Statistical highlights
Mohandas Menon
4th Test, Day 3 at St John's, Antigua
** VVS Laxman (130) became the first Indian batsman to be dismissed
'hit-wicket' after recording a three figure innings. Previously the highest
such score for India was Chandu Borde's 96 also against the West Indies at
Delhi in February 1959.
Incidentally Laxman becomes the 11th batsman in Test
history to score a hundred before being dismissed 'hit-wicket' in the same
innings. Former Australian opener Bill Ponsford has the highest individual
score of 266 against England at the Oval in 1934, before he was dismissed in
such an unfortunate manner.
** At 20 years 150 days Ajay Ratra (115 not out) became the youngest
gloveman in cricket history to score a Test hundred. He bettered the
previous record held by Indian Vijay Manjrekar, who was 21 years 186 days
when he scored 118 also against the West Indies at Kingston in 1953.
Manjrekar, although not a regular keeper, temporarily kept wickets in the
entire match (the only time he has done so). Among regular ones, South
African Mark Boucher, was the previous youngest at 22 years 44 days when he
scored 100 against the West Indies at Centurion in January 1999.
** Meanwhile, Ratra's hundred was the 10th by seven Indian keepers - Budhi
Kunderan, Farukh Engineer and Syed Kirmani being the only ones to do it
twice. He also becomes the second after Manjrekar (see above) to do it away
from home. However among regular keepers the previous highest in an away
Test match was the 89 by Engineer against Australia at Adelaide in December
1967.
** Ratra also became the third Indian batsman to register his maiden
first-class hundred in a Test match. The other two being - Vijay Manjrekar
(133 v England at Leeds in 1952) and Kapil Dev (126 not out v West Indies at
Delhi in 1978-79).
** Ratra became the second keeper to score a hundred at this venue after
Jeff Dujon's 110 against India in 1983.
** Ratra, playing in his 28th first-class match of his career, when on 109,
reached 1000 runs of his first-class career. It was his 46th innings.
** Merv Dillon (51 overs) became the only West Indian pace bowler to deliver
more than 50 overs in a Test innings on two separate occasions. He had also
bowled 51 overs against Sri Lanka at Galle in November last.
Interestingly
only two other West Indian pace bowlers have delivered more than 50 overs in
a Test innings - John Shepherd (58.5 overs) against England at Manchester in
June 1969 and Herman Griffith (58 overs) also against England at Kingston in
April 1930.
** India (513-9 decl) became the only second visiting team after England
(593 in 1994) to record a 450-plus score at this venue.
** This was India's highest total in the Caribbean obliterating its 469-7 at
Port of Spain during the 1983 series.
** The wicket of Wavell Hinds was Sachin Tendulkar's 50th of his first-class
career in his 184th match. It was also his 26th Test wicket in 95 matches.
Day 2 highlights
Day 1 highlights
India's tour of West Indies - The complete coverage