Nariman Jamshedji Contractor caught the imagination of the country in the most unfortunate circumstances. India was touring West Indies in 1962 when he was hit by a Charlie Griffith delivery in a tour match at Barbados. The ball hit him on his skull, causing serious damage to his career as a player. That injury ruled Contractor, who was captaining the side, out of the fourth Test, and led to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi becoming India’s youngest Test captain ever, at the age of 21.
Nari’s ability to exhibit courage against genuine pace has made him immortal in Indian cricket. Often, he put his body in line to save his wicket.
Nari Contractor has one of the finest records by any batsman at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla. His performances at this venue are as impressive as Sachin Tendulkar’s in Chennai and Mohammed Azharuddin’s in Kolkata.
The states in India’s domestic cricket have had great rivalry at the Ranji Trophy level. Over the years, players have taken immense pride in representing their respective states in first-class cricket. Players also take pride in performing in different zones of the country.
At the international level, it is fascinating how players from one zone have done well in other zones of the country. There has been much talk about Tendulkar of Mumbai performing well in Chennai. Mohammed Azharuddin and VVS Laxman of Hyderabad registered mind-boggling performances at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The most extraordinary, but now forgotten record in this regard, is of Nari Contractor and his performances at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.
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Less remembered
The New Zealand tour of India in 1955 had the 3rd test match at the Kotla. Nariman Jamshedji Contractor was in his first year of international cricket. The Kiwis had an excellent bowling attack in the form of Tony MacGibbon, who was in his fifth year of international cricket. Tony was 6 feet 5 inches tall and had the rare ability to make the ball rise from an awkward length. The Kiwis also had the maverick all-rounder John Reid. Nari scored a solid half-century. It was a mature knock considering his inexperience at the highest level.
Four years later, in 1959, it was the West Indies that played the 5th Test against India at the Kotla. The West Indies bowling attack was truly world-class. There was the menace of Wesley Hall and the intimidation of Roy Gilchrist, who was a deadly fast bowler. If this was not enough, there was the variety of Garfield Sobers, who was nothing short of a genius on a cricket field. Nari Contractor scored a brilliant knock of 92 at the Kotla against a bowling attack comprising Wes Hall, Gary Sobers, and Roy Gilchrist.
Nari played next at the Kotla in December 1959 against the mighty Australians. The Aussies had two great bowlers in Alan Davidson and Richie Benaud. Nari scored 45 out of the total team score of 135. India lost by an innings, and the only Indian batsman who had something to show for was Nari Contractor.
The Pakistanis arrived in India in 1961 at the Feroz Shah Kotla for the 5th Test match of the series. Nari had become the captain. He stitched a 100-run plus partnership with his fellow Parsi, Rusi Surti. Nari scored 92.
Nari was a victim of the negative attitude of bowlers like Charlie Griffith and Roy Gilchrist. At times, these bowlers were quite uncultured as they derived pleasure from hitting a batsman. They were lucky to get away with it because back then, cricket was played and perceived differently. Excessive short-pitch bowling was legitimate. Unfortunately, Nari Contractor suffered at the hands of Griffith.
Nari Contractor has shown the same grit in real life as he showed on the cricket field. Born on 7 March 1934, the former Indian captain has turned 90.
Kush Singh @singhkb is founder, The Cricket Curry Tour Company. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)