How all the nations fared on their Test debut

India (vs England): 25-28 June, 1932

Cricket. 1932. A picture of the All India Cricket side which toured England when they played their first Test. L-R: Lall Singh, S Nazir Ali, Jehangir Khan, S Wazir Ali, SR Godambe, CK Nayudu (Captain), Amar Singh, J Naoomal, SHM Colah, PE Palia, JG Navle.

Result: England (259 & 275/8, declared) beat India (189 & 187) by 158 runs

Venue: Lord’s, London

India became the 6th country to be awarded Test status in the summer of 1932. Led by Douglas Jardine and his pair of half centuries, England defeated India, led by C. K. Nayudu by 158 runs.

This was the only Test match played on the tour. The Indian (then undivided India) contingent had 7 Hindus, 4 Muslims, 4 Parsees, and 2 Sikhs, which later led modern-day historian, Ramachandra Guha to comment that the selection “nicely reflected the balance of communal interests”!

India’s Amar Singh and Mohammad Nissar drew a lot of praise for their performance with the ball, troubling almost all Englishmen, with Jardine’s half-century and partnerships in either innings turning out to be the biggest difference maker.