The Old Trafford ground in Manchester has witnessed some of the greatest moments in Indian cricket history, from playing a Test match in 1936 under the leadership of the Maharaja of Vizianagram to Sachin Tendulkar's first international hundred in 1990. The encounter in 1936 was India’s first Test match at the Old Trafford and Vijay Merchant and Abid Mushtaq scored hundreds in the second innings to salvage a draw.
Since then, Indian cricket has advanced significantly, although the team's best outcome in Manchester has been a draw. India's dismal record at the ground has once again gained attention as the team prepares to play England in the fourth Test of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester.
India have played nine Tests in Manchester, losing four — all by hefty margins. Two of those defeats came by an innings, while the other two saw losses of over 100 runs. The remaining five matches ended in draws.
Tendulkar's first international ton
Even if India's overall record at the Old Trafford is quite forgettable, Indian supporters have some nice memories of the stadium. Sachin Tendulkar scored his first international century at the venue when he was just 17 years old. Tendulkar hammered 119 not out in the second innings of the second Test of India's 1990 tour to England. Tendulkar was named Player of the Match after his hundred helped India draw the Test.
Best figures by Indian
Mohammad Azharuddin’s brilliant 179 in 1990 stands as the highest individual score by an Indian at Old Trafford, while Dilip Doshi’s 6/102 in 1982 remains the best bowling figures for India at the venue.
Embarrassments at Old Trafford
Old Trafford has also witnessed some embarrassing chapters in India’s Test history, including the infamous 58 and 82 all-out in the same match in 1952, that resulted in a crushing 207-run innings defeat. India became the only Test team to be dismissed twice in a single day of play in England during the defeat.
In their most recent Test at the venue in 2014, India slumped to 8/4 in the first innings — a collapse they couldn’t recover from — eventually losing by an innings and 54 runs.
Series at stake
India already trail 1-2 in the five-match series after a heartbreaking 22-run defeat in the third Test at Lord's and must win at Old Trafford to keep the series alive.
India's overall record in England, where they won series in 1971, 1986, and 2007, is very different from this winless streak at Old Trafford.
The venue’s characteristics — offering early movement for seamers before easing into a batting-friendly surface — has often compounded India’s struggles against England’s swing bowlers.
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