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C.M. Old

5-21

C.M. Old 5-21 v IndiaBack to boards

Christopher Old secured his second appearance on the Honours Boards with an incisive eight over spell against India in 1974, taking 5-21 to bowl India out for 42 and win the match.

After India had claimed a historic first test series win in England on their previous visit in 1971, and beaten them in India the following year, England were determined to taste victory this time around.

Batting first, England amassed a mammoth 629, with centuries from Dennis Amiss, Mike Denness, and Tony Greig. India fought hard in reply, scoring 131 for the first wicket, but were then dismissed for 302, with Old picking up 4-67.

Asked to follow on, and needing to bat out two entire days for a draw, India did not survive even the morning session of the fourth day as Old and new-ball partner Geoff Arnold blew them away for 42. India were defeated by a gaping innings and 285-run margin, with Old claiming match figures of 9-88.

Such was the ignominy of their collapse that the Indian captain Ajit Wadekar immediately marched his team off to the nets for a punitive training session. It did little good though, as India lost the series 3-0 and Wadekar was forced into an early retirement.

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