On 20 February 1968 at Carisbrook, Dunedin, India beat New Zealand by five wickets to win their first overseas Test in 12 attempts. They went on to take the four-Test series 3-1 — India's first away series win in cricket history. Captain Pataudi played three spinners (Prasanna, Bedi and Nadkarni) on every ground and was rewarded with 22 wickets from Erapalli Prasanna alone.
India had been an established Test team since 1932 but had never won a Test series outside the subcontinent. Twelve overseas series — eight in England, two in Australia, two in West Indies — had produced no series wins. The 1967-68 tours of Australia and New Zealand were the most ambitious back-to-back trips ever undertaken by India.
India had been beaten 4-0 in Australia immediately before. Several frontline batsmen were injured. New Zealand were not strong but had home advantage and a settled side.
India had toured Australia immediately before New Zealand, losing 4-0. Several leading players — Borde, Manjrekar, Sardesai — had broken down injured. The squad that crossed the Tasman to New Zealand was depleted, untested, and given little chance by the visiting press.
Pataudi's tactical approach was unconventional. New Zealand's pitches were expected to favour seam; the Indian thinking had always been that a touring side needed at least three quicks. Pataudi played three spinners regardless. Prasanna's off-spin would do the bulk of the work; Bedi's left-arm orthodox would attack from the other end; Bapu Nadkarni's tight left-arm spin would dry up runs and create pressure. The all-rounders Surti and Joshi handled the new ball.
The first Test at Dunedin was the breakthrough. New Zealand made 350; India 359. Prasanna took 6 for 94 in the second innings to bowl New Zealand out for 208. India needed 200 to win and got there for the loss of five wickets, with Wadekar making 71 and Pataudi 22. The Carisbrook stands held a fair contingent of Indian students from Otago University; their celebrations after the winning runs were captured by New Zealand television.
New Zealand levelled the series at Christchurch. India then won at Wellington and Auckland to take the series 3-1. Wadekar was the leading run-scorer with 328 at 65.60; Prasanna the leading wicket-taker with 22 at 18.81. Pataudi himself contributed 339 runs at 56.50. The flight home from Auckland was met at Bombay airport by tens of thousands of supporters. The Indian Cricket Board declared a national day of celebration. Pataudi was 27.
15 Feb 1968: First Test begins at Dunedin.
18 Feb 1968: Prasanna takes 6/94 in second innings.
20 Feb 1968: India win by five wickets — first overseas Test win.
Mar 1968: New Zealand level series at Christchurch.
Mar 1968: India win at Wellington and Auckland; series 3-1.
Mar 1968: Team welcomed at Bombay airport by tens of thousands.
Dec 1967
India lose 4-0 in Australia.
15 Feb 1968
First Test at Dunedin begins.
20 Feb 1968
India win first Test by five wickets.
Mar 1968
Series won 3-1.
“We had to play to our strengths, and our strengths were spin. New Zealand made it possible.”
Pataudi held the captaincy until 1970. India's overseas record continued to improve through the 1971 series wins in West Indies and England under Wadekar — a continuation of the tactical template Pataudi had built. New Zealand themselves did not become a strong Test team until the early 1970s.
The 1968 New Zealand tour was the proof of concept for Pataudi's India. The captain's faith in spin, in lower-order batsmen and in the strategic patience to play long Tests overseas was vindicated. The series was the foundation for the great India of the early 1970s.
The 1968 series is enshrined as India's first away win and the foundation of every overseas success since. Prasanna's 22 wickets, Wadekar's 328 runs and Pataudi's leadership are the canonical references; Bedi and Chandrasekhar (absent for this tour) would soon make the spin quartet world-famous.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.