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Sports
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Cricket
Chitta
Ranjan Biswas, who goes by the moniker CHIRANJIB, is a sports
journalist of repute who has covered major sporting events
both in the country and abroad in addition to writing extensively
on sports history and events for over three decades. During
the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 he interviewed the President
of International Olympic Committee, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch.
His books "Olympicser Itihas" , "Footballer Itihas" and "Crickete
Bharat",were adjudged bestsellers among books published on
sports in Bengali. The books are full of statistics, anecdotes
and invalued information and coveted by sports fans. Chiranjib
writes on cricket every month in series for the knowledge
of all. Let's cheer him up.
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Cricket in India
Cricket - The majestic game has conquered the heart of Indian
Sports.
But, the game is not purely Indian by origin.
Some earlier cricket matches were evidently played during the
years of 1292, 1300 and 1598. But, formerly the first ever cricket
match was held in Gloucestershire, Britain in 1729, which was
played, between Kent and Sussex.
The game was first introduced in Calcutta during Lord Clive's
time. Then, all the matches were organized between the employees
of East India Company and the British Military Officers. As
a result, in 1792 the "Calcutta Cricket Club" was established
which was then situated in Auckland Gardens (later known as
Eden Gardens). But no Indian was allowed to join the club while
Europeans had easy access there. However, most of the spectators
of those matches happened to be Indians who found it to be a
great pastime.
The magical appeal of cricket nurtured their interest greatly.
And soon, Indians also started to get hold of the equipment
required, and one day, they began to play the game itself.
Cricket fever eventually caught on at Bombay too where, enthusiasts
began to practice it more seriously. The seed, which was implanted
in Calcutta, was nurtured and finally flourished in Bombay.
Most cricketing enthusiasts in Bombay were Parsis. They learned
the game thoroughly and became adept at it within a very short
time. Soon, in 1848 they established a Cricket Club of their
own. Though they had to use the sports equipment rejected by
Europeans, their determination and devotion to the game was
quite encouraging. In 1877, their victory over an European team
spread the enthusiasm for the game all over India. However,
to gather more experience, the members of the Indian Cricket
Team planned an England and Australia tour in 1886.
The Indian team made their debut tour in England led by Dr.
Patel. Dr. Patel was a resident of England and therefore quite
acquainted with the atmosphere there as well as the game itself.
The first trip was a disastrous one for the Indians. They lost
all the 28 matches they played. But their position improved
within a couple of years. In their second England tour, the
team won 8 and drew 11 matches out of the total of 32 matches.
The hero of the victories which made the Indian side ecstatic
was H.E. Pavri who alone had taken 170 wickets in the entire
tournament.
This was the beginning. But the first test match was held at
Lords with England in 1932. The Indian contingent was led by
Col. C.K. Nayudu. England won the test series. The England team
was captained by Douglas R. Jardine.
So far India played 321 test matches, won 60, drew 153 and lost
106, tied 1, abandoned 1.
— Chiranjib
Telephone:91 33 24122516
E-Mail: chitta_biswas@hotmail.com
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