 | b Ramadhin |
| Subhash Gupte | 8 | b Trim |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 2* | Not out |
| Total | 346 all out |
West Indies 2nd Innings – 227/5 declared
In their second innings, the West Indies pushed for a result with aggressive intent. Worrell (53) and Weekes (48) continued their form, scoring quickly to set a challenging final-day equation.
Gupte took 3/92, providing India with some breakthroughs, but the West Indies declared at 227/5, setting India a tall task with limited time.
India 2nd Innings – 252/7
India batted with discipline and resolve to secure a well-deserved draw. Manjrekar (69) and Umrigar (46) once again anchored the innings, while Hazare and Apte contributed valuable runs.
Despite pressure from Valentine and Ramadhin in the final session, India held their ground to close at 252/7, ending the match in a respectable draw.
Match Drawn
Highlights of the Match
- The match showcased a classic batting exhibition by Everton Weekes (195) and Clyde Walcott (118).
- Polly Umrigar’s brilliant 130 stood out as one of India’s finest innings in early Caribbean tours.
- Subhash Gupte displayed excellent leg-spin skills with 7 wickets in the match.
- West Indies dominated early, but India’s resilience forced the match into a hard-fought draw.
- The Queen’s Park Oval witnessed vintage Caribbean strokeplay and Indian resistance.
- The Test marked India’s improving competitiveness in overseas conditions.