The much awaited fifth and final Test match is upon us Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series, Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) paid tribute to the two legendary Indian spinners, highlighting their significant contribution to the sport.
Two legends were honored at the SCG
SCG honored two legendary figures in cricket. Bishan Singh Bedi and Shivlal Yadavfor his great contributions to the sport. Both the players have etched their names in the annals of cricket history, especially for their magnificent performances in test matches at this iconic venue.
It should be noted that, as a tradition, there are calico rolls from the score card in the dressing room of the visiting team. By honoring these legends, the SCG not only celebrates their individual brilliance, but highlights their influence on some of the most memorable moments in Test cricket played on its historic ground.
“As a tradition at the SCG, the living room has the original calico rolls from the SCG scoreboard which stood behind the mound from 1924 to 1984. Bedi and Yadav are the two names that feature in the Indian dressing room. New Year Exam” wrote SCG on X (formerly Twitter).
In keeping with tradition at the SCG, the living room features original calico rolls from the SCG scoreboard, which stood behind the mound from 1924 to 1984.
Bedi and Yadav are the two names featured in the dressing room for the New Year test in India 🏏 pic.twitter.com/HucIujDcpn
– Sydney Cricket Ground (@scg) January 2, 2025
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Spin maestro
Known for his classic left-arm orthodox spin, Bedi was one of the architects of India’s spin bowling legacy. His performance at the SCG during the Golden Jubilee Test in 1977-78 is particularly memorable. Bedi’s magical control and guile saw him claim 12 wickets in the match, which included a career-best 7 for 52 in the first innings. His ability to spin the ball sharply, variations in flight and pace made him one of the toughest bowlers to face, especially on the infrequent turning tracks at the SCG.
The other spinner to be mentioned is expected to be Shivlal, although lesser known globally than Bedi, whose performances have been very important for India in the recent past. Although the specific details of his Test performances at the SCG are not as widely documented, Shivlal is known for his unique style of bowling that combines orthodox spin with modern variations.