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Amazing Interesting Facts About Lala Amarnath
Born on Sept. 11, 1911, Lala Amarnath was a Cricketer of a fatherly figure in Indian Cricket. In his 24 Tests, he creates influence by standing consistently. Nanik Amarnath Bhardwaj or Lala Amarnath was the first captain of Independent India. Well-known for artistry on the field, he remains the most colourful character of Indian cricket.
In today’s article, we, Blogsrocks, will tell you about some interesting facts about Lala Amarnath. It will amaze you. So, let’s start about the interesting facts of one of the famous personalities of Indian cricket.
Career Statistics of Lala Amarnath
| Competition | Test | First-class |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 24 | 184 |
| Runs scored | 878 | 10,426 |
| Batting average | 24.38 | 41.37 |
| 100s/50s | 1/4 | 31/59 |
| Top score | 118 | 262 |
| Balls bowled | 4,241 | 29,474 |
| Wickets | 45 | 463 |
| Bowling average | 32.91 | 22.98 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 2 | 19 |
| 10 wickets in matches | 0 | 3 |
| Best bowling | 5/96 | 7/27 |
| Catches/stumpings | 13 | 96/2 |
Look at the 16 Interesting facts about Lala Amarnath
Before carving in cricket, Amarnath had been involved in athletics, especially long-distance running. As a teenager, he has a knack of playing hockey.
Test Debut with scoring a century
The Test debut at the Bombay Gymkhana, Amarnath scored a hundred that was India’s first-ever. It was just his fifth First-Class match. By scoring 118, Amarnath left the ground, and the crowd greeted this century saying as ‘God save the King.’
Career setting Knock
Playing for Southern Punjab, Amarnath scored 109 against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in the year 1933-34. It set the tone for a perfect career. The knock was played as a wicketkeeper and opening batsman in that game.
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Amarnath – the bowler
In 1933-34, by capturing four wickets as a Test bowler at Madras during the same series, Amarnath tasted his first major success as a bowler.
Amarnath – the all-rounder
Amarnath was able to do batting, bowling and even keeping wickets with precision. This made him a true sensed all-rounder.
The first captain of Independent India
In November 1947, in the absence of Vijay Merchant, Amarnath was made the Captain of the Test team of India that visited Australia. He was the first skipper of an Indian Test team of Independent India. His centuries, 172 not out against Queensland and the 228 not out against Victoria, helped him to win 4 out of 5 Test matches while the 5th one was a draw.
First bowler to out Bradman
Amarnath holds the significance of being the only bowler to dismiss the greatest batsman ever Donald Bradman during a Test at Brisbane in 1947 by made him hit wicket.
International career
Scoring 878 runs at an average of 24.38 and 45 wickets at an economy of 32.91 from 24 Test matches made nothing spectacular in his record. His influence belongs to Indian cricket, goes far ahead than these statistics. The domination of local princes and their English backers about Indian cricket was first ever opposed by Amarnath. He was very much clear to state his point of views.
First-class cricket career
Lala Amarnath scored 10426 runs in his 186 first-class matches. This runs included 31 centuries and 39 half-centuries with an average of 41.37 and strike rate of 63.6. His highest score was 262. Also, he took 463 wickets at an average of 22.98 with medium-pace-bowling.
First series victory for India
Under the captaincy of Amarnath, India won their first-ever Test series against Pakistan in 1952 by scoring 2-1. As a captain, Lala Amarnath was well-known for his aggressiveness, sharp tactics and a remarkable pitch reader.
Played Match by Lala Amarnath
In 1934, Amarnath scored a second-innings hundred for the Retrievers against the Freebooters. And won the Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup Final.
In 1935, against Jack Ryder’s Australians, Amarnath played unofficial test wherein two innings he scored 33 and 41 that considered extraordinary. Later with the low scoring rate, he scored 39 at Calcutta which was hailed as one of the best innings he ever played. He had played 12 matches in which he scored 613 runs at an average of 32 with three hundred. Also, he took 32 wickets at 20 apiece.
Honour for the Great Man
Lala Amarnath became the patriarchal figure of Indian cricket by serving as a player, as a selector, as a manager, as a coach and a broadcaster. He was the achiever of a first Test century as the Indian cricketer in his debut Test against England. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1991 for his significant contributions to Indian cricket by the Government of India. In 2011, perpetuating the celebration of this great man, the BCCI decided to make an award in the name of Lala Amarnath for the best all-rounder in the Ranji Trophy as well as in limited-overs domestic competition.
The Dark Phase
After the 3rd Test at Chennai in February 1934 against England, Amarnath had to sit for 12 years. After that, he could play his 4th Test match. In 1946, at Lord’s, Amarnath took five wickets by giving 118 runs and scored an aggressive 50 in the second innings. He got a magical haul of wickets of Len Hutton, Cyril Washbrook, Denis Compton and Wally Hammond when England scored just 70. In the Test at Manchester, Amarnath took five wickets including Compton and Hammond once again. Very few Cricketers who raised voice against the dominance of Royal figures and he was one of them. Their consequent prevailing made to pay the price by damaging to his career.
A Bold Move
Amarnath was the chairman of selectors while Australia toured India and worsed India by an innings and 127 runs at Delhi. He used his power to select the unhealed Jasu Patel for the second Test at Kanpur. In five innings, Patel took 14 wickets, and India won the Test by 119 runs.
Cricket in the blood
Surinder, Mohinder and Rajinder, three sons of Amarnath had played first-class cricket, with the first two also representing India. In 1976, Surinder Amarnath scored a century against New Zealand on debut. This made the only father-son combination to achieve this feat.
A strict father
There are many anecdotes about Amarnath, the strict father in the domestic circuit. This includes an unverified instance of him walking into the dressing-room and slapping one of his sons for getting out to an imperfect stroke in a Ranji Trophy match.
Mentor to his sons
Amarnath supervised his sons for their development. Surinder also made a century on debut. Whereas, Mohinder played 69 Tests for India named as “Jimmy”, and Rajinder played First-Class cricket. Along with Surinder, he also made father-son pair to score hundreds on debut.
The witty side
In 1946, Amarnath was extremely economical with the ball in the tour of England. In that game, he kept quite a six-hitting legend like Harold Gimblett with several maiden overs against Somerset. A frustrated Gimblett asked him, “Don’t you ever bowl a half-volley?” Amarnath replied, “Oh yes, I bowled one in 1940” in a quick flash.
Conclusion
Here we end the series of Interesting Facts about Lala Amarnath. We, Blogsrocks, make sure that you have enjoyed by reading these Interesting Facts about Lala Amarnath. Finally, if you like our content about Interesting Facts about Lala Amarnath, please share this post with your cricket lover friends and family members. If you want to know anything, then feel free to comment below.