1st Test

Vs England, Lord’s,
25 to 28 June, 1932
Captains: Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu (Ind), Douglas Jardine (Eng)
Toss: England
Result: England won by 158 runs

England, who elected to bat, were soon reeling at 19 for three as pacer Mohammad Nissar dismissed both the openers - Herbert Sutcliffe and Percy Holmes -- in one over, and soon Frank Woolley was run out.

But captain Douglas Jardine rescued the innings first in the company of Wally Hammond and, then, with Les Ames, who was given a lifeline before he had opened his account.

England were all out for 259 after tea on the first day. India were 153 for four by lunch on the second day, but then lost wickets in a heap. Another sterling innings (85) by Jardine and his stand of 89 with Eddie Paynter (54) for the fifth wicket helped England to declare their second innings on 275 before lunch on the final day.

In the process, Jardine denied himself a century.

Set to make 346 for a win, India, hampered by injuries to Nayudu, who had hurt a hand, and to Nazir Ali and Phiroze Palia, suffering from strained ligaments, were 105 for seven. But a stand of 74 runs in just 40 minutes between Amar Singh and Lall Singh provided a bright interlude, though England stormed to victory before the tea interval.

England 1st innings: 259 (DR Jardine 79, LEG Ames 65, WR Hammond 35, Mohammad Nissar 5-93, CK Nayudu 2-40, L Amar Singh 2-75)

India 1st innings: 189 (CK Nayudu 40, Naoomal Jeoomal 33, S Wazir Ali 31, WE Bowes 4-49, W Voce 3-23, RWV Robins 2-39)

England 2nd innings: 275-8 dec (DR Jardine 85*, E Paynter 54, RWV Robins 30, M Jahangir Khan 4-60, L Amar Singh 2-84, Naoomal Jeoomal 1-40    

India 2nd innings: 187 (L Amar Singh 51, S Wazir Ali 39, Lall Singh 29, WR Hammond 3-9, W Voce 2-28, WE Bowes 2-30)

Image: Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu during the All-India tour of England in 1932.

Photograph: Harrison /Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

50th Test

Vs Australia, Madras, Chennai (Corporation)
19  to 23 October, 1956
Captains: Polly Umrigar (Ind),  Ian Johnson (Aus)
Toss: India
Result: Australia won by an innings and 5 runs

India spurned the advantage of batting first on a firm pitch at the Corporation Stadium in Madras, especially with Ray Lindwall out of the way due to indisposition after bowling just nine overs. Australia's Keith Miller, Ron Archer and Alan Davidson, three of their best men also did not play but India could manage only 117 for five in a full day's play.

Richie Benaud, who had bowled with great control, claimed seven for 72 as India were bundled out for 161 in 99.3 overs in their first innings.

Australia consolidated their advantage as they posted 319 to take a big first innings lead thanks to an attacking partnership between Ian Johnson and Pat Crawford. With Ray Lindwall running through the Indian innings with seven for 43, India were sent crashing for 153.

India 1st innings: 161 (VL Manjrekar 41, PR Umrigar 31, MH Mankad 27, R Benaud 7-72, WPA Crawford 3-32, IWG Johnson 0-13)

Australia 1st innings: 319 (IWG Johnson 73, ID Craig 40, RN Harvey 37, MH Mankad 4-90, SP Gupte 3-89, Ghulam Ahmed 2-67)

India 2nd innings: 153 (GS Ramchand 28, PR Umrigar 25, AG Kripal Singh 20*, RR Lindwall 7-43, IWG Johnson 1-15, WPA Crawford 1-18    

Image: Australian fast bowler Ray Lindwall in action.

Photograph: Central/Getty Images

100th Test

Vs England, Birmingham
13  to 15 July, 1967
Captains: Tiger Pataudi (Ind), Brian Close (Eng)
Toss: England
Result: England won by 132 runs

Against some fine bowling from the Indian spinners, only Ken Barrington’s solid knock of 75, held England’s first innings together.

India’s fielding was top class and England were 191 for eight, but wicketkeeper John Murray forged two useful partnerships with the last two wickets and England ended with a rather respectable total of 298.

In reply, on a lively rain-affected pitch, India collapsed for a paltry 92.

