GHULAM AHMED: a life in service of cricket

Ghulam Ahmed has an unparalleled coincidence in the annals of cricket. Apart from the one-Test players, he happens to be the only cricketer in the history of Test cricket to have made his Test debut and his final appearance against the same opposition and at the same venue. As if this was not enough coincidence, even the two Tests - 10 years apart - began on the same date, 31st December!

 On the last day of 1948 he walked in behind his skipper Lala Amarnath on the hallowed turf of Calcutta's Eden Gardens to begin his Test career. West Indies under John Goddard were the opponents. Exactly 10 years later, on 31st of December, 1958, he had his India blazer on as he walked out to toss with the rival skipper Gerry Alexander of West Indies. Never before or since has a cricketer had such a unique debut and farewell.

 In Ghulam Ahmed's time international cricket matches were few and far between. Overseas tours took place hardly thrice a decade and the domestic international calendar meant at the most 5 Tests during the winter months. However, despite his belated arrival on the international scene, the tall Hyderabadi right-arm off-spinner made no less than 22 appearances in those ten years.

 Ghulam Ahmed had a lovely easy action, delivered the ball from a ramrod-straight arm and projected a perpetually graceful demeanour. He had the ability to turn the ball on slate or marble if required. On turf or matting, as was prevalent in those days, he could be vicious, with the ball leaping and laughing at the batter.

 The strong knuckles of his would grip the ball powerfully and give it a twist to make it cringe and do his bidding. At the same time his long artistic fingers would gently caress the ball and coax it to drift away from the batsman. Such was his mastery over control and spin that he was a success on all kinds of wickets and under every conceivable condition.

 

Born at Hyderabad on 4th July, 1922, Ghulam made his first Ranji Trophy appearance at the tender age of 17. On his debut against Madras at Hyderabad the young off-spinner attracted immediate attention. With 5 for 95 off 40 overs and 4 for 62 off 25 he enabled Hyderabad to register an innings victory. But such was the disorganized state of affairs at the time that in the semi-finals the Hyderabad team failed to turn up! Thus the promising colt was deprived of further opportunities in his first year of first-class cricket.

However he continued to show commendable progress with every passing season in Ranji Trophy as well as in the various invitation tournaments of the time. Hence it came as a surprise to many when he was passed over for the 1946 tour of England and also for the 1947-48 tour of Australia. Missed two vital tours at the most opportune period of his cricket career.

Thankfully by 1948 when the West Indies with Weekes, Walcott, Ramadhin and Valentine arrived, the national selectors finally gave him the nod of assent at Eden Gardens in the third Test Match of the series. He was an immediate success claiming 4 for 94 off 35.5 overs and 2 for 87 off 25 in the match. His first two wickets were those of Clyde Walcott and Everton Weekes, two all-time greats and cricketing knights. In fact he had Sir Everton thrice in 5 outings in that series.

After the first series he had to wait till 1951-52 for his next tilt against official Test opposition. This time it was Nigel Howard's England (then M.C.C.). However true to the proverbial selectorial wisdom, Ghulam was bypassed for the first 3 Tests. Brought in for the 4th Test at Kanpur he created an immediate flutter in the adversary's camp with 5 wickets for just 90 runs off 37.1 overs.

 In the next Test in tandem with Vinoo Mankad, he was creating history. For the first time in 25 Tests, India was to win an official Test match. At Chennai, Hazare's Indians brought off a magnificent innings victory. If Mankad was the chief architect with 8 and 4 wickets in the match, Ghulam was an able ally with 4 vital wickets in the 2nd innings. In 26 overs he accounted for Tom Graveney, Robertson, Poole and Carr for just 77 runs.

 Almost overnight, as it were, Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed came to be regarded with awe and respect. The deadly duo had forged a match-winning combination. They complemented each other in striking contrast and remarkable similarity. Off spinner Ghulam, tall and slim, would bowl with a high-arm action. Left arm orthodox Mankad, short and stocky, would respond from the other end with a pronounced side-arm action. While Mankad would rely on flight and accuracy, Ghulam would be quicker through the air and make the ball turn sharply. Both were, of course, remarkably accurate and were genuine spinners of the ball. And both, like all great bowlers, used their grey cells to reap their rewards.

 On the tour of England in 1952 Ghulam Ahmed was an outstanding success. At Leeds in the first Test he captured 5 for 100 off 63 overs and 2 for 37 off 22. The British critics were appalled. For he had put even the great Jim Laker in the shade.

 Paeans of praise followed from all quarters. Far from giving him a superfluous glow, the early success made him more and more hungry. He took 8 more wickets in the next three completed innings that he bowled, thereby giving himself l5 victims in the series. Batsmen like Hutton, May, Graveney and Sheppard readily acknowledged that Mankad and Ghulam were among the very best in world cricket.

 Ghulam Ahmed's uninterrupted success continued when the Pakistan side under Kardar came down to India in 1952-53. He took 12 wickets in 4 Tests and was second only to Mankad in terms of success.

