By Gulu Ezekiel Indian sports writer

India won their first Test series in England under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar in 1971, a feat that has been achieved only once since.

The first two matches were drawn, but India wrapped up the series with a four-wicket win at The Oval.

Q: Following the victory in the West Indies in early 1971, what was the mood in the Indian team when it landed in England later that year?

I was determined to go after Snow to show that he could be hit

Ajit Wadekar

Gavaskar had a disappointing tour

Was this a result of the burden of expectations on him and what kind of effect did it have on the rest of the team?

A: It isn't that Sunny failed, though he may not have scored as much as the public and critics expected of him.

He batted well in the second Test at Old Trafford. In the first Test at Lord's he was shoulder-charged and knocked down by Snow and that may have jolted him a bit.

But it spurred every other batsman on. In fact every batsman save one or two contributed useful runs.

Q: Your 85 in the first Test at Lord's was top score for India in the series. Did it help that you had toured England in 1967?

A: Yes, my earlier experience in England did give me an idea of the English pitches.

I was determined to go after Snow to show to the rest of the team that he could be hit.

The first four bouncers he bowled at me I hit to the boundary. I made substantial contributions in both innings of the third and final Test at the Oval too.

Q: India gained a small first innings lead in the first Test at Lord's for the first time in England since 1936. Was this a boost to the team's confidence?

A: It did give the team that extra psychological edge.

Just as in the West Indies when we asked them to follow-on in the first Test, it boosted our morale and also reduced the level of confidence of our opponents.

Q: England had taken a lead of 71 runs in the third and final Test at the Oval.

John Snow was seen as England's biggest threat

But Chandrasekhar's spell of six for 38 destroyed them in the second innings for 101, paving the way for victory.

What was the most important factor that you feel contributed to Chandra's success?

A: I think Chandra that day was unplayable! No batsman in the world could have faced him comfortably.

The pitch also suited him as it had a little bit of bounce and turn.

He hardly bowled a loose ball in that innings and batsmen found they could neither defend nor attack him.

Q: India were set 173 for victory at the Oval. Was the team always confident of getting to the target?

A: No doubt about it! The moment we got them out for 101 in the second innings I realised that victory was ours.

It is because of that I could sleep so peacefully despite being run-out in the first innings of the final day.

It was England's manager Ken Barrington who woke me up to tell me we had won.

Q: What was the feeling in the team on the fourth evening when India were 76 for two, needing 97 more to win?

The victories had a tremendous effect: now Indian cricketers began to believe in themselves

Ajit Wadekar