Abbas Ali Baig

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Abbas Ali Baig

| country = India

| fullname = Abbas Ali Baig

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|03|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Hyderabad, British India

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Leg break

| international = true

| testdebutdate = 23 July

| testdebutyear = 1959

| testdebutagainst = England

| testcap = 93

| lasttestdate = 31 December

| lasttestyear = 1966

| lasttestagainst = West Indies

| club1 = Hyderabad

| year1 = 1954–1976

| club2 = Oxford University

| year2 = 1959–1962

| club3 = Somerset

| year3 = 1960–1962

| columns = 2

| column1 = Tests

| matches1 = 10

| runs1 = 428

| bat avg1 = 23.77

| 100s/50s1 = 1/2

| top score1 = 112

| deliveries1 = 18

| wickets1 = –

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 6/–

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 235

| runs2 = 12367

| bat avg2 = 34.16

| 100s/50s2 = 21/64

| top score2 = 224*

| deliveries2 = 660

| wickets2 = 9

| bowl avg2 = 48.00

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 2/26

| catches/stumpings2 = 154/–

| source = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1113/1113.html CricketArchive]

| date = 21 November

| year = 2012

}}

Abbas Ali Baig {{audio|Abbas Ali Baig.ogg|pronunciation}} (born 19 March 1939) is an Indian former cricketer who played in 10 Tests between 1959 and 1967. In a career spanning 21 years, he scored 12,367 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 34.16. He coached the Indian cricket team during its tour to Australia in 1991–92 and the 1992 Cricket World Cup.{{cite web |url=http://test-cricket-tours.co.uk/page_2630640.html |title=Australia Tour 1991–92 |access-date=2016-11-17 |archive-date=17 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117210939/http://test-cricket-tours.co.uk/page_2630640.html |url-status=dead }}

Biography

Born in Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British India, Baig made his first-class debut during the 1954–55 Ranji Trophy, against Andhra Pradesh.{{cite web |title=Hyderabad v Andhra |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/21/21401.html |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925060643/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/21/21401.html |url-status=live }} In his next match against Mysore, he scored 105 and 43 not out.{{cite web |title=Hyderabad v Mysore |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/21/21422.html |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925060720/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/21/21422.html |url-status=live }} At the end of the tournament, he ended up as his team's second-highest run scorer, scoring 187 runs at an average of 62.33.{{cite web |title=Batting and fielding in Ranji Trophy 1954/55 (ordered by runs) |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/1/Ranji_Trophy_1954-55/Batting_by_Runs.html |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306000219/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/1/Ranji_Trophy_1954-55/Batting_by_Runs.html |url-status=live }}

In the late 1950s, Baig moved to England and went to University College, Oxford.{{cite web |title=Abbas Ali Baig |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1113/1113.html |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=28 October 2017 |archive-date=28 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028210516/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1113/1113.html |url-status=live }} In 1959, he played 15 first-class matches for the university team. During this time, he scored 221 not out and 87 against Free Foresters and broke Derrick De Saram's aggregate of 283 runs—208 and 75—to become the highest run scorer for the team in a first-class match.{{efn|As of August 2015, this remains the second-highest total by an Oxford batsman; Sam Agarwal broke (313 runs) Baig's record in 2013.{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/England/Firstclass/OxfordUniversity/Batting_Records/Highest_Match_For.html |title=Most Runs in a Match for Oxford University |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925030716/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/England/Firstclass/OxfordUniversity/Batting_Records/Highest_Match_For.html |url-status=live }}}} It was during this time India toured England. In the fourth match of the series, Baig was "summoned" to play for India, replacing the injured Vijay Manjrekar.{{Sfn|Ramnarayan|2015|p=140}} Aged 20 years and 131 days, Baig became the youngest Indian cricketer to score a century on debut when he made 112 in India's second innings.{{cite web |title=A true competitor |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149888.html |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=27 July 2017 |archive-date=27 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727105536/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149888.html |url-status=live }} It was also the first century by an Indian debutant outside India.{{cite web |last1=Ramchand |first1=Partab |title=Abbas Ali Baig |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/26817.html |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924210418/http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/26817.html |url-status=live }} Despite another century from Polly Umrigar, India lost the match.{{Sfn|Ramnarayan|2015|p=140}} However, Baig retained his place in the team for the final match of the series. He also become the first batsman to score a century in the fourth innings of a match on Test debut.{{Cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/239555.html|title=Records. Test matches. Batting records. Hundred on debut|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2017-03-07|archive-date=23 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423045312/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/239555.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62863.html|title=4th Test: England v India at Manchester, Jul 23-28, 1959. Cricket Scorecard|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2017-03-07|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226134903/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62863.html|url-status=live}}

