Laxman Sivaramakrishnan

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan Biography

Siva or LS as he is popularly known, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan was raised in a household that gave him the freedom to pursue anything that interested him.

A boy who spent his summer days flicking and twirling the tennis ball that helped him strengthen his fingers, took the cricket world by storm by his leg break and googly.

He is always remembered as the sensational debutant when India's spin arsenal depleted after the decline of the very famous quartet.

It was while representing his school he first drew attention as a 12-year-old claiming 7 for 2 in a Madras inter-schools championship game.

At the age of 15, he was the youngest member of the India Under-19 squad that toured Sri Lanka under Ravi Shastri in 1980.

At the age of 16 when he started his domestic career, Siva made an immediate impression. On his debut against Delhi in the quarter final of the 1981-82 Ranji Trophy, he took 7 for 28 in the second innings, in a spell of 11 overs.

This performance of his paved his way for the selection in Duleep Trophy from South Zone against West Zone. And, later went