Despite being entitled to enforce follow-on, England captain Brian Close chose to bat again, time being on his side. However, England were restricted to 203 again by the four-man Indian spin-attack comprising of Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna.

India started their second inning on a positive note, and thanks to an excellent knock by Ajit Wadekar (70) and his stand of 83 for the fourth wicket with captain Tiger Pataudi (47) reached 185 for four. But the visitors then suffered a batting collapse, losing their last six wickets for 92 runs, giving England a 3-0 series win.

England 1st innings: 298 (JT Murray 77, KF Barrington 75, C Milburn 40, EAS Prasanna 3-51, BS Chandrasekhar 3-94, BS Bedi 2-76)

India 1st innings: 92 (FM Engineer 23, S Venkataraghavan 19*, Hanumant Singh 15, DJ Brown 3-17, RNS Hobbs 3-25, R Illingworth 2-14)

England 2nd innings: 203 (DB Close 47, DL Amiss 45, DJ Brown 29*, EAS Prasanna 4-60, BS Chandrasekhar 3-43, BS Bedi 2-60)

India 2nd innings: 277 (AL Wadekar 70, Pataudi (Nawab of) 47, BK Kunderan 33, DB Close 4-68, R Illingworth 4-92, RNS Hobbs 2-73)
      

Image: India batsman Ajit Wadekar.

Photograph: Central/Getty Images

150th Test

Vs England, Madras  
14  to 19 January, 1977
Captains: Bishan Singh Bedi (Ind), Tony Greig (Eng)
Toss: England
Result: England won by 200 runs

A fourth wicket stand of 111 runs between Mike Brearley and Tony Greig, and gritty batting by the tailenders enabled England to overcome a poor start and finish on 262 in their first innings.

John Lever took five wickets as India fell for 164, conceding a vital lead of 98 run.

Greig’s declaration of the second innings left India 450 minutes to score 284 runs for a win but after crippling blows from left-arm spinner Derek Underwood, they collapsed for 83 runs.

England’s win was marred by a controversy surrounding England pacer Lever, who was wearing on his head a strip of Vaseline-coated surgical gauze. Indian skipper Bedi, who had the experience of playing in County Cricket and was well aware of such tactics, brought this to the attention of the umpires. Lever was pulled up by umpire Reuben, but Bedi did not find support from the authorities.

The matter was closed with a statement from the Test and County Cricket Board that it had accepted the explanation of England manager Ken Barrington and captain Greig that Lever used the strip to prevent sweat streaming down his face.

England 1st innings: 262 (JM Brearley 59, AW Greig 54, APE Knott 45, BS Bedi 4-72, S Madan Lal 2-43, EAS Prasanna 2-45)

India 1st innings: 164 (SM Gavaskar 39, BP Patel 32, SMH Kirmani 27, JK Lever 5-59, DL Underwood 2-16, CM Old 2-19)

England 2nd innings: 185-9dec (DL Amiss 46, AW Greig 41, JM Brearley 29, BS Chandrasekhar 5-50, EAS Prasanna 4-55, S Madan Lal 0-15)

India 2nd innings: 83 (SM Gavaskar 24, M Amarnath 12, BS Bedi 11*, DL Underwood 4-28, RGD Willis 3-18, JK Lever 2-18)

Image: Engalnd fast bowler John Lever during the third Test match against India in Madras in January 1977.

Photograph: Adrian Murrell/Allsport

200th Test

Vs Pakistan, Lahore
10  to 15 December, 1982   
Captains: Sunil Gavaskar (Ind), Imran Khan (Pak)
Toss: India
Result: Match Drawn

A match of many personal milestones ended in a tame draw.

The highlights were the superb 215 by Zaheer Abbas, which was his 100th first-class century and the brilliant stroke-play of Sandeep Patil who hit 68 in 96 minutes to enliven the fourth day’s play.

In one over from Jalaluddin, Patil hit 20 -- a six and three fours. Sunil Gavaskar passed 7000 runs to join Geoffrey Boycott, Gary Sobers, Colin Cowdrey and Wally Hammond. 

Sarfraz Nawaz became Pakistan’s second highest wicket-taker after Imran Khan, the captain.

