Abbas ali baig: Cricket News & Match Updates

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.   Read More...