 But when the India team to tour West Indies was announced the name of our premier off-spinner was missing. What could have happened within a matter of months that after his success he would not be on the tour to West Indies? Did he make himself unavailable for any reason? None would ever know.

It goes without saying that a talent like Ghulam Ahmed was irreplaceable. On that tour the spinners on either side dominated. Ramadhin and Valentine for West Indies and for India, Mankad had the exceptional leggie Subhas Gupte for support. The Indians fielded magnificently on that tour and were beaten by the slenderest of margins. If only Ghulam had been alongside Mankad and Gupte ...

 Chastened by the experience, the selectors brought him back against Pakistan in 1954-55. In a series of negative ploys, Ghulam did claim 9 wickets at an average of 37.22. But he was far from his true self. Probably age was catching up with him for he was now in his mid 30s. In the series against New Zealand the following season he appeared distinctly jaded. Played in just one Test match and looked well past his real self.

 However, when the Australians arrived in 1956-57 under Ian Johnson, despite all expectations Ghulam Ahmed was chosen for the 1st Test at Chennai. He bowled well enough to take 2 for 67 off 38 overs, but had the mortification to find himself replaced in the 2nd Test at Mumbai by Jasu Patel. The ding-dong policy of the Indian selectors was not yet over. For the 3rd and final Test at Calcutta, Ghulam was brought back and Patel omitted!

 The great spinner's final days were surely at hand. He must have wanted to make it a memorable finale. At Eden Gardens, bowled magnificently and single-handedly almost brought about Australia's downfall. Ghulam had his career-best figures of 7 for 49 and 3 for 81. It was superlative bowling by a real master. For all practical purposes it was his swansong. An end to a distinctive cricket career. And the Gardens crowd stood up to pay homage to the departing frame of a graceful, handsome man.

 Little did they know of the whims of our national selectors. When the West Indies arrived in the winter of 1958-59 we rubbed our eyes in disbelief to see Ghulam Ahmed in the India team. By then he was well past his prime. The tall frame had developed a stoop. He looked tired. And now, surprise of surprises, the selectors had even given him the captaincy! He led India at Kanpur and then at Calcutta. In 3 innings he bowled 56 overs and got just 1 wicket.

 It was indeed a painful sight. A great bowler's shadow was going through the motion. Our myopic selectors far from honouring him with the captaincy, had saddled him with a responsibility far too heavy for him. Thankfully Ghulam retired after the 3rd Test at Calcutta.

 Eden Gardens, which had seen him making a remarkable debut and later witnessed his best bowling performance, was indeed sad to see a morose, stooping figure sadly heading for the pavilion. Resounding defeats in both the Tests had disillusioned him and he left the international area for the last time: a forlorn man, bereft of form and fan following.

 Ghulam Ahmed's first class career spanned from 1939 to 1958. In more than nearly two decades of cricket he captured 407 wickets at the economical average of 22.57, providing conclusive evidence of his penetrative ability and his control. His stamina was indeed staggering. Once in 1950-51 he bowled 555 deliveries in an innings against Holkar in the Ranji Trophy. At the time it was a world record.

 In Tests he claimed 68 wickets at 30.17 in 22 matches. Without doubt a  remarkable piece of statistics considering the fact that his 22-Test career spanned 10 years.

After retiring from active cricket he devoted himself to serve the game as an administrator. Initially, he was a very conscientious secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association and later was elevated to the secretaryship of the BCCI.

 In his time, youth cricket received a shot in the arm in Hyderabad. Many talented youngsters from Hyderabad came into prominence. Further, Ghulam Ahmed took great initiative to organize on behalf of BCCI the all-India schools coaching camps at Hyderabad. Actually I first met him as a trainee in one of these camps under  former England Test cricketer T.S.Worthington and E.D.Aibara in 1966. His charm, his knowledge and his love for the game have left indelible impressions on me.

 That was the only time I met him.  He was the man who had organized comfortable dormitory accommodation and nutritious meals at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Fateh Maidan. The English coach TS Worthington would also have his meals with the trainees. This was quite a departure from the very mediocre facilities that the other States would provide to school-boy cricketers at the time 60 years ago. He had two remarkable assistants in Maan Singh and Ranga Reddy who were efficiency personified.  

 Ghulam Ahmed’s close proximity to the Board brought him managerial assignments on overseas tours and selectorial appointments. On both counts, he proved his undoubted capability. On the ill-fated 1962 tour of West Indies it was his masterful handling of the situation that helped the Nari Contractor-injury from snow-balling into a major cricketing controversy.

 And later in 1983 he was one of the selectors who helped to pick the 1983 World Cup team. Probably the only India team ever that was chosen on tactical planning, sheer merit and current form. Borde and Bedi were the other selectors. Pankaj Roy (East Zone) and Chandu Sarwate (Central Zone) could not find the time to attend the selection committee meeting!

 Elegant and eloquent; suave and sophisticated, Ghulam Ahmed was a man of many dimensions. His manner on and off the field showed that even in the hectic pace of modern life-style there is a distinctive place for the old-world charm. He brought the Hyderabadi adaab to the noble game. A gentleman to the core in every respect.