The heroics of an injured Rishabh Pant in the just concluded Old Trafford Test sent many down memory lane, recounting past instances of cricketers playing with serious injuries and through intense pain.
Colin Cowdrey, in 1963, walking out against the West Indies with a fractured forearm bandaged in heavy plaster, was mentioned. Anil Kumble, bowling with a broken jaw, wired up, in the West Indies, was another instance.
It was, however disappointing, to note that one of the bravest performances by another left-handed Indian batsman in a Test in England went unnoticed.
On India’s 1959 tour, in the Lord’s Test, Nari Contractor, opening the batting, was struck in the rib cage by England’s lethal fast bowler, Brian Statham in only the second over. The sound of two cracked ribs echoed around the ground.
Contractor later recounted that he was in excruciating pain, could hardly breathe and wanted to retire to the pavilion. But Pankaj Roy, (his opening partner and captain, deputising for the injured DK Gaekwad for that Test), urged him to stay on for a few more overs, arguing that the new batsmen would find it difficult to adjust to the pitch.
Almost immediately, India lost Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar, compelling Contractor to continue batting with the broken ribs. At lunch, the manager of the team, Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad, virtually ordered Contractor not to resume his innings. However, considering the state of the game, Contractor insisted that he would go out to bat after lunch, broken ribs and all. Facing the thunderbolts of Statham, Trueman and Alan Moss, he scored 81 out of the Indian total of 168, battling intense pain. In the second innings, India had lost several wickets, but on his captains’ request, Contractor again stepped out to bat at No. 8, heavily plastered around the ribs — and remained 11 not out, losing partners at the other end. Despite his heroics, India lost that match.
It was a demonstration of sheer grit and courage.
The writer is a former sports commentator
