79 Years of Indian Sports: When THIS Audacious Indian Batter Halted a Test on English Soil to Get His Hairs Trimmed
He remains the only man who had a haircut on a Test ground
India celebrates its 79th year of freedom from the British regime this August. Given the country has achieved numerous milestones in these 79 years, including in the field of sports, it is essential to recall those milestones or incidents that helped India make a statement in the world as a free nation.
In this article, we revisit an incident from an England versus India Test match.
Gavaskar’s stance
The incident dates back to 1974 when India visited England for a Test series. Manchester’s Old Trafford hosted the first game of the series, and England batted first to score a mammoth target of 328 runs. In response, Sunil Gavaskar, who was only three years into his career, took a gallant stance against the mighty English bowling line-up.
The “Little Master” scored 101 runs in 205 balls at a strike rate of 40.23, including eight fours. Gavaskar’s innings made headlines, but more than his century, it was a demand on the field that spiralled into a viral incident in an era when viral wasn’t even a thing.
A haircut on English soil
Gavaskar was known for his fearless batting, including his ability to stay on the crease without a helmet. Not to forget, he also had lengthy hair at one time. During that game, due to the wind, his locks kept getting in the way of his vision. Therefore, Gavaskar demanded his hair be trimmed on the pitch.
In his own statement, Gavaskar once revealed, “A funny, funny incident in that century at Manchester as well. I didn’t wear a cap in those days, and I had much longer hair than I have now. And so the gust of wind was blowing hair in my eyes, and just as the bowler was about to deliver the ball, so I asked Dickie Bird if he had some scissors where he could snip it off.”
Why was it a statement?
England has always claimed to be the inventor of cricket, a sport considered a gentleman’s game with sophistication nailed in everything. Not to forget, in the eyes of England, India was a land of snake charmers and elephants, and its people were perceived as uneducated and unhygienic. The Indian way of things wasn’t eye-soothing to the British regime when they ruled India and derogated the country in every possible way.
Even after India gained its independence, English players on the pitch portrayed themselves as superior, not only decades ago but even recently, as seen in the fifth game of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Therefore, Sunil Gavaskar’s demand was a statement. No other player had the audacity to make such a demand, and nobody else has ever done so again.
An unfortunate loss
Despite Gavaskar’s century, India only managed 246 runs in the first innings, followed by 182 runs against England’s 213 in the second innings. India lost the game by 113 runs. However, the match will forever be remembered for Gavaskar’s audacity. Back then, it wasn’t a big deal, but when we look at it now, it was as important as a statement made by Sourav Ganguly’s NatWest Final celebration
He remains the only man who had a haircut on a Test ground
India celebrates its 79th year of freedom from the British regime this August. Given the country has achieved numerous milestones in these 79 years, including in the field of sports, it is essential to recall those milestones or incidents that helped India make a statement in the world as a free nation.
In this article, we revisit an incident from an England versus India Test match.
Gavaskar’s stance
The incident dates back to 1974 when India visited England for a Test series. Manchester’s Old Trafford hosted the first game of the series, and England batted first to score a mammoth target of 328 runs. In response, Sunil Gavaskar, who was only three years into his career, took a gallant stance against the mighty English bowling line-up.
The “Little Master” scored 101 runs in 205 balls at a strike rate of 40.23, including eight fours. Gavaskar’s innings made headlines, but more than his century, it was a demand on the field that spiralled into a viral incident in an era when viral wasn’t even a thing.
A haircut on English soil
Gavaskar was known for his fearless batting, including his ability to stay on the crease without a helmet. Not to forget, he also had lengthy hair at one time. During that game, due to the wind, his locks kept getting in the way of his vision. Therefore, Gavaskar demanded his hair be trimmed on the pitch.
In his own statement, Gavaskar once revealed, “A funny, funny incident in that century at Manchester as well. I didn’t wear a cap in those days, and I had much longer hair than I have now. And so the gust of wind was blowing hair in my eyes, and just as the bowler was about to deliver the ball, so I asked Dickie Bird if he had some scissors where he could snip it off.”
Why was it a statement?
England has always claimed to be the inventor of cricket, a sport considered a gentleman’s game with sophistication nailed in everything. Not to forget, in the eyes of England, India was a land of snake charmers and elephants, and its people were perceived as uneducated and unhygienic. The Indian way of things wasn’t eye-soothing to the British regime when they ruled India and derogated the country in every possible way.
Even after India gained its independence, English players on the pitch portrayed themselves as superior, not only decades ago but even recently, as seen in the fifth game of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Therefore, Sunil Gavaskar’s demand was a statement. No other player had the audacity to make such a demand, and nobody else has ever done so again.
An unfortunate loss
Despite Gavaskar’s century, India only managed 246 runs in the first innings, followed by 182 runs against England’s 213 in the second innings. India lost the game by 113 runs. However, the match will forever be remembered for Gavaskar’s audacity. Back then, it wasn’t a big deal, but when we look at it now, it was as important as a statement made by Sourav Ganguly’s NatWest Final celebration
