One Test, One Century, One Kiss: The Legend of Baig

The Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj was added to the Indian team as a back-up before the Test at Old Trafford, in view of injuries to Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh. Later, Kamboj made one of the most unimpressive debuts for India in Tests.

Incidentally, 66 years ago, another young player — who, like Kamboj, was not in contention when the tour began — was brought in due to an injury to batting mainstay Vijay Manjrekar, just before the fourth Test of the 1959 tour. This left India scrambling for options. Abbas Ali Baig, just 20, a student at Oxford University, answered the call and delivered one of the finest debut performances by an Indian Test newcomer. Prior to this recall, Baig had created an Oxford record, scoring 308 runs (221* and 87) against Free Foresters in 1959, earning high praise for his performance. This feat brought him into the selectors' consideration.

India had lost the first three Tests of the five-match series against England. Although Baig couldn’t prevent further defeats in the series, he emerged as one of the few success stories of the ill-fated tour.

To date, only eight other players have scored a hundred in the fourth innings on Test debut — Baig was the first to achieve this milestone. Only Kyle Mayers of the West Indies has surpassed Baig’s 112, with his 210* in 2021. Baig is also one of only four players to achieve the feat outside their home country.

India faced stiff resistance from England throughout the series. The English bowling attack, led by Fred Trueman, was relentless and helped England complete a 5-0 whitewash — three Tests won by an innings, and the other two by margins of 171 runs and eight wickets, respectively.

Unfortunately, Baig’s career did not unfold as expected. He played only nine more Tests, with his last appearance coming in January 1967 against the West Indies. Though he was a surprise selection for the England series in 1971, he was not included in the playing XI for any Test and was dropped thereafter. He ended his Test career with an average of 23.77, which did not reflect his potential, especially after such a dream debut.

Baig had scored 26 runs in the first innings of his debut Test, batting at number 3. In the second innings, India was set a target of 548 runs with two days remaining. Facing pacers Fred Trueman and Harold Rhodes with confidence, Baig was struck on the temple by a Rhodes bouncer while on 85*, forcing him to retire hurt.

On the final day, Baig returned to complete his hundred, reaching the milestone by hooking Rhodes for a boundary. At 20 years and 131 days, he became the youngest Indian to score a Test century on debut (surpassing Madhav Apte’s record), and the first to do so outside India. He was eventually run out for 112.

Wisden recalled, “In mid-July, it was decided to invite Baig, the Oxford freshman, to replace the injured Manjrekar — a move that proved wise. After his brilliant form in the Parks, the young Hyderabad player hit two centuries in his first two games for his countrymen — 102 vs Middlesex and 112 in the second innings of the Old Trafford Test. In total, he scored three centuries in twelve games for the touring team. Baig's approach to the game was a delight to watch. For someone so small, he was extremely powerful all around the wicket, and his ability to hook fast bowling marked him as a great player in the making. Lively in the field as well, Baig’s inclusion improved India’s out-cricket, with quick and accurate throws. Baig’s maiden Test century and the manner of his dismissal — Dexter’s brilliant pick-up and throw — will be remembered at Old Trafford for a long time.”

Baig’s popularity soared, and during Australia’s tour of India in 1959–60, crowds were willing to pay just to see him play. He also became the first Indian cricketer to be kissed on the cheek — at Brabourne Stadium. But despite his fame, he couldn’t elevate his Test career further and ended with just 10 matches between 1959 and 1967, earning a reputation for his “one Test wonder” status.

“There may have been a few occasions when I didn’t put enough price on my wicket, and I also didn’t get enough backing from the selectors,” he reflected later in life.

Baig later served as the manager of the Indian team during the 1991–92 tour of Australia and the 1992 World Cup.

In 2014, Baig’s 1959 India blazer was among other cricketing memorabilia auctioned by Osian’s at the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai.

In the brochure for the auction, Baig wrote:

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"Of all my India blazers, the England 1959 one was closest to my heart — not only because it was specially stitched in London, but also because it was presented to me by the team manager, Fateh Singh Rao Gaekwad, in the Long Room at Lord’s. This was upon my induction into the Indian team after Manjrekar’s injury, just before the 4th Test at Old Trafford — the match in which I scored my debut century.”
According to the brochure, the blazer was valued between ₹3,00,000 and ₹4,50,000.