Exhibition on India's cricketing history

Kozhikode, Feb 21 (UNI) Although India was linked to cricket more than three centuries ago when British sailors played a match in the Port of Cambay in 1721, the country played a Test match for the first time in 1932, again against its Colonial Masters in Lords, London.

England, captained by D R Jardine, won by 158 runs against the team headed by C K Nayadu in the Test on June 25, 27 and 28, 1932, according to a poster exhibition on the history of Indian Cricket, mounted at the Malabar Christian College auditorium here.

It took about another four decades for the country to win its first Test series when it beat West Indies 1-0 in their own land, which also marked the arrival of an all time legend Sunil Gavaskar, claimed a poster at the exhibit titled as 'Panorama,'presented by Department of Physical Education, MCC.

The posters numbering 104, a private collection of M C Vasisht of the history department of the College, showcases the country's scintillating World Cup victory by Kapil Devil's in 1983, the historic tied Test in 1986 against Australia in Chennai, among other important events in cricketing history.

It also highlighted separately individual achievements of legendary cricketers, including Mohammad Nissar, Ranjit Singh, Palwankar Baloo, C K Nayudu, Vijaya Hazare, Mushataq Ali, Vinod Mankad, Polly Umrigar, M A K Patuadi, Eknath Solkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sanchin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble, among others.

About the origin of the game, a poster quoting historians said King Edward-I was involved in a game similar to cricket with Prince of Wales actively traking part.

The game that grew into the modern version of cricket originated in the sheep country of South East England, the poster said about the most accepted opinion about the game.

The game was later introduced to British Colonies in different parts of the world after the industrial revolution, it added.

UNI