42 all out!

46 years ago, India were bundled out for just 42 runs in 17 overs in the second Test against England at Lord's, their lowest total of all-time. Fast bowlers Geoff Arnold and Chris Old picked up all the nine wickets to fall, with Bhagwath Chandrasekhar being absent hurt. The Ajit Wadekar-led side lost the encounter by a massive margin of an innings and 285 runs and went on to lose the three-match series 0-3.

BACKGROUND

With the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath and Wadekar, and the famous spin quartet, India were on a decent run at the start of the '70s. India won a Test series in West Indies and England in 1971, and then once again got the better of England in 1972-73 at home.

Under the leadership of Wadekar, India had a solid team but things didn't quite go as planned when they toured England in 1974. They lost the first Test by 113 runs in Manchester but Gavaskar and India did put up a fight.

In the second Test, over the course of the first two days, England amassed 629 runs in 182.5 overs in their second innings. Opener Dennis Amiss top-scored with 188, while Mike Denness and Tony Greig too made centuries.

In reply, the likes of Gavaskar (49), Farokh Engineer (86), Viswanath (52) and Eknath Solkar (43) all got good starts but not one of them could convert it into a big score. By the end of Day 3, India were bowled out for 302 in their first innings, and following on 327 runs behind, were two for no loss at stumps.

THE DEMOLITION

With still two days of cricket left, India had to put up a staggering fight to save the Test and they had batsmen who were very much capable of playing long innings. The Indian batsmen however looked clueless against Arnold and Old and could only bat out 17 overs.

Engineer was the first man to be dismissed as he was caught in right in front of the stumps off the bowling of Arnold. Meanwhile, captain Wadekar was knocked over for just 3 by Old. Arnold then got rid of the Karnataka lads Viswanath and Brijesh Patel and India were reduced to 14 for 4.

Gavaskar was still at the crease and managed to survive for 26 deliveries before he became Arnold's fourth and final victim.

India lost their top five wickets inside 30 minutes with Arnold cleaning up the top order. It was then Old's time to take over as the right-arm paceman got rid of Syed Abid Ali, Madan Lal, Erapalli Prasanna and Bishan Singh Bedi in the space of a few overs to complete his five-wicket haul.

Old finished with figures of 5 for 21, while Arnold, who was only called into the side as a replacement for Bob Willis, claimed 4 for 19. Chandrasekhar, who was injured while bowling, didn't come out to bat and England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Solkar, who made 18, was the only Indian batsman to reach double figures.

WHAT FOLLOWED?

This was the lowest Test total of all-time at Lord's and the record stood till 2019 before Ireland were blown away for just 38 at this very venue.

India then lost the third Test by an innings and 78 runs with David Lloyd scoring an unbeaten double century, as England completed a 3-0 whitewash over the visitors. India also played two ODIs but again ended up losing both of them.