Birth of Eknath Solkar, the best short-leg fielder to ever grace the game.
The top catchers are usually firmly camped in the slip cordon, but most of Solkar's takes came at forward short leg, where he lurked uncomfortably up close and personal to the batsman. When India beat West Indies for the first time ever, in Port-of-Spain in 1970-71, Solkar equalled the then world record of six catches in a Test. His catches - among them one taken diving full stretch forward - also helped India to victory against England at The Oval in 1971, the team's first Test win in England. Statistically Solkar remains Test cricket's most successful fielder, with 53 catches in just 27 matches - the best ratio of any non-wicketkeeper with 20 or more Tests. He was also a dependable lower-order batsman, and took 18 wickets with his slow medium pace and chinamen. Solkar died in 2005.
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