India and its love for spin bowling is well known as the nation has produced some amazing tweakers in the last few decades. Ghulam Ahmed was one such spinner who could turn the ball on a glass top as the saying goes.
Ghulam Ahmed was from Hyderabad and he made his Test debut at the age of 27 before playing his final game a decade later. His debut and his final incidentally came at the same ground in Kolkata.
In his 22-game career, Ghulam Ahmed picked 68 wickets with four fifers and one occasion where he picked ten wickets in a game. In the first-class format, he played 98 matches and picked 407 wickets with a best of 9/53.
Here are the top 3 Ghulam Ahmed performances in test cricket
3- 5/100 vs England – Leeds -1952
Ghulam Ahmed wasn’t just a good spinner at home but also an amazing bowler away from home. During the Leeds Test in 1952, he picked 5/100 with the wickets of Len Lutton and Dennis Compton amongst his scalps. India batted first and scored 289 with Vijay Manjrekar scoring 133 and Vijay Hazare scoring 89. England scored 334 before India were bowled out for 165 in their 2nd dig. England won the game by 7 wickets with Ghulam Ahmed picking 2 more wickets in the second outing.
2- 5-70 vs England -Kanpur -1952
Just a few months before India toured England, they had hosted the English for a series at home. In the 4th Test at Kanpur, India were bowled out for 121 in the 1st innings. Ghulam Ahmed restricted the lead to 82 after his 5/70 bowled out the visitors for 203. India though fared much worse in the 2nd innings to be dismissed for 157 as England won by 8 wickets.
1- 7/49 vs Australia – Kolkata
Australia came to India for a huge tour in 1956 and trounced the hosts in Kolkata by 94 runs. Ghulam Ahmed ran the show as he picked 7/49 in the 1st innings to bowl out Australia for 177. The Indians were all out for 136 to give the visiting side a lead of 41 runs. In the second innings, Ghulam Ahmed picked 3/81 to end the match with 10/130 as his figures as Australia won by 94 runs.
For more exclusive updates Visit BJSports to access Exclusive News that is only for you, incisive analysis, and updates, and to keep up with all of the latest information on your remarkable cricket favorite players and teams. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!