Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Srinivas Venkataraghavan
female =


country = India
fullname = Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan
nickname = Venkat
living = true
dayofbirth = 21
monthofbirth = 4
yearofbirth = 1945
placeofbirth = Madras
countryofbirth = India
dayofdeath =
monthofdeath =
yearofdeath =
placeofdeath =
countryofdeath =
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Right-hand
bowling = Right-arm off break
role = Bowler, Umpire
international = true
testdebutdate = 27 February
testdebutyear = 1965
testdebutagainst = New Zealand
testc

lasttestdate = 24 September
lasttestyear = 1983
lasttestagainst = Pakistan
odidebutdate = 13 July
odidebutyear = 1974
odidebutagainst = England
odic

lastodidate = 7 April
lastodiyear = 1983
lastodiagainst = West Indies
odishirt =
club1 = Tamil Nadu
year1 = 1970-1985
clubnumber1 =
club2 = Derbyshire
year2 = 1973-1975
clubnumber2 =
club3 = Madras
year3 = 1963-1970
umpire = true
testsumpired = 73
umptestdebutyr = 1993
umptestlastyr = 2004
odisumpired = 52
umpodidebutyr = 1993
umpodilastyr = 2003
columns = 4
deliveries = balls
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 57
runs1 = 748
bat avg1 = 11.68
100s/50s1 = 0/2
top score1 = 64
deliveries1 = 14877
wickets1 = 156
bowl avg1 = 36.11
fivefor1 = 3
tenfor1 = 1
best bowling1 = 8/72
catches/stumpings1 = 44/–
column2 = ODI
matches2 = 15
runs2 = 54
bat avg2 = 10.80
100s/50s2 = –/–
top score2 = 26*
deliveries2 = 868
wickets2 = 5
bowl avg2 = 108.40
fivefor2 = –
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 2/34
catches/stumpings2 = 4/–
column3 = FC
matches3 = 341
runs3 = 6617
bat avg3 = 17.73
100s/50s3 = 1/24
top score3 = 137
deliveries3 = 83548
wickets3 = 1390
bowl avg3 = 24.14
fivefor3 = 85
tenfor3 = 21
best bowling3 = 9/93
catches/stumpings3 = 316/–
column4 = LA
matches4 = 71
runs4 = 346
bat avg4 = 11.16
100s/50s4 = 0/0
top score4 = 26*
deliveries4 = 3985
wickets4 = 64
bowl avg4 = 35.34
fivefor4 = 0
tenfor4 = n/a
best bowling4 = 4/31
catches/stumpings4 = 29/–
date = 14 August
year = 2007
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1260/1260.html cricketarchive.com

Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan audio|Srinivas_Venkataraghavan.ogg|pronunciation, also known by his nickname of Venkat, (born 21 April 1945, in Madras) was formerly a cricketer. He played for Derbyshire in English county cricket. He played Test cricket for the Indian cricket team, and later became an umpire on the elite International Cricket Council Test panel.

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 was also an excellent close in fielder and a useful tail end bat. Venkat burst on the test scene at the age of 20 when he was selected to play against the touring New Zealand side. By the end of the series he had emerged as a world class spinner, taking 12 wickets in the Delhi test that led India to victory. He was the vice captain of the Indian team that toured the West Indies and England in 1970-71. India won both series and created history in the process. 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 also led 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. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2003. He is a mechanical engineer by profession.

Umpiring career

Venkat made his international umpiring debut in the One Day International between India and England at Jaipur on January 18th 1993. He made his Test umpiring debut in the same month, with the match between India and England at Kolkata. He gained a place on the inaugural International Umpire Panel when it was formed in 1994, and was selected by the International Cricket Council on a regular basis to umpire in test matches away from home as the neutral umpire. In 2002 the ICC created an Elite Panel of the top eight umpires, who were employed on a full time basis and would cover all Test match officiating. Venkat was duly included in the inaugural Elite Panel, of which he remained a member until his retirement in January 2004. That he remained among the top echelon of international umpires for the entirety of his career is testament to his umpiring ability.

He was renowned for his bent-elbow gesture for out, and also for giving decisions very quickly. He was a stickler for the rules, but was not officious, and this was an important skill that brought him immediate respect. He was also very accurate in his decision making, and this too brought him the respect of the players and spectators alike.

The highlights of his umpiring career include 6 Ashes Tests and appointments to three World Cups in 1996, 1999 and 2003. In both the 1996 and 1999 tournaments he was appointed to stand in a semi-final, and was the third umpire of the 1999 World Cup final between Australia and Pakistan at Lord's. In total he officiated on-field in 73 Test matches and 52 One-day Internationals during his career.

Umpiring Statistics

External links

*cricinfo|ref=india/content/player/35656.html

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