Vinoo Mankad is an Indian Cricketer who was an excellent batsman and slow left arm orthodox bowler and played 44 Tests for India. Originally named Mulvantrai Himmatlal Mankad, Vinoo Mankad was arguably amongst India`s best all-rounder and his record speaks for itself. In 44 Tests, he scored 2109 runs averaging 31.47 with five Test centuries and a highest score of 231. Bowling wise, he earned 162 wickets at an average of 32.32 inclusive of 8 five-wicket hauls. Mankad became the first Indian to score a century and took 5 wickets in the same match. He achieved this feat against England in 1952 at Lords. Mankad scored 72 in the first innings and followed it up with a lion-hearted bowling effort, 5/196; and he had enough energy left in the tank to notch 184 runs in the India`s second essay. Sadly, despite a flawless effort, he ended up on the losing side as England clinched the game without much trouble.
Vinoo Mankad led India to victory against the same team in Madras (now Chennai) the same year. He took 8/52 in England`s first innings and 4/53 in the second innings; his 12-wicket match haul meant India inflicted their first Test defeat on England. Mankad`s highest score of 231 against New Zealand in 1956 at Chennai was part of a historic effort. He had Pankaj Roy put together a world record opening partnership of 413 runs, a record, which stands till date. His 231 were also the highest Test score of India until Sunil Gavaskar overtook it.
A controversy related to Mankad happened during India`s tour of Australia in 1947/48. He ran out Bill Brown because he was backing up too far. As per the rules those days, the batsmen were not allowed to leave his crease unless the ball has left the bowler`s hand. Mankad found that Brown was not adhering to this and took out the bails in his run-up with batsman out of his crease. A very rare occurrence in cricket, this dismissal is termed as Mankading.
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