I had a fairly long cricket career and it is really difficult to pick out a couple of innings out of the many I have played in Test and first-class cricket [1944 to 1967].
The first of these was against Fazal Mahamood’s Pakistan team which toured India in 1960-61. The scene was the fourth Test match at Madras. Pakistan batted first on a wicket which was under-prepared due to unseasonal rains. Although this would not have affected the side batting first, the side that took second knock had to face a spinning attack on a worn-out wicket. India had a tough task ahead if Pakistan batted for more than a day. As it happened, Pakistan batted for two full days and declared their first innings closed at 448 runs for eight. When our turn came to bat, we lost four wickets for only 164 runs.
Critical situation
Chandu Borde and myself were the only recognised batsmen left, and a lot depended on us to avoid the follow-on first and then to come as close to their first innings as possible. One mistake from either of us and the spinners would have run through the tailenders like a knife through butter. We started cautiously, watching each and every delivery from their spinners and not taking any undue risks. Gradually as the day wore on I felt confident and began making attacking strokes. As I got into this mood all bowling came alike to me and I [117] kept the scoreboard moving quickly. Chandu [177 not out] patiently gave a stand which not only saved us from the follow-on but made the position safe.
Trinidad 1962
The scene now changes to the sunny Caribbean islands, We had lost the first three Test matches. In the fourth Test, [MAK] Pataudi lost the toss [at Trinidad] and we were on the field for almost a day and a half during which time West Indies had scored 444-9 declared. Very soon we were 30 for five. Pataudi and myself took the score to 61 before the end of the day’s play. Next we were bundled out for 197 runs and [Frank] WorrelI promptly asked us to bat again. Though we lost our first wicket at 19, [Salim] Durrani [104] and [Vijay] Mehra [62] made a stand and took the score to 163 when the second wicket fell.
Good support
Again wickets began to fall and we were 236 for six wickets It looked as if I would be left without any partners but stout-hearted Bapu Nadkarni [23] stayed with me at the wicket and we put up a partnership of 93 runs before Nadkarni was run out. Then Budhi Kunderan [4] lent admirable support to me to enable me to take the total from 371 to a respectable figure of 422. I remained not out with 172 runs to my credit. The Press reporters decided this innings as the most fluent seen on the Queen’s Park Oval ground, Trinidad in a Test match for many years and certainly the best by an Indian in the West Indies.
Reproduced from Cricket Quarterly magazine’s April-June 1978 issue
Remembering Polly (born 1926)
The word Mr Cricket was first used for Mike Hussey. If there was one other person for whom it fit perfectly it was ‘Polly’ Umrigar. Not only was he one of the great all round cricketers the game has seen but after his playing days were over he became a selector, a coach, a team manager, administrator and also to use a management term a Turf Executive. His life was totally centered around cricket and he was happiest with cricketers of all ages just talking cricket. Truly Mr Cricket, Mr Palanji Ratansi Umrigar.
Sunil Gavaskar’s tribute to Polly Umrigar on Friday
Polly was a gentleman cricketer and liked by everyone who came in contact with him. He was dedicated to the game. If only had he been captain of India for a longer time. That extended time would have helped the team greatly. He was a great asset to any team and had good relations with not only his teammates but players from the opposition too. Going by the number of capacities he served in, you could say he was a true servant of Indian cricket. I always miss the way he used to greet me – “Hi Chand, how are you.”
Chandu Borde’s tribute to Polly Umrigar on Friday
Umrigar was certainly the most effective player of his time. He changed his somewhat crouched stance in 1953 to a more upright one and, in the process, lost some of his off-side strokes, which are the glory of cricket. But then he developed a sounder defence, and his on-side play improved day by day.
The late Rusi Modi in Some Indian Cricketers
Polly Umrigar with M Mantri
Polly always wanted to know more about cricket. Not many of the current generation would know this but Umrigar hosted a popular television serial on coaching and reported on matches for a newspaper.
The late Madhav Mantri
Polly was always solid – solid man and cricketer. He was very helpful when I became captain by default in the West Indies in 1961-62.
The late MAK Pataudi, who took over as captain from the injured Nari Contractor on that tour
Special Polly Umrigar frame at MCA museum
The Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum at Wankhede Stadium was visited by the man himself — the ex-president of the Mumbai Cricket Association on Friday. Present chief Ajinkya Naik was present too. The MCA, to mark the birth centenary of Polly Umrigar, has created a special Polly Umrigar frame (right) which is placed prominently at the entrance of the museum lounge. Next week is going to be the Polly Umrigar Week at the Wankhede Stadium museum, where visitors from Tuesday to Sunday will be enlightened about Umrigar’s deeds by the museum’s curator Devendra Prabhudesai.
