At a time when Indias fielding standards were considered not as good as they are now - the poor show by Virat Kohli's boys in the first ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) notwithstanding -- Madan Lal was an exception in the 1970s.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Back in the 1970s, when diving catches were not said to be as frequent as they are now, Madan Lal pulled off a stunner at fine leg to dismiss Peter Toohey at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the fourth Test during India's 1977-78 tour of Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India was on the verge of winning that Sydney Test in January 1978, but Toohey was putting up a strong resistance to ensure Aussies don't lose by an innings. But Madan Lal, who was playing as a substitute in that fourth Test, after being benched following a below-par show with the bat in the first two Tests, grabbed a stunner.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I was struggling with the bat and not getting runs. Though I got wickets, nine wickets (including a fifer) in the first two Test matches, India needed someone who could score runs for them. And I was sitting out (in the third and fourth Tests) and I said to myself, 'I have messed up the batting'. I thought I should do something with which I can get to play Tests again in my life. So, I grabbed at the chance I got. When you have something in mind, then you know, these things happen," says Madan Lal who is now part of BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Madan Lal says he had a safe pair of hands and hardly dropped catches.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I have a record of not dropping any catch. I have hardly dropped any catch because I had a safe pair of hands. My arm was also very good," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Madan Lal says he must have run several yards before realizing that the ball was too far. He went all out and dived to take the catch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Karsan Ghavri bowled a bouncer and the ball was about 10-15 yards away. I ran quite hard, watching the ball. I had my eyes fixed on the ball which, I realized, was dipping. After running 10 yards or so, I realized I can't get there and will have to go flat out. I dived. The ball landed on my palms," he recalls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I must have run 10-15 yards. It was a good catch. It was two-three yards away when I realized that the ball was out of reach. So, I went for a full-length dive. We won the Test match."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India won that Test by an innings and two runs to level the series. However, they lost the final Test to lose the series 2-3. Australia had won the first two Tests but India came back to win the next two.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Madan Lal's former Delhi Ranji Trophy teammate Venkat Sundaram, who played quite a few games together, vouches for his ability as a fielder and catcher.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"He was excellent in the outfield and could throw straight to the wicket-keeper from the boundary without relay. There were very few players in India who could do that. I think in one of the World Cups (probably 1975) Keith Boyce was rated as the best fielder and Madan was close second to him. He had strong arms, a strong back, and was very athletic which was needed in the outfield," recalls Sundaram.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2020\/11\/india-vs-australia-flashback-madan-lal-remembers-his-stunning-catch-which-revived-his-confidence.jpg", "alt_img": "india vs australia flashback madan lal remembers his stunning catch which revived his confidence", "alt_title": "Madan Lal", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "India vs Australia Flashback: Madan Lal Remembers His Stunning Catch Which Revived His Confidence On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "At a time when Indias fielding standards were considered not as good as they are now -\u00a0the poor show by Virat Kohli's boys in the first ODI at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) notwithstanding - Madan Lal was an exception in the 1970s.\r\n\r\n", "seo_keywords": "India tour of Australia , Madan Lal", "tag": "", "tagging": "India tour of Australia ,Madan Lal,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "india-vs-australia-flashback-madan-lal-remembers-his-stunning-catch-which-revived-his-confidence", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "3219", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2020-11-28 20:11:48", "updated": "2020-11-28 20:12:04", "img_from": "Madan Lal", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "Madan Lal, Catch, India vs Australia, Flashback, 1977-78", "livescore_text": "", "livescore_link": "", "btn_text": "", "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2020-11-28 20:11:48", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2020-11-28 20:11:48", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/india-vs-australia-flashback-madan-lal-remembers-his-stunning-catch-which-revived-his-confidence-67703" }