India's unsurpassed allrounder
Suresh Menon profiles Vinoo Mankad, one of India greatest allrounders
Suresh Menon
09-Feb-2007
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Vinoo Mankad contributed both to cricket and to the language. The Lord's Test of 1952 will always be known as Mankad's Test for his incredible all round performance which saw him on the field for 17 of the 25 hours of play. When a non-striker is run out by the bowler for backing up too far, he is said to have been 'mankaded', after Mankad ran out Bill Brown thus in Australia (after warning him).
For a period in the 1950s, Mulvantrai 'Vinoo' Mankad was the best all rounder in the world, capable of making any team either as batsman or as the finest left arm spinner in the game. In his 23rd Test he became the quickest to the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, a record that remained for more than a quarter century when Ian Botham got to the mark in two Tests fewer.
Mankad set up India's first Test win with 12 for 108 against England at Chepauk in 1951-52, and the first series win the following season against Pakistan, this time with 25 wickets in four matches. India's first great spinner also made two double centuries in a series against New Zealand. Vinoo Mankad who claimed 41 wickets at 13.31 in Indian victories averaged 112 with the bat in those five matches. On three occasions he held India's highest individual score, progressing from his 184 at Lord's to his 231 at Chennai.
Finest hour(s)
In 'Mankad's Test' he scored 72 and 184 and had bowling figures of 97-36-131-5 for the match. In the words of Len Hutton, he "played England on his own." Four years later Mankad and Pankaj Roy put on 413 against New Zealand, which is still a world record for the first wicket.
In 'Mankad's Test' he scored 72 and 184 and had bowling figures of 97-36-131-5 for the match. In the words of Len Hutton, he "played England on his own." Four years later Mankad and Pankaj Roy put on 413 against New Zealand, which is still a world record for the first wicket.
Bowling Action
This most evocative description is by Sujit Mukherjee: "After walking three steps, he glided his next three strides to the wicket so smoothly as to be practically soundless. Instead of the curving run of many slow left-handers terminating in a body rotation, Mankad adopted a straight approach for his side-on delivery. He looped his left arm round trouser-pocket height to over his head in an effortless movement synchronised perfectly with the final thrust of his right leg across the crease. He did not raise his right arm higher than his face, so that he had to bring his right shoulder around more than most bowlers and point it towards the batsman. As the left hand released the ball, the right fell to his side with the fingers curled and the thumb extended. The whole process was so fluent..."
This most evocative description is by Sujit Mukherjee: "After walking three steps, he glided his next three strides to the wicket so smoothly as to be practically soundless. Instead of the curving run of many slow left-handers terminating in a body rotation, Mankad adopted a straight approach for his side-on delivery. He looped his left arm round trouser-pocket height to over his head in an effortless movement synchronised perfectly with the final thrust of his right leg across the crease. He did not raise his right arm higher than his face, so that he had to bring his right shoulder around more than most bowlers and point it towards the batsman. As the left hand released the ball, the right fell to his side with the fingers curled and the thumb extended. The whole process was so fluent..."
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Mankad was a tireless performer, such a brilliant fielder off his own bowling that captains often dispensed with a mid off. On the 1946 tour of England he made 1120 runs and claimed 129 wickets; no visiting player has performed the double since.
Achilles' Heel
A batsman capable of reducing the bowlers to tears - he once hit a six off the first ball of an innings at Lord's - Mankad could also decide to become overly defensive and let the bowler dictate terms. This defensive streak ruined his record as captain when he led against Pakistan (five draws in the series) and then in the lone Test against the West Indies. He might be forgiven for the latter after being told of his appointment in secret in the toilet in a series that saw four different men lead India!
A batsman capable of reducing the bowlers to tears - he once hit a six off the first ball of an innings at Lord's - Mankad could also decide to become overly defensive and let the bowler dictate terms. This defensive streak ruined his record as captain when he led against Pakistan (five draws in the series) and then in the lone Test against the West Indies. He might be forgiven for the latter after being told of his appointment in secret in the toilet in a series that saw four different men lead India!
How history views him
Like most all-rounders, Mankad was overused as a bowler, forced to be both stock bowler and wicket taker, yet he was good enough to play international cricket till he was 40. Between the ages of 22 and 29 he played no Test cricket as the War intervened. In India, only Kapil Dev can be spoken of in the same breath. "As the day-in-and-day-out allround cricketer," wrote Sujit Mukherjee, "Vinoo Mankad stands unsurpassed."
Like most all-rounders, Mankad was overused as a bowler, forced to be both stock bowler and wicket taker, yet he was good enough to play international cricket till he was 40. Between the ages of 22 and 29 he played no Test cricket as the War intervened. In India, only Kapil Dev can be spoken of in the same breath. "As the day-in-and-day-out allround cricketer," wrote Sujit Mukherjee, "Vinoo Mankad stands unsurpassed."
Record
Mankad, born in Jamnagar, Ranji's hometown on 12 April 1917 died 21 August 1978. He played 44 Tests, scored 2109 runs at 31.47 and claimed 162 wickets at 32.32
Mankad, born in Jamnagar, Ranji's hometown on 12 April 1917 died 21 August 1978. He played 44 Tests, scored 2109 runs at 31.47 and claimed 162 wickets at 32.32
Life after cricket
As coach and icon, Vinoo Mankad inspired generations of Mumbai cricketers who went on to play for India. Apart from his son Ashok, the list includes Sudhir Naik, Eknath Solkar, Umesh Kulkarni, Hanumant Singh and Salim Durrani.
As coach and icon, Vinoo Mankad inspired generations of Mumbai cricketers who went on to play for India. Apart from his son Ashok, the list includes Sudhir Naik, Eknath Solkar, Umesh Kulkarni, Hanumant Singh and Salim Durrani.