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Lord's, the Mecca of Cricket, has a great significance in Cricket. India shares a special bond with this ground. India played its first Test match ever at this ground in 1932. Winning the World Cup 1983 and Natwest series in 2002 have also come on this very ground.
From the very first Test match that was played here in 1884 between England and Australia, Lord's has a tradition of honouring and preserving players' distinctive performances by inscribing them over the Honors Board.
India has always been a strong batting side but always lacked in the bowling department. India always fancied its chances in home conditions with quality spin bowlers but had the tough time with pace bowlers, who could lead India to victories in overseas condition.
But Indian bowlers have delivered significant performances at Lord's to find places at the Honors Board. Let us go through the list of bowlers who have etched their names on the Honor Boards.
#1 Mohammed Nissar
India was playing their first Test match ever in 1932 (the only Test match on the tour) under the captaincy of Col. C.K Nayudu. Unlike England, India was full of callow players. But they put up a good fight and bundled England at 259 runs in the First Innings. Mohammed Nissar took India's first five-wicket haul (5/93) and thus became the first Indian player to feature on Lord's Honors Board. However, India lost the Test match.
#2 Amar Singh
India had earlier played only one Test match in England in 1932 and it was their 2nd Test Match in England in 1936. After getting out cheaply at 147 in the first innings, India managed to take the lead. It was Amar Singh's five-wicket haul that provided India the edge over England.
He bowled 25 overs and took 6 wickets for 35 runs. He demonstrated consistency and discipline in his line and length and second Indian bowler to feature on Lord's Honor Board. His figures of 6/35 are the second best bowling figures by an Indian bowler at Lord's. Despite India's loss in the Test match, Amar Singh's contribution was highly appreciated.
#3 Lala Amarnath
The 1946 cricket season marked the return of the first-class cricket in England after the World War-II. The England-India Test series was the first to be played since the West Indies tour in England in 1939. It was a three-match Test series.
In the first Test at Lord's, after being restricted to 200 in the first innings, Indian players had a herculean task to get English team out. Lala Amarnath was playing his first Test at Lord's in more than 12 years. Up for the task, he bowled brilliantly to take the five-wicket haul. He dismissed five players for 118. India again lost miserably but Lala Amarnath's name got etched on the Honor's Board.
#4 Mulvantrai Himmatlal Mankad
M H Mankad, also known as Vinoo Mankad, was a prolific all-rounder in the early years of Indian Test cricket. He is often regarded as the first great all-rounder of India. He was an opening batsman and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and has played 44 test for India.
His best performance came in the time of crisis at Lord's against England in 1952. After having scored 72 in the first innings, he took five wickets in England's first innings. He later in the second innings scored 184 out of the team's total of 378 to find the place at the Lord's Honor board.
In 1952, the Indian team went to England without their premier all-rounder Vinoo Mankad as he had signed up for Haslingden in Lancashire League. Before signing the contract he had requested the board to guarantee his selection in the touring team, that was later turned down. He was not the part of the team in the first Test at Leeds.
After suffering a humiliating defeat in the first test, the board had no other way but to eat humble pie and request for the release of Mankad from the club to have his services in the Lord's test.
Mankad's ego was hurt and he performed way above the expectations and single-handedly anchored the Indian innings. He stayed at the field for 19 hours out of 25 hours of play. His match figures read 73-24-196-5. He became the first and the only Indian player to have his name on both, the batting and the bowling Honors Boards. His heroics couldn't save the game for India, but he was able to salvage the pride.
#5 Ramakant Desai
Ramakant Desai, who was also known as 'Tiny', was perhaps the first genuine fast bowler of free India. Only 5 feet 6 inches tall and with a thin body frame, he was quick enough to surprise and unsettle batsmen with bouncers. In 1959, he got the chance to play all the 5 Tests in England. He lacked experience and proved expensive and failed to leave any significant impact.
But amidst insipid performances, he enjoyed the wondrous moment of picking five-wicket haul at Lord's and feature his name on the Honors Board. Indian team was dismissed at 168 in the first innings. In England's first inning, Desai picked 5 for 89 to restrict them at 226. India lost the Test eventually but his figures of 31.4-8-89-5 provided a sign that India has potential to produce fast bowlers. He stayed the lead of the Indian bowling attack for few years thereafter.
#6 B S Chandrashekhar
Part of the famous spin quartet, B S Chandrashekhar is another bowler to feature on this list. In 1967, India was on a three-match test series in England. India had already lost the first test and was expecting the turn of the events in the Lord's test.
India was bundled at 152 in first innings and was somehow was to withhold England at 386 with the notable efforts of Chandrashekhar. He troubled English batsmen with his leg breaks and googlies and picked 5 wickets for 127 runs. His figures of 59-9-127-5 couldn't save the match and India lost by an inning and 124 runs.
