T20s are setting the narrative for cricket, drawing both the crowds and the money. As the game of cricket undergoes a change, From Mumbai to Durban: India’s Greatest Tests , by S Giridhar and VJ Raghunath and published by Juggernaut Books offers an eye-witness’ account of India’s best matches from 1947 to 2011.
The authors say “We love test cricket and have been following it for close to four decades. We felt that we needed to provide a narrative of the history of India's finest tests. We have played cricket at the club level. Our first book, Mid Wicket Tales was a collection of stories, analysis pieces and columns, that was condensed into a book. This book is a chronological retelling of great moments in Indian cricket.”
They point out, “We were clear, that the book will not merely celebrate the finest victories but include draws, ties and defeats as that would be the only way to capture the ebb, flow and growth of Indian Test cricket. We have included that famous Chennai test with Pakistan in 1999, where Sachin Tendulkar scored a century battling terrible back pain. We lost by 12 runs, but it was a great game.”
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The duo started work on the project when the test team was in a phase of transition are delighted with the performances over the past couple of years. Bengaluru-based Giridhar says, “When we began the ideation process, the Indian team was losing tests overseas and a new batting and bowling core did not exist. I had assumed that it would take at least three years for this team to make their mark. I am happy that the team has done so well and risen to the pinnacle of test cricket. I am confident this team will do well overseas as well.”
They say, “The book is divided into four parts. It begins with the period from 1947 to 1969 which we call Hope Takes Root, a phase when India learnt the tricks of the trade. The phase in the 70s has been titled A Heady Feeling and chronicles the test wins overseas in this decade. Everyone’s Game deals with the period from 1981 to 2000 and is followed by The Rise To The Top, the section that caps up the contemporary achievements of the Indian test team. It took us three years to finish this book. We wanted to give a complete analysis of each of the tests we have chronicled, and give the readers a chance to relive those games through this book.”
Giridhar interjects, “We have also included stories and anecdotes that will give a new perspective on the game.”
Raghu points out, “We had a lot of fun ideating and selecting the tests that made it to the list and talking about it. We wrote some chapters together. It was a great experience. Old newspaper reports were helpful in gleaning information about some of the older games.”
RANCHI, JHARKHAND, 21/03/2017: Australia's Peter Handscomb plays a shot during the fifth day of the third Test cricket match between India and Australia, at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium complex in Ranchi on March 20, 2017. Photo: K.R. Deepak
Giridhar chooses the 2001 Kolkata test with Australia as his personal favourite. “It was the game that changed Indian cricket. Faith in the game had eroded after the match-fixing scandals. If we had lost that game, I do not think Indian test cricket team would have emerged as the best team by the end of the decade.”
The book also includes chapters on getting more people to watch tests. “We love watching the shorter format also. However, bilateral one-day series do not offer anything out of the box. A good contest is what makes cricket fun to watch. Test matches work best as bilateral series. One day Internationals work as larger tournaments,” they conclude.
