Sunday, April 20, 2014

S. Venkataraghavan - Cricketer


Date of Birth: 21 April, 1945

Venkataraghavan was an off spin bowler. He was one of the famed Indian quartet of spin bowlers in the 1970s (the others being Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Bishen Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna). He had to compete with Prasanna for a place in the team.  He was also a strong close-in fielder and a useful tail-end batsman.  Venkat, at the age of 20 he was selected to play against the touring New Zealand side in 1965. By the end of the series he had emerged as a world-class spinner, taking 12 wickets in the Delhi test that resulted in  India's  victory. He was the vice-captain of the Indian team that toured the West Indies and England in 1970–71. India won both series. Venkat played an important role, claiming five wickets in the Trinidad Test and 13 wickets in the three Tests in England. He captained India in both the 1975 and 1979 World Cup competitions. He was also the captain of  India in a four-Test series against England in 1979. In domestic cricket, he led South Zone and Tamil Nadu for over a decade. Venkat retired from first-class cricket in 1985.

He became a cricket administrator and managed the Indian Test side. Subsequently, he became an international umpire.

He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2003.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/35656.html

Venkataraghavan's 50 Tests as umpire
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2002/01/14/stories/2002011401662000.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinivasaraghavan_Venkataraghavan