Former India offspinner Muddiah dies

VM Muddiah, the former India offspinner who had been ailing after suffering a stroke, has died in Bangalore aged 80. He played two Tests in 1959-60 and was also part of the squad for the 1959 tour of England, taking 30 wickets in the matches against the counties but failing to make the side for the Tests. His Test appearances were curtailed due to the great spin trio of the fifties - offspinner Ghulam Ahmed, allrounder Vinoo Mankad, and legspinner Subhash Gupte.

Muddiah had plenty of success on the domestic circuit during a 13-year first-class career with Services, Karnataka (formerly Mysore) and Hyderabad. He made a dramatic entry to high-level cricket, grabbing 8 for 54 in the first innings of his Ranji Trophy debut in 1949. He finished with 175 first-class wickets at 23.76, including ten five-fors and one ten-wicket haul. A proud Air Force man, he retired as a Wing Commander, most of his domestic career was with Services. He took a hat-trick for them against Eastern Punjab in 1955-56.

He is survived by his wife Malathi, two daughters and a son.