Surendra Nath

One of the many cricketers who did not get their due from the selectors, Surendra Nath was a tireless medium pacer who could swing the ball prodigously. His bowling was ideally suited to English conditions and he was a success on the 1959 tour when he took 79 wickets in first-class games, next only to Subash Gupte's 95. He played in all five Tests, heading the Test averages with 16 wickets (26.62) and taking five wickets in an innings at both Old Trafford and the Oval. He did well at home too. Against Australia in 1959-60 he bowled both the openers McDonald and Favell. Against Pakistan in 1960-61, he was outstanding in the third Test at Calcutta, when he used the conditions very effectively. He picked up 4 for 93 from 46 overs in the first innings. In the next Test at Madras, however, he was less successful and was promptly discarded for good. He certainly deserved better.

Surendra Nath however continued to play in the Ranji Trophy until 1969. He took 178 wickets (20.67) in the national competition. In a first-class career that started in 1955, he took 284 wickets (24.95).
Partab Ramchand