In Pakisan’s second innings, Mohsin Khan became the first Pakistan batsman to complete 1,000 runs in a calendar year. Mohsin’s century was his third in three consecutive Tests at the Gaddaffi Stadium in Lahore.

Rain and bad light on the first and third days lopped nearly four hours off the play and in this high scoring game made the draw inevitable.

Pakistan 1st innings: 485 (Zaheer Abbas 215, Mohsin Khan 94, Mudassar Nazar 50, DR Doshi 5-90, S Madan Lal 3-101, Kapil Dev 2-149)

India 1st innings: 379 (M Amarnath 109*, SM Gavaskar 83, SM Patil 68, Sarfraz Nawaz 4-63, Imran Khan 3-68, Jalaluddin 2-93)

Pakistan 2nd innings: 135-1 (Mohsin Khan 101*, Mudassar Nazar 17, Mansoor Akhtar 14*, DR Doshi 1-57, SM Gavaskar 0-0, M Amarnath 0-5)

Image: India batsman Sunil Gavaskar in action.

Photograph: Adrian Murrell/Allsport

250th Test

Vs West Indies, Madras  
11  to 15 January, 1988
Captains: Ravi Shastri (Ind),  Viv Richards (WI)
Toss: India
Result: India won by 255 runs

The final Test match of a four-match series saw a dream debut by 19-year old leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani whose 16 wickets in the match brought India a crushing victory to draw level in the series.

A brilliant 109 by Kapil Dev ensured that the advantage of Ravi Shastri, who took over as Indian captain from the injured Vengsarkar, of winning the toss was fully exploited.

He reached his 100, his sixth in Test cricket and his third against West Indies from 105 balls in 153 minutes with 17 fours, adding 113 for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Azharuddin.

Hirwani only bowled 203 balls in the match and he conceded more than four runs an over but he captured 16 wickets for 136, to register the most successful debut by a bowler in the history of Test cricket, just edging out Bob Massie, who took 16 wickets for 137 against England at Lord’s in 1972. His figures of eight for 61 in the first innings were the third best by a Test debutant, as the West Indies only just avoided the follow-on.

Then, after WV Raman, also on his Test debut, had made 83 to take India’s overall lead to 415, Hirwani took another eight wickets to finish with the third best match figures (then) in Test history.

India’s margin of victory was then their second largest in Test cricket and their win ensured that Viv Richards’ side could only draw a series for the third time in succession.

India 1st innings: 382 (Kapil Dev 109, Arun Lal 69, M Azharuddin 47, WW Davis 4-76, CA Walsh 3-85, CL Hooper 2-42)

West Indies 1st innings: 184 (IVA Richards 68, RB Richardson 36, PJL Dujon 24, ND Hirwani 8-61, Kapil Dev 1-20, RJ Shastri 1-29)

India 2nd innings: 217-8dec (WV Raman 83, M Azharuddin 39, AK Sharma 23, CA Walsh 4-55, BP Patterson 2-17, WW Davis 1-20)

West Indies 2nd innings: 160 (AL Logie 67, CG Butts 38, PV Simmons 14, ND Hirwani 8-75, WV Raman 1-7, Arshad Ayub 1-33)
      

Image: India leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani bowls.

Photograph: Simon Bruty/Getty Images

300th Test

Vs South Africa, Ahmedabad       
20  to 23 November 1996
Captains: Sachin Tendulkar (Ind),  Hansie Cronje (SA)
Toss: India
Result: India won by 64 runs

Devastating pace bowling by Javagal Srinath gave India victory on a poor pitch in Motera, Ahmedabad.

Though it seemed best suited to the spinners, Srinath's fast, accurate in-swingers and off-cutters brought him career-best figures of six for 21. South Africa crashed for 105 after being set a modest 170 to win. Sachin Tendulkar took the captaincy charge from Azharuddin, who became the first cricketer to play against all eight other countries, both home and away.

It was obvious that batting would not be easy on a brown, dusty pitch, and by winning the toss Tendulkar gave India a substantial advantage. India struggled against accurate bowling and sharp fielding. Allan Donald was superb, but the two most critical blows were struck by Jonty Rhodes. He held a dazzling diving catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Tendulkar and then ran out Azharuddin with a direct hit from cover.

