India’s Test Performances over the years at Trent Bridge

India is 2-0 down in the ongoing five-match Test series in England and the way current affairs are heading, the scene for Indian cricket is not overly bright.

As we move towards the third Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham starting tomorrow (Saturday, 18th August), here is a look back on how India has fared at the same venue over the years. In the span of 59 years, India has played six Tests at Trent Bridge and the following pages chronicle the efforts of the visitors.

---

#1. India on tour of England in 1959, First Test

Pankaj Roy made a handy contribution in both the innings

Result: India lost by innings and 59 runs

India was wallopped in its first tour to England after independence in 1952 as the subcontinental team was defeated 3-0 in the four-match Test series, the only draw was also a result of the mercy of the rain gods. India began their 1959 tour with the first Test scheduled at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

England, who batted first after winning the toss, was on backfoot with the score reading 60/3. Captain Peter May (106) led the side to a towering total of 422 with able support from Godfrey Evans (73), debutant Martin Horton (58) and Ken Barrington (56). Leg-spinner Subhash Gupte snared 4 wickets.

Indian batting collapsed in both innings against hostile bowling from English medium-pacers Fred Trueman and Brian Statham. While Trueman grabbed 4/45 in the first innings, Statham recorded 5/21 in the second innings after India was asked to follow-on. Opener Pankaj Roy top-scored in both the innings with 51 and 49 but could not prevent the defeat of innings and 59 runs.

#2. India on tour of England in 1996, Third Test

Sourav Ganguly continued his fine form and scored his 2nd consecutive Test century

Result: Match drawn

India lost their first Test of the tour at Edgbaston but discovered two gems in the second Test at the Lord’s. The debutants, Sourav Ganguly (131) and Rahul Dravid (95) impressed everyone in the drawn game.

The third Test was held in Trent Bridge. Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and decided to bat first on the batting-friendly track. Ganguly continued his excellent run and struck another century (136) on day one alongside the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar (177) to take the final score to 521 all out.

England replied with all their might as their Captain Mike Atherton (160) and number three Nasser Hussain (107) scored centuries to finish with a 43-run lead. India batted out 69 overs on the fifth day to ensure another draw.

#3. India on tour of England in 2002, Second Test

Rahul Dravid scored a valiant 115 in the second innings of the Test

Result: Match drawn

After the capitulation at the Lord’s in the opening Test, India handed a Test debut to Parthiv Patel who became Test cricket's youngest wicket-keeper. Sourav Ganguly won the toss and chose to bat first in the second Test. Virender Sehwag struck a quick-fire century and a late assault from Harbhajan Singh propelled the visitors to 357 runs in the first innings.

England’s reply was a mammoth effort with the centerpiece being the stellar knock of 197 essayed by the opener Michael Vaughan. Craig White (94), Alec Stuart (87) and Mark Butcher (53) chipped in with healthy contributions.

The Indian openers were dismissed cheaply and the team was struggling at 11/2. The solid middle-order Rahul Dravid (115), Sachin Tendulkar (92) and Saurav Ganguly (99) shouldered the responsibility to bat out the majority of the remaining time and ensured a stalemate.

#4. India on tour of England in 2007, Second Test

Zaheer Khan, spurred by the jellybean incident, led India to a famous win

Result: India won by Seven wickets

The rain gods supported India in the first Test at the Lord’s to escape with a draw. Captain Rahul Dravid inserted England to bat first on the rain-truncated opening day of the second Test. With Zaheer Khan’s 4/59, England tumbled to 198 all-out in their first outing.

The Indian batsmen made the most of the improved conditions in reply. Five out of top six batsmen went past 50-run mark. The visitors secured a massive 283-run lead in their first innings with two days remaining in the Test.

The English team replied bravely with Captain Michael Vaughan 124 leading the fightback. The team then collapsed like nine-pins once Zaheer Khan castled Michael Vaughan. The home team ended at 355 all-out from a healthy 287/3. India knocked off the required 73 runs with the loss of three wickets to secure a famous win.

#5. India on tour of England in 2011, Second Test

Stuart Broad took a hat-trick to derail India in the first innings

Result: India lost by 319 runs

India arrived at Trent Bridge in 2011 after conceding a 196-run loss at the Lord’s in the first Test. The visitors were off to a brilliant start as they reduced the home team to 124/8 in the first innings. Stuart Broad’s 64 carried off England to 221 all-out by the end of day one.

India, sailing smoothly, reached 267/4 with the hopes of gaining a substantial lead in their first innings. Stuart Broad (6/46) returned to shatter the dreams and proceeded with a hat-trick to pin India down to a 67-run lead.

Ian Bell, with a touch of controversy around his tea-time runout, batted India out of the game with his dogged knock of 159. The English middle-order rallied around and India needed 478 runs to win the Test. Indians crumbled under the pressure with six out of top seven batsmen being dismissed for a single figure score to concede a heavy defeat.

#6. India on tour of England in 2014, First Test

Indian opener Murali Vijay began the tour with a sterling knock of 146 runs

Result: Match Drawn

The fresh tour to England in 2014 began with India calling the toss correctly and batting first. Murali Vijay (146) and MS Dhoni (82) struck the right notes, but the show was stolen by number eight Bhuvneshwar Kumar (58) and number eleven Mohammad Shami (51) taking India to 457.

English rising star, Joe Root (154) stitched a historic partnership of 198 runs for the tenth wicket with England’s number eleven James Anderson, who scored his personal best of 81, to gain a 39-run lead.

Indian batting order stood tall in the second dig as well. The debutant, Stuart Binny top-scored with 78. Bhuvneshvar Kumar helped himself to yet another half-century to ensure a respectable draw for India.