Following the series in England, Baig was included in the Indian squad for the home series against Australia later that year. In the second Test at Kanpur, he scored 19 and 36 runs in both the innings. The match marked India's first Test victory against Australia.{{cite web |title=Second Test Match: India v Australia |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152737.html |website=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |publisher=reprinted by ESPNcricinfo |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924233815/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152737.html |url-status=live }} In the first innings of the next match at Bombay, he scored 50 and was involved in a crucial 133-run partnership with Nari Contractor. Baig followed that with another half-century in the second innings when he made 58. His half-centuries helped India secure a draw.{{cite web |title=Third Test Match: India v Australia |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152738.html |website=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |publisher=reprinted by ESPNcricinfo |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=11 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811070631/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152738.html |url-status=live }} During a break in India's second innings, when Baig walked to the pavilion along with Ramnath Kenny, he was kissed on his cheek by a young woman spectator,{{Sfn|Ramnarayan|2015|p=140}} becoming the first Indian cricketer to be kissed on the field.{{cite news |title=Dhoni sets a world record |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/dhoni-sets-a-world-record/articleshow/3238643.cms |access-date=27 August 2015 |work=The Economic Times |date=16 July 2008 |archive-date=26 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226142328/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/dhoni-sets-a-world-record/articleshow/3238643.cms |url-status=live }} Vijay Merchant who was commentating then remarked "I wonder where all these enterprising young ladies were when I was scoring my hundreds and two hundreds."{{cite news |last1=Banerjee |first1=Malini |last2=Roy |first2=Priyanka |title=Misses with kisses |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090823/jsp/calcutta/story_11396536.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826234138/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090823/jsp/calcutta/story_11396536.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 August 2009 |date=2 August 2009 |work=The Telegraph|location=India |access-date=25 August 2015}} A painting called "The Kissing of Abbas Ali Baig", depicting the incident was featured in Salman Rushdie's novel The Moor's Last Sigh (1995).{{cite book |last=Rushdie |first=Salman |authorlink=Salman Rushdie |title=The Moor's Last Sigh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSTQ6kF7IbEC |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-1-4090-5887-8 |page=233}} Baig's success in the 1959/60 season led to him being named as one of Indian Cricket{{'}}s five "Cricketers of the Year".{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/Overall/Indian_Cricket_Cricketers_of_the_Year.html |title=Indian Cricket Cricketers of the Year |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=23 March 2009 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823025956/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/Overall/Indian_Cricket_Cricketers_of_the_Year.html |url-status=live }}

In the following season, Baig had an unsuccessful outing against Pakistan, managing to score just 34 runs in four innings. This led to him being dropped from the side for the subsequent series. During this time, it was said he received hate mail for under-performing against fellow Muslims.{{Sfn|Astill|2013|p=114}} However, he was impressive in the domestic circuit, scoring heavily in the Ranji and Duleep Trophy tournaments. In 1966, he was included in the team for the home series against West Indies. Baig scored 48 runs in two of the Tests he played in the series. He was dropped again and never played Test cricket again. He almost made it to the squad for the 1971 tour of West Indies before being dropped. He was selected in the Indian team that toured England in 1971.

Baig's three younger brothers—Murtuza Baig, Mazhar Baig, and Mujtaba Baig—all played cricket at a high level. Murtuza played first-class cricket for Hyderabad but was less successful than Abbas.{{Sfn|Ramnarayan|2015|pp=140–141}}

Notes

References

Bibliography

{{cite book |last=Ramnarayan |first=V. |title=Third Man: Recollections from a life in cricket |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qr16BwAAQBAJ |year=2015 |publisher=Westland |isbn=978-93-84030-82-7 }}
{{cite book |last=Astill |first=James |title=The Great Tamasha: Cricket, Corruption and the Turbulent Rise of Modern India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6IRVMNzNJpIC |year=2013 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-4081-9220-7 }}