#7 Bishan Singh Bedi
Another mainstay of the spin quartet, Bishan Singh Bedi was a prolific left-arm spinner or perhaps the leader of the pack. As in those days, India lacked genuine pace attack, its success(overseas and home) rested mainly in the hands of its spin bowlers.
After winning its first test series in England in 1971, India was on another tour in England in 1974. In the Test at Lord's, England put up a mammoth score of 629 runs in the first innings. Spinners toiled to get English batsmen out. Bishan Singh Bedi bowled the most overs and picked 6 wickets for 226 runs. His match figures read 64.2-8-226-6 and he was able to etch his name on the Honors Board. India eventually lost the test match by an inning and 285 runs.
#8 Kapil Dev
India relied heavily on spinners until Kapil Dev emerged onto the scene. He emerged as a bankable and in many ways as the first genuine fast bowler for India.
In 1982, at Lord's Test, Kapil Dev started brilliantly with the bowl. He exploited the conditions well to trouble the English batsmen. While batting first, England suffered four quick blows and were reduced to 96 for 4. All 4 wickets were taken by Kapil Dev.
However, he proved to be a lone ranger as he didn't get support from the other end. England sighted this chance and capitalized to score 433 in the first innings after an early debacle. Kapil Dev finished his bowling figures at 43-8-125-5. England won the Test match by 7 wickets.
#9 Chetan Sharma
India versus England Test match at Lord's in 1986 became historical and memorable when the visitors triumphed their first win at this ground. The spell from Chetan Sharma turned out to be pivotal in India's triumph to victory.
India had won its first World Cup in 1983 at this very ground and apparently, it brought better fortunes for the touring side on the following tour. The Indian team had the likes of seasoned players in the name of Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Roger Binny and Mohinder Amarnath.
They all knew the conditions well but it was Chetan Sharma who laid the foundation of the victory. He took five wickets for 64 runs to restrict England at 294. Dilip Vengsarkar scored a brilliant century and India won by five wickets.
It was special for Chetan Sharma to get his name on the Honor Board as India registered its win at Lord's.
#10 Venkatesh Prasad
1996 Lord's test is majorly remembered for the splendid century by Sourav Ganguly on his debut. But another Indian player had managed to get his name featured on the Honors board in that game.
England batted first and after suffering few initial blows, Graham Thorpe and Jack Russell consolidated the innings. Venkatesh Prasad broke the partnership and picked the remaining wickets. His figures read 33.3-10-76-5. India managed to draw the Test.
#11 R P Singh
India was touring England with probably the best bowling combination in past few years. It had the balance of experience and young talent. The pack that was led by Anil Kumble, had the experience of Zaheer Khan and the likes of Sreesanth and R P Singh. They had good skills to move the ball and were expected to do well in England.
With the collective bowling effort in the first innings, India was able to restrict England at 298. In the second innings, R P Singh displayed his superior swing bowling skills and picked 5 wickets for 59. He got the support from Zaheer Khan, who picked up 4 wickets. But the highlight was R P Singh bowling in-swingers from around the wicket and perforating defence of the middle order batsmen. The Test match ended in a draw but India was able to win the test series after 36 years.
12# Praveen Kumar
Praveen Kumar is famous for his uncanny skills to swing the ball both ways. The stalwart from Uttar Pradesh was ruled out of the World Cup 2011 squad. But he looked determined in his return at Lord's Test.
India started miserably and Zaheer Khan got injured midway in the first innings. The onus now shifted on remaining bowlers. Praveen Kumar, after going wicketless on the first day, came determined on the second day and made his presence felt. He first dismissed the overnight batsman Jonathan Trott and later dismissed Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad to end his match figures at 40.3-4-106-5. India failed to save the Test match and England won by 196 runs.
13# Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Another medium pacer from Meerut, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is also famous for his dextrousness to swing the ball both ways just like his fellow statesman Praveen Kumar. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was on his first tour to England in 2014 and was as a prospect bowler for India in the first test at Lord's.
India was limited to 295 runs in the first innings. In response, Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked 6 wickets for 82 runs and helped India to set the tone for the test match. Bhuvneshwar finished the match figures at 31-10-82-6 and got his name on the Honors Board. Later, India won the test match with the help of Ishant Sharma's heroics in the second innings.
14# Ishant Sharma
In the same test match, India set the target of 319 runs for England. After Bhuvi's 5 wicket haul in the first inning, it was now the job of other bowlers to also set up to the occasion and win the game for the team.
After suffering initial jolts, England steadied itself. Joe Root and Moen Ali looked firm at 174-4 until Ishant Sharma broke the partnership just before lunch. After lunch, it was clear for Ishant Sharma to target batsmen with bouncers. He didn't disappoint his captain and perhaps bowled the best spell of his career. He dismissed Matt Prior, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Stuart Board to turn the tables in India's favor.
India won its second test at Lord's after 28 years and Ishant Sharma's 7/74 got inscribed on the Honors Board as the best figures by an Indian Bowler at Lord's.
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