Manchester Miracle Almost Materialised
How India's Young Guns Nearly Stunned England in 1990
The 1990 cricket season saw the Indian team embark on a tour of England, a series that, for many, held the familiar narrative of India's struggles in overseas conditions. India’s away form leading into this tour was less than stellar, with the last away Test series victory dating back to 1986. This historical context naturally placed the onus on the home team, England, to perform strongly. Adding to this expectation was England's recent success against New Zealand, where they secured a 1-0 series win prior to India's arrival. This victory marked their first home series win since the 1985 Ashes, further bolstering the confidence of the English side as they prepared to face India.
The first encounter of the three-match Test series at Lord's had already set a dominant tone, with England emerging victorious by a significant margin of 247 runs. This defeat put India under immense pressure as they headed to Manchester for the second Test, needing a strong performance to avoid an early series loss. The stakes were high at Old Trafford; England aimed to capitalise on their Lord's victory and secure the series, while India desperately sought to level the score and prove their capabilities on foreign soil. While specific details about the pitch and weather conditions for this particular match are not extensively covered in available records, the fact that the Test extended into the fifth day with a close finish suggests a surface that offered a competitive balance between bat and ball.
The stage was set for a crucial Test match, one that would either see England clinch the series or India mount a spirited comeback. Over the next five days, what unfolded was a captivating contest filled with individual brilliance and a nail-biting finish that left cricket enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
England, having won the toss, elected to bat first and demonstrated the strength of their batting lineup by posting an imposing total of 519. The innings was anchored by a formidable 225-run opening partnership between Graham Gooch, who scored 116, and Michael Atherton, who contributed 131. This double-century stand at the top immediately put the Indian bowlers under pressure and showcased the quality of the English top order. Following this strong start, Robin Smith further solidified England's position with an unbeaten century, scoring 121. His innings ensured that England capitalised on the foundation laid by the openers and reached a commanding total. Allan Lamb also chipped in with a valuable 38. This collective effort from the English batsmen put India on the back foot early in the match, demanding a robust response with the bat.
Despite the high score, the Indian bowlers showed resilience and managed to take all ten English wickets. Narendra Hirwani was the most successful bowler, claiming 4 wickets for 174 runs, while Anil Kumble took 3 wickets for 105 runs. Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar, and Ravi Shastri each contributed a wicket. Although the English batsmen dominated, the fact that India persevered to dismiss them suggests that the pitch offered some assistance to the bowlers and that the Indian attack did not entirely succumb to the pressure.
In response to England's formidable total, India displayed remarkable resilience, posting 432 in their first innings. The innings was headlined by a magnificent captain's knock from Mohammad Azharuddin, who scored a brilliant 179 off 243 balls, including 21 fours and 1 six. His innings against a quality English bowling attack was crucial in keeping India in the contest. Sanjay Manjrekar provided vital support with a solid 93 off 196 balls, building a significant partnership with his captain. Even at a young age, Sachin Tendulkar showed glimpses of his immense talent, contributing a promising 68 off 136 balls. His innings demonstrated maturity and skill against a seasoned English attack.
For England, Angus Fraser was the standout bowler, taking 5 wickets for 124 runs. His five-wicket haul was instrumental in preventing India from getting closer to England's total. Eddie Hemmings took 2 wickets, while Devon Malcolm and Chris Lewis each claimed one. India's strong reply, spearheaded by Azharuddin's magnificent century and supported by Manjrekar and the young Tendulkar, ensured they remained within touching distance of England's first innings total, keeping the match alive.
England, looking to build on their slender lead, adopted an aggressive approach in their second innings, declaring at 320 for 4 wickets. Allan Lamb led the charge with a rapid century, scoring 109 off just 141 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes. Michael Atherton contributed a solid 74 off 165 balls, and Robin Smith remained unbeaten on 61 off 94 balls. England’s intent was clear: score quickly and set India a challenging target with enough time to bowl them out.
Kapil Dev was the most successful of the Indian bowlers in the second innings, taking 2 wickets for 69 runs. Manoj Prabhakar and Narendra Hirwani each took one wicket. By declaring their innings, England set India a daunting target of 408 runs to win in the remaining time. This high target required either a record-breaking chase or exceptional resilience from the Indian batsmen to secure a draw.
India's chase began poorly, suffering early setbacks with the cheap dismissals of openers Ravi Shastri, who scored 12, and Navjot Sidhu, who fell for a duck, caught off the first ball he faced from Fraser. Losing both openers so early in a challenging chase immediately put immense pressure on the Indian middle order. Sanjay Manjrekar continued his good form with another solid innings of 50 off 77 balls, and Dilip Vengsarkar contributed 32 off 65 balls, the pair putting on a 74-run partnership. However, the loss of both batsmen in quick succession swung the momentum back in England's favour. Even the experienced captain, Mohammad Azharuddin, couldn't replicate his first-innings heroics, falling for a quickfire 11 off 20 balls to the bowling of Hemmings. With India at a precarious 127 for 5 wickets, a draw seemed the most likely outcome, and a win appeared to be a distant dream.
Then came the moment that would forever be etched in the annals of cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar, the 17-year-old prodigy, walked in at 127 for 5 and played a magnificent unbeaten innings of 119 off 189 balls, scoring his maiden Test century. His innings, studded with 17 boundaries, was a watershed moment, announcing the arrival of a cricketing legend on the international stage. Facing immense pressure in a challenging fourth-innings chase away from home against a formidable opponent, Tendulkar displayed composure, maturity, and technical brilliance far beyond his years.
He found an able ally in Manoj Prabhakar, who played a gritty and determined innings of 67 not out off 128 balls. Together, Tendulkar and Prabhakar forged a crucial unbeaten partnership of 160 runs, taking the score from a precarious 183 for 6 to 343 for 6. This remarkable recovery brought India within just 65 runs of an improbable victory with time running out.
Ultimately, the match ended in a draw as time ran out on the final day with India at 343 for 6. Despite not achieving victory, India's incredible chase came tantalizingly close to a stunning upset. Eddie Hemmings was the most successful bowler for England in the second innings, taking three crucial wickets. While a historic win eluded them, India's spirited performance in Manchester prevented England from taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, eventually ended 1-0 in England's favour.
The Manchester Test of 1990 was a truly significant encounter. It not only kept the series alive but also marked Sachin Tendulkar's emphatic arrival on the global cricketing stage. His maiden Test century, scored under immense pressure, was a defining moment for him and Indian cricket. For his heroic effort, Tendulkar was deservedly named Player of the Match.
In conclusion, the 1990 Manchester Test stands as a testament to India's fighting spirit and resilience. Despite England's strong start and the daunting target set in the final innings, India, led by the brilliance of a young Sachin Tendulkar and supported by crucial contributions from Azharuddin, Manjrekar, and Prabhakar, came within touching distance of a remarkable victory. While the win ultimately eluded them, their performance was a moral victory and a clear indication of the talent and determination that would define Indian cricket in the years to come. Tendulkar's maiden Test century in this match was not just a personal milestone; it was the dawn of an era, signalling the emergence of a true cricketing icon whose exploits would continue to captivate the world for decades.