Few people in the history of cricket have gone to the lengths of redefining the game through their approach. Among them stands Syed Mushtaq Ali, who epitomized aggressive batting. He was a flamboyant batter while the rest were extremely cautious at that age.
Syed Mushtaq Ali went down into the history pages as the first Indian who scored a Test century outside India. He made that century against England in 1936 at Old Trafford. His 112 runs from 17 fours in the second innings helped India save the Test after concealing a deficit of 368 runs.
Career
Unfortunately, his international career lasted merely within 11 Test matches from 1934 to 1952. He accumulated 612 runs, of which two were centuries and three half-centuries.
“I might not have played too many Tests for a variety of reasons but I don’t think I failed to make a lasting impression on the minds of those who know and understand the game well,” he remarked in an interview with Rediff.com in 2001. “I have many fond memories of my career, most of which I cherish the most.
“I have rubbed shoulders with some of the finest cricketers ever. They all rated me very high which was heartening indeed. If it was in my destiny to play only 11 Tests, nobody could have changed it.”
The phenomenal first-class career of the right-handed opener left an enviable legacy. He played as many as 226 matches, scored 13,213 runs, and hammered 30 centuries and 63 fifties. With his left-arm spin, he bagged 162 wickets.
In his autobiography Cricket Delightful, Syed Mushtaq Ali espouses a philosophy of cricket that reads best as: “I still believe that cricket played with joie de vivre, tempered perhaps by skill and caution, can normally lead to victory. Stoic endurance can avert defeat but not usually ensure the gain.” Keith Miller, the Australian cricketing legend, said about Mushtaq Ali; “the (Hollywood actor) Errol Flynn of cricket, dashing, flamboyant, swashbuckling and immensely popular wherever he played.” The BCCI has also honored Syed Mushtaq Ali’s legacy by naming one of its premier domestic T20 cricket competitions in his honor – the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Its Early Years: Syed Mushtaq Ali
Syed Mushtaq Ali was born on December 17, 1914, in Indore. His father, Khan Saheb Sayed Yacub Ali, worked as an Inspector in the Central India Agency Police. Mushtaq Ali was regarded as a bowler before establishing himself as one of the finest batsmen of his generation. He was only 15 years old in 1930 when he visited Delhi to play under CK Nayudu’s team in the All India Roshan Ara Cricket Tournament. The sharp bowling and fielding impressed Maharajkumar of Vizianagram (Vizzy), who took Ali under his protection in Benaras (Varanasi). Mushtaq was tutored at the Bengalitola High School and did practice in grounds within the Vizianagram Palace.
Syed Mushtaq Ali: cricket career
Mushtaq Ali picked up on debut against England in the Eden Gardens by taking the wicket of the English captain Douglas Jardine, batting on 61.
In the second innings, he came out to open with the batting because Dilawar Hussain had been hurt by a bouncer in the first innings. Mushtaq Ali was again called to open the innings before this Test match. Mushtaq didn’t go beyond 20 runs but caught the management’s eyes with his technique. He formed a formidable partnership with Vijay Merchant at the top in the next few years. His highest score was again against England when he accumulated 112 runs at Old Trafford in 1936. This stands out for various reasons, not least because it was the first-ever Test century by an Indian outside the country and also helped India to achieve the improbable – a drawn game.
