Rusi Surti

After an uncertain start to his Test career, when he was more out than in the Indian team, Rusi Surti in the mid and late sixties was a pillar of strength to the side with his all round qualities. A sound left hand batsman, a left arm bowler who could bowl either medium pace or spinners and an outstanding fieldsman, Surti rendered valuable service almost throughout the sixties. In his second Test he scored 64, going in at No 3 and put on 107 runs for the second wicket with Nari Contractor against Pakistan at New Delhi in 1960-61. But he was promptly forgotten till the 1962 tour of West Indies when he came good scoring 246 runs in the five Tests. He then made a few sporadic appearances but it was not until the 1966-67 series against West Indies that he consolidated his place in the side. On the tour of England in 1967 he suffered crucial injuries but he really peaked on the tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1967-68. On the tour he scored more runs than anyone else (967 at 37.19) and also took 42 wickets (29.73). In the eight Tests he was the most successful run getter scoring 688 runs (45.50) and taking 22 wickets. Against Australia alone his all round skills brought him 367 runs and 15 wickets. In the fourth and final Test at Auckland, he was out for 99 which remained his highest Test score.

Back home, Surti played two Tests against New Zealand and one against Australia in 1969-70. By this time however he was representing Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and remained out of contention thereafter. In the Ranji Trophy, he was a pillar of strength for Rajasthan and Gujarat, scoring 2293 runs (32.75) with a highest score of 246 not out for Rajasthan against Uttar Pradesh in 1959-60. In a first class career that stretched from 1956 to 1973, Surti scored 8066 runs (30.90) with six hundreds and took 285 wickets (36.94). (Partab Ramchand)