Having restricted India to 223, South Africa needed to bat sensibly. Instead, they slumped to 119 for seven. No. 9 Fanie de Villiers (67) showed the application needed over three hours: with first Pat Symcox (32), and then Donald (17), as the Proteas added 125 runs for the last three wickets to establish a 21-run lead.

Donald struck twice before India erased the modest deficit, and they were 38 for three when Tendulkar sliced a slower delivery form Brian McMillan to Rhodes - again - at backward point. It was to be Rhodes' last significant contribution: later he strained his hamstring badly. Donald had Azharuddin brilliantly caught at second slip by McMillan, and, when Rahul Dravid was trapped by Symcox, India were just 70 ahead with five down.

22-year-old debutant VVS Laxman showed great temperament as he played a good innings of 51, adding 56 runs for the eighth wicket with Anil Kumble to push India's total to 190.

Needing 170, with nearly two days to get them, South Africa looked to their openers for a solid start before the spinners came on. Instead, Srinath took centre stage. He trapped Andrew Hudson with his fifth delivery in the second innings and then had Daryl Cullinan caught behind off the next as the South Africans were two down without a run on the board.

With captain Hansie Cronje the only batsman to last long, his team never looked like reaching the target. Srinath's pace and swing combined perfectly with Kumble's customary accuracy on a crumbling pitch which made driving through the line virtually impossible. From 96 for four, South Africa lost their last six for nine runs to be bowled out for 105.

Captain Tendulkar said he could not recall a Test with so many twists and turns.

India 1st innings: 223 (SR Tendulkar 42, M Azharuddin 35, SV Manjrekar 34, AA Donald 4-37, PL Symcox 2-48, PS de Villiers 2-55)

South Africa 1st innings: 244 (PS de Villiers 67*, DJ Cullinan 43, PL Symcox 32, SB Joshi 4-43, ND Hirwani 2-38, J Srinath 2-47)

India 2nd innings: 190 (VVS Laxman 51, R Dravid 34, A Kumble 30*, PR Adams 3-30, AA Donald 3-32, PL Symcox 2-47)

South Africa 2nd innings: 105 (WJ Cronje 48*, G Kirsten 20, BM McMillan 17, J Srinath 6-21, A Kumble 3-34, SB Joshi 1-28)

Image: India fast bowler Javagal Srinath appeals for a wicket.

Photograph: Adrian Murrell/Allsport UK

350th Test

Vs Zimbabwe, Nagpur       
21  to 25 February, 2002
Captains: Sourav Ganguly (Ind), Stuart Carlisle (Zim)
Toss: Zimbabwe
Result: India won by an innings & 101 runs

Nagpur was the venue of Zimbabwe’s previous Test in India (in November 2000) and once again Zimbabwe conceded three centuries in an innings.

Shiv Sunder Das and Tendulkar re-enacted their feats of 15 months earlier, and the third century came from Sanjay Bangar, in only his second Test. In November 2000, Andy Flower had made a brilliant double century to deny India a win.

This time around he could total just 11 runs in the Test as Kumble and Harbhajan Singh bowled India to an overwhelming victory.

Zimbabwe 1st innings: 287 (SV Carlisle 77, TJ Friend 60*, ADR Campbell 57, A Kumble 4-82, Zaheer Khan 3-45, J Srinath 1-65)

India 1st innings: 570-7dec (SR Tendulkar 176, SS Das 105, SB Bangar 100*, RW Price 5-182, BT Watamba 1-87, HH Streak 1-108)

Zimbabwe 2nd innings: 182 (TR Gripper 60, ADR Campbell 30, SV Carlisle 28, A Kumble 5-63, Harbhajan Singh 4-46, Zaheer Khan 1-33)

Image: Sachin Tendulkar plays the cut shot as wicketkeeper Andy Flower looks on.

Photograph: Reuters

400th Test

Vs West Indies, Kingston
30 June to 2 July, 2006
Captains: Rahul Dravid (Ind),  Brian Lara (WI)
Toss: India
Result: India won by 49 runs

All batsmen stood exposed on a bouncy, unpredictable pitch that demanded technique and application - except one.

Dravid showed his master-class not once but twice. Without his efforts, the result would have been reversed.

