Will the sun shine for India at ‘mostly overcast’ Old Trafford?

Eyeing their first win at Old Trafford In nine Tests India have played at this venue, they have never managed to beat England. Here's a blast from the past

- Ashis Ray [e-mail]

Sir Neville Cardus, the doyen of cricket scribes, once lamented 'the sun never shines at Old Trafford'. If the BBC forecast is to be believed, it could rain on the first and last days and be mostly overcast in between, with a maximum temperature of 23 degrees. In effect, characteristically English summer conditions, which the touring Indian cricketers haven't encountered in the first three Test matches.

Kumar Sri Ranjitsinhji, prince of Nawanagar, now Jamnagar, became the first England batsman to score 100 runs in a session — that, too, on his Test debut —at Old Trafford in 1896. His magical batting evoked a description of ‘esoteric legerdemain’.

For India, Vijay Merchant and Mushtaq Ali in 1936 nailed hundreds to post 203 runs for the first wicket. Sunil Gavaskar in 1974 battled seamers under scowling skies to record a remarkable century. But it was bright and sunny when Sandip Patil pummelled the late Bob Willis for six fours in an over in 1982; and when India knocked England out of the 1983 World Cup. In 1990, a 17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar caused a sensation with a match-saving, unbeaten 119.

Next week, the Indian team descend on this second oldest Test ground in England - which has hosted the highest level of the sport since 1884. India, though, have never won a Test at this venue, losing four times in nine appearances.