As soon as Bishen Singh Bedi arrived the venue was abuzz. His hearty laughter rang out loud at the Brabourne Stadium. The greatest left-arm spinner the world has known, Bedi claimed 6 for 226 in the second Test at Lord's in 1974 (in 64.2 overs with 8 maidens). Along with Amar Singh's 6/35 in 1936, it is the best Indian bowling performance at the home of cricket.

The Test is not a game the Sardar of Spin will care to remember. He beceme the first bowler to concede over 200 runs at a Test at Lord's, India collapsed to its lowest-ever total (42) in the second innings and lost the match by an innings and 285 runs.

Bedi is seen here chatting with Sunil Gavaskar who was disallowed from entering Lord's for the India-England Test in 1990 (security staff did not recognise The Great Man). Angered, Sunny refused the MCC's invitation for membership, a decision Bedi -- then manager of the Indian side -- savaged. Gavaskar accepted MCC membership later and delivered the Colin Cowdrey memorial lecture this year in which he deplored sledging and the way the Aussies indulged in it.

Also see: Getting fit for battle

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