Pacer Jerome Taylor took his maiden five-wicket haul but could not prevent Dravid and Kumble forging a crucial partnership -- 93 for the seventh wicket. No side had won after making 200 or less in the first innings of a Test at Kingston but India had a distinct edge on this surface as Harbhajan Singh took five wickets in 27 balls.

Captain Brian Lara had hoped his side would bat for two days; they did not manage two sessions. Taylor claimed four more wickets in the second innings, but it was Corey Collymore who did more damage in India’s second innings as he claimed five for 48 to send India tumbling for 171.

India were dismissed for their lowest total in the series, but an overall lead of 268 seemed more than enough. Chris Gayle bagged a pair falling to pacer Shantakumaran Sreesanth in both the innings and Lara was third to get out with score reading 29. West Indies’ middle and late order threatened an extraordinary comeback, but Anil Kumble’s six-for gave India a remarkable win.

India 1st innings: 200 (R Dravid 81, A Kumble 45, Yuvraj Singh 19, JE Taylor 5-50, CD Collymore 2-17, DJ Bravo 2-68)

West Indies 1st innings: 103 (D Ganga 40, BC Lara 26, S Chanderpaul 10, Harbhajan Singh 5-13, S Sreesanth 2-34, MM Patel 1-24)

India 2nd innings: 171 (R Dravid 68, MS Dhoni 19, VVS Laxman 16, CD Collymore 5-48, JE Taylor 4-45, PT Collins 1-61)

West Indies 2nd innings: 219 (D Ramdin 62*, RR Sarwan 51, DJ Bravo 33, A Kumble 6-78, S Sreesanth 3-38, MM Patel 1-26)

Image: The Indian team applauds captain Rahul Dravid as he goes to receive his man of the series award after the fourth and final Test against the West Indies, in Kingston, on July 2, 2006.

Photograph: Arko Dutta/Reuters

450th Test

Vs West Indies, Bridgetown   
28 June to 2 July, 2011
Captains: MS Dhoni (Ind),  Darren Sammy (WI)
Toss: West Indies
Result: Match drawn

Unseasonal rain robbed more than four sessions and denied India a likely victory following Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s challenging last-day declaration at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Set 280 in 77 overs, West Indies had reached 202 for seven in 71.3 overs before, amid increasing tension and with the light fading India settled for the draw that preserved their series lead.

Seamers took 28 of the 33 wickets to fall on a lively pitch -- 20 of them to catches in the cordon.

India, sent in, were quickly reduced to 38 for four as pacer Ravi Rampaul reached lunch with figures of 8-5-4-3, before Laxman (85) and Suresh Raina (53) got together to put on 117 runs for the fifth wicket. Raina fell to a disputed bat-pad catch, then Laxman slapped a leg-break to point after becoming the fourth Indian to reach 8,000 Test runs.

India’s 201 was below par, but their seamers redressed the balance; Ishant Sharma took six for 55, and went on become first Indian to take a ten-wicket match haul in the West Indies.

The second day was limited to 25.3 overs; and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels checked the decline in their contrasting styles. Chanderpaul hit only one of his 117 balls for four, while Samuels top scored with 78.

India then took control, despite Fidels Edwards swinging the ball at pace for five wickets. Laxman again dropped anchor for more than four hours, becoming only the second Indian to be dismissed twice in the eighties in the same Test after Rusi Modi against West Indies at Calcutta in 1948-49.

India 1st innings: 201 (VVS Laxman 85, SK Raina 53, P Kumar 12, R Rampaul 3-38, D Bishoo 3-46, FH Edwards 3-56)

West Indies 1st innings: 190 (MN Samuels 78*, S Chanderpaul 37, RR Sarwan 18, I Sharma 6-55, A Mithun 2-34, Harbhajan Singh 1-31)

India 2nd innings: 269-6 dec (VVS Laxman 87, R Dravid 55, A Mukund 48, FH Edwards 5-76, R Rampaul 1-72, DJG Sammy 0-45)

West Indies 2nd innings: 202-7 (DM Bravo 73, CS Baugh 46*, AB Barath 27, I Sharma 4-53, P Kumar 1-41, Harbhajan Singh 1-42)

Image: India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrates the dismissal of Marlon Samuels.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters