Birthday wishes to a brave cricketer, Nari Contractor

Nariman Contractor celebrated his 89^th birthday yesterday. Began his first-class cricket career with centuries in each innings for Gujarat emulating the great Australian Arthur Morris.  Coincidentally both were left-handed openers.

Contractor’s courage has hardly ever been acknowledged. In 1959 at Lord’s on an uncertain pitch, a rising delivery from Brian Statham fractured one of his ribs. In excruciating pain the brave man from Bombay fought on and on with only a runner for support. He did not leave the ground. He did not seek sympathy. He painted a superlative innings of 81, which was the highest score of the match. England with the fearsome duo of Trueman and Statham comfortably won by 8 wickets.

In the 2^nd innings too without reclining in a hospice bed, he strode to the crease to save his country from an imminent defeat. He remained not out with a defiant, painstaking (pun intended) 11. Why are our so-called foreign-qualified sports historians shy of mentioning the bravado of the brave Parsee? Are they ignorant of Indian valour on the field of play?

Contractor has always been involved with unusual incidents. Against Richie Benaud’s Aussies at Kanpur in the winter of 1959 he pulled Alan Davidson with impeccable technique with the ball going down. Lo and behold, the ball lodged within the legs of Neil Harvey, who had ducked to take evasive action at square-leg!

Contractor’s magnificent innings of 74 came to an end. But that knock was enough first to erase Australia’s lead and then it proved to be just the tonic Jasu Patel and Polly Umrigar (4 for 27) needed to polish off Australia. Jasu Patel had match figures of 9 for 69 and 5 for 55 giving Ramchand-led India her first-ever victory over the mighty Australians.

Contractor was the captain who led India to victory against Ted Dexter’s team in 1961-62, both at Eden Gardens and at Corporation Stadium, Madras giving India her first-ever series victory over England . He was chosen to lead in the Caribbean in early 1962.

Unfortunately his first tour as captain abroad ended in a most unfortunate manner. At Bridgetown against Barbados a bumper from Charlie Griffith failed to rise and came crashing on his right temple. The skull needed urgent surgery. No player could have played any more cricket.

But the brave warrior was not yet wholly finished. Brave men don’t die. They defy odds. Contractor came back to the cricket field and played first-class cricket with distinction. But the magnanimous man was quick to realize that younger players needed to be encouraged. Promptly he made way for others with all dignity.

After retirement he was involved with cricket in various capacities, the most prominent being the chief west zone BCCI talent scout (known as TRDOs). He left indelible prints with his integrity and sincerity. Just once I met him. It was at one of the Tata offices in Bombay. Makarand Waingankar introduced us. I found him to be delightful company with a generous heart and forthright views.

 His dignified presence captured an 11-year old’s mind on that fateful day of 4^th January 1962 at Calcutta, when he walked out with his team to acknowledge the vociferous cheers of the Eden Gardens cricket lovers over the victory over Dexter’s England. His team repeated what Mehallasha Pavri’s Parsees had done in the 1890s.

 Nariman Contractor remains a most sincere and brave servant of the noble game. May he be with us in style and splendour