When Lala Ji was sent back from England's tour due to indiscipline

August 2 (CRICKETNMORE) - The recent Kumble-Kohli controversy was the talk of the cricketing fraternity and though new Coach Ravi Shastri has taken the charge now, the gossips are still making the headlines about the ego clash of two great servants of Indian cricket. What so ever be the actual reason, this should have not happened.

But this is not new to the Indian cricket. The Indian cricket history is full of such incidents where rift between the players, player and the captain, coach and the captain were witnessed from time to time.

Way back in 1936, the first cricket star of Indian Cricket team Lala Amarnath was shown the way from Indian team on charges of indiscipline. Little tough to believe but Amarnath, who was an integral part of the team was sent back to India before the start of the series.

Background

Former Indian Cricketer, Lala Amarnath holds the distinction of being the first century maker for the country in test cricket. An iconic figure in the Indian Cricket, Amarnath faced the heat of controversy in his first tour of England in 1936. He was charged for indiscipline and was sent back to India before the start of the test series.

The Other Side of Virat Kohli

 

Amarnath was a star performer for India and team had high expectations from him on the England's tour of 1936. Prior to the tour, existing captain CK Nayudu was replaced by Prince of Vizianagram - Vijay Anand Gajapati Raju (Vizzy) who was also the team's sponsor for the tour. At that time, the game used to be sponsored by the kings and princes and one of the prime reason for Vizzy’s selection as the captain was that his ability to fund such tours.

Before the test series, India played few practice matches against English counties. In one such match against Leicester, a confrontation triggered between Vizzy and Amarnath over some field placement. While bowling, Amarnath asked the captain for some changes in the field placement which Vizzy denied and ordered him to carry on with the same fielding. Amarnath was quite surprized and after the game he discussed the incident with his team-mates. Somehow this news reached to Vizzy and he found it offensive and called Amarnath aside and told him that as captain he could do what he liked.

The things continued to get worse and during another practice match, Amarnath was told to bat at number four. Amarnath who was ready with the pads saw Amar Singh, CK Nayudu and even bowler Wazir Ali were sent before him. Amarnath was finally sent in at number seven, just ten minutes before the end of the day’s play. The whole incident upsets Amarnath and he protested by showing his anger in the dressing room. Vizzy, who was looking for an action against him take the advantage of the situation and keeping manager Britton Jones in the loop sent Amarnath back to India on account of indiscipline.

Till than Amarnath was the star performer on the tour and had scored over 600 runs along with 32 wickets in the practice matches and his presence would certainly be required in test matches. Amarnath came back and discussed the entire incident with Maharaj of Bhopal, who was the President of BCCI that time and with other members. Arrangements were made to sent Amarnath back to England before the second test but he was told that captain and the manager did not want him.

Post England’s tour, an inquiry committee - Beaumont Committee was set up by BCCI in Lala Amarnath’s case. The committee checked all the facts and found Amarnath not guilty of any of the charges alleged by Vizzy and manager Jones. The report also described Vizzy’s captaincy as disastrous. Vizzy never played for India again.

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Sahir