Raman Surendranath was a medium-pace swing bowler. He became the well known face in Indian Cricket scenario after he got a grand success in the tour of England in the year 1959. Early Life of Raman Surendranath Raman Surendranath was born on 4th January 1937. He was hailing from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. Raman Surendranath was an army officer by profession in independent India. He played the domestic cricket for Army Services extended from 1955-1956 to 1968-1969. He came to national prominence in Indian cricket Hemisphere in 1958-1959 when, playing for Services, he dismissed the first three West Indian batsmen in a tour match. Early Career of Raman Surendranath Raman Surendranath followed that up with 6 for 10 against Patiala Cricket Team, and was selected for the Third Test. He took 2 for 168 in the only West Indies innings, the only Indian bowler to take more than one wicket. Raman Surendranath then took 7 for 14 and 6 for 62 against Indian Railways, and retained his position for the Fourth Test. This time Raman Surendranath took no wicket in another big West Indian victory, and he lost his place for the Fifth Test. Later Career of Raman Surendranath After having a successive career in domestic matches in India, he entered in the international test career. On the Tour of England in the year 1959, he opened the bowling with Ramakant Desai in all five Tests, and took 16 wickets at 26.62 to lead the Indian bowling averages. In the Fourth Test he took 5 for 115 off 47.1 overs in the first innings, and in the Fifth he took 5 for 75 off 51.3 overs in England's only innings, as well as making his highest Test score of 27, adding 58 for the eighth wicket with Naren Tamhane after India had been 74 for 7 in their first innings. He played the first two Tests against Australia Cricket team in 1959-1960 but took only two wickets and was omitted from the Test side. After taking 6 for 34 to dismiss Delhi on the first morning of their Ranji Trophy match in December 1960, he returned to the Test team for the Third and Fourth Tests against Pakistan Cricket Team in 1960-1961. He had figures of 46-20-93-4 in the first innings of the Third Test, when he once again formed the opening attack with Desai, but took only two more wickets in the next three innings and lost his place again. He scored his only first-class century in 1961-1962, 119 against Southern Punjab Cricket team, but only 187 runs at 15.58 in the whole season. He also took 22 wickets at 28.04, but was unable to force his way back into the Test team. He played irregularly thereafter, but in five Ranji Trophy matches in 1967-1968. There he took 25 wickets at 13.44 average helping Services reach the semi-finals. In the final zonal match, when Services needed at least a first-innings victory to overtake Railways Cricket Team and make the finals, he took 7 for 59 to dismiss Indian Railways for 114 in reply to Services' 207. Raman Surendranath died on May 4 in the year 2012, after prolonged illness. |