The authorities of the time firmly believed he (Mushtaq) ran
afoul of them and always marked him out.
He also often played on their fragile egos and they always looked
for a chance to discard him.
Yet, the Indore-born Mushtaq Ali saab was worth much more than
his sub-total of runs -- playing his early cricket on matting
wickets gave him a feel for shots square of the wicket.
Also, a lack of proper protection then meant he had to develop
his footwork to an extra-ordinary degree.
Tall, loose-limbed, nifty, quick of eye and swift of feet, S.M.
Ali began his Test career as a left-arm spin bowler, who batted
at No. 7.
However, he opened in the second innings (on debut) following
an injury to the regular opener -- Dilawar Hussain.
Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Merchant came together to open at Old Trafford
in 1936, in the second innings of that Test.
They shared a stand of 203 with the former scoring 112 and the
latter 114.
During his 112 -- the first century by an Indian in an overseas
Test, the controversial Mushtaq dazzled the crowd with his patented
shots -- the pull, cut, drive and leg -- play off the fast bowlers.
The Merchant-Mushtaq association averaged 83.43, on either side
of the War; he and Merchant did not, however, tour Australia in
1947/48, for various reasons.
For more than 50 years, Mushtaq Ali kept silent over all matters
that affected him cricket-wise, and which reduced his career internationally,
although he played first class cricket until 1963.
When he died at his home in Indore, he was celebrated as one of
cricket’s truest gentlemen -- tributes poured in from all
over the sub-continent and overseas.
In England in 1936, he scored 1,078 runs, hitting four hundreds.
Against the West Indies in 1948/49, when he came back as an opener
for the Third Test at Calcutta, he stroked a fine 54 an 106.
In a long and successful career in the Ranji Trophy competition,
he made well over 5,000 runs, with 17 centuries -- highest being
233 against United Province in the 1947/48 season.
In a 34-year career at first class level, Mushtaq Ali saab made
13,0009 runs (average 34.78) hitting 30 centuries and took 155
wickets at 29.47 apiece.
Mushtaq Ali is gone -- yes! ...
But he is not forgotten!
Jai Hind!
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