Abbas Ali Baig, the test cricketer who received kisses at Brabourne Stadium

I must confess that I have not seen the test in Bombay in 1959 against the Australian team led by Richie Benaud. My father, however, saw the proof and what I have written is related by him. This was the third test of the series and the Indian team was led by GS Ramchand, a hard-hitting right-handed batsman and competent pacemaker.

The advent of Abbas Ali Baig

The Indian team included a youngster who had made a century in his first appearance against England just a season earlier in England when he had hit 112. India had risen from his sickbed and beat the Australians in the Kanpur Test due to the Jasu Patel’s bowling effort. Thus the series was 1-1 when both teams reached Bombay.

Ramchand won the toss and India won. But Davidson, in an inspired spell, threw clean to Pankaj Roy and caught Polly Umrigar in the slips and the score read 21-2. Abbas Ali Baig stepped in and, along with Contactor who scored 108, helped India to a total of 289. Baig made 53. Baig in particular made a big impression by deftly handling the Australian attack.

Australia now batted and declared at 387 for 8 and India came to bat. By the end of the day (4th) Roy and Contractor had seen India 92-0. The final day dawned and people thought that India could easily tie the game, but alas, both starters were ruled out and India was at a precarious 109 for 4. The horrified crowd fell silent as India slipped into another familiar defeat. .

The kiss episode

However, Abbas Ali Baig played a stellar inning of 58 and Ramnath Kenny joined him as India tied the match. Baig negotiated Meckiff’s pace, Davidson’s swing and Richie Benaud’s spin with ease. It was a big hit punctuated by some superb shots at the fence.

When Baig returned to the pavilion, a young woman in a dress came forward and planted several kisses on Baig. In fact, Vijay Merchant in the commentary box counted the kisses on the radio excitedly 1, 2, 3. 12…13. it showed the love of the Indian masses for the game of cricket. How else could a 20-year-old girl do such a thing? Anyway, this has never happened after that and Baig will be remembered for this. Baig inexplicably disappeared from the scene, but the kiss episode can never be forgotten.