Top 5 left-handers who were India's biggest nemeses at home
The Indian Cricket team and the fans are not going to forget these left-handers that easily. On their day, the bowlers just could not get them out. Here are such five left-handed batsmen who have tortured India in their home conditions.
1) Clive Llyod: The tall, aggressive left handed batsman was India’s biggest nemesis. He played spin bowling extremely well and had an array of powerful shots.
Llyod made his Test debut against India at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai in 1966. He announced his arrival with 82 and 78*. His unbeaten innings of 78 was instrumental in a West Indian win, when they were chasing 192 for a victory.
In 1974-75, Llyod again showed his class against the four-pronged Indian spin attack. He notched up 163 in the second innings of the Bangalore Test match. His innings of 242* at the Wankhede Stadium was monumental. His footwork against the spinners was of the highest quality.
In 1983-84, Llyod again scored two centuries; 103 at Delhi and 161 at Kolkata.
Matches |
Runs |
Highest |
Average |
100s |
14 |
1359 |
242* |
75.5 |
4 |
2) Jimmy Adams: Adams played only three Test matches in India, when West Indies arrived in India in 1994. In the first test match, Adams scored 39 in the first innings and 81 in the second.
In the second Test match at Nagpur, Adams scored 125* in the first innings. He denied India the opportunity to dictate terms after the home team had scored 546 in their first innings. Adams had arrived on the crease when West Indies had lost three wickets without a hundred runs on the board.
In the final test match at Mohali, Adams scored 174* and 78* as West Indies won that Test match. Adams was the man of the match for the third test and also the man of the series.
Adams padded up umpteen number of deliveries and frustrated India. He was called ‘Padams’ by the media because of this.
Matches |
Runs |
Highest |
Average |
100s |
3 |
520 |
174* |
173.33 |
2 |
3) Andy Flower: He had a solid defence, used his feet well against spinners, swept them at will and cut anything that was short. Flower has been India’s enemy number one whenever Zimbabwe played against India, in India.
He started his love-affair with the Indian conditions by scoring 115 in the first innings played in India at Delhi. It was a one-off Test match.
When Zimbabwe arrived in India for a three-match series in 2000, Flower meted out his special treatment to the Indians. He scored 183* in the first Test in Delhi and scored 232* in the third Test at Nagpur.
In 2002, Flower missed his third consecutive hundred at Delhi by eight runs.
Matches |
Runs |
Highest |
Average |
100s |
5 |
820 |
232* |
117.14 |
3 |
4) Matthew Hayden: In 2001, Hayden was toying with the Indian bowling at will. He swept the ball hard, used his feet and deposited the ball in the stands and also took singles with ease.
In the first test match at Mumbai, Hayden’s 119 rescued Australia from a mini-collapse. He and Adam Gilchrist took the game away from India in a matter of minutes.
At Eden Gardens, Hayden got 97 and 67 in the Test match. At Chennai, Hayden scored his maiden double hundred. His 203 was at par with Harbhajan’s eight-for in the first innings.
Hayden toured India twice after the 2001 tour but failed to register any more centuries. Hayden was an impact player and his strokes had class written all over them.
Matches |
Runs |
Highest |
Average |
100s |
11 |
1027 |
203 |
51.35 |
2 |
5) Alaistair Cook: In England‘s tour to India in 2006, Cook replaced opener Marcus Trescothick in the team. Cook was in West Indies, playing for England-A and was flown as an emergency opener. He scored 60 and 104* on debut and looked comfortable against the Indian attack.
In 2012, Cook is the captain of the English team. He has displayed good technique against spin. The pace bowlers rarely beat him and has turned out to be a batsman very difficult to dislodge, once settled. At Ahmedabad, Cook scored 176 in the second innings and batted for a day and a half against the spinners with utmost ease. At Mumbai, Cook scored 122 priceless runs on a track that was turning square from day one.
He continues to haunt India in India.
Matches |
Runs |
Highest |
Average |
100s |
6 |
661 |
176 |
66.1 |
3 |