Hell at Eden: While there have been many memorable matches at Eden Gardens, it has an ugly side too and it began on New Year’s Day in 1967. India was playing the West Indies and the stadium was house full but authorities decided print tickets in black and get more spectators. So we had 80K when the capacity was 60K.

Also Read: 10 Memorable Tests at Eden Gardens

The spectators kept spilling on to the field and the umpire and fielders were powerless. Police stepped in and they failed. So they resorted to a lathi-charge! Imagine that inside a stadium during a Test! The problem was that one of those hit started bleeding and that led to a full-fledged riot on the ground, no less. The police then upgraded to tear gas. The players had to flee the stadium along with the officials.

But the most shameful part was yet to come. After some burning a canvas, the stands caught fire and then the Indian and West Indian flags were in danger. Conrad Hunte (who made 43 in the match) tried to climb the flagpoles to save both flags and luckily an unnamed local cop took over and did the deed. It was the second day and play was called off and the next day was a rest day.

The Test was in danger of being abandoned and the government had to step in to ensure security. But the last laugh went to the West Indies and they thrashed us by an innings and 45 runs. Eden Gardens saw regular violence in the years to come the most famous being the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka being called off due to crowd violence.

Hell at Eden, Flintoff's bare chest & Test homework!

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