Hyderabad, Oct. 13 -- Not many people would know that way back in the 1962-63 season, a fast bowler from the West Indies represented Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy championship. His name was Roy Gilchrist, and when he was at his peak, he was considered to be the fastest bowler in the world. But what made him stand out was his unpredictable temper, which was said to be even quicker than his bowling.

The reason for his being in the Hyderabad squad was because of an experiment that was carried out by the BCCI. After the severe 5-0 drubbing that the West Indies handed out to India in the Test series of 1961-62 and the injury suffered by captain Nari Contractor in the same series, it was clear that Indian batsmen were all at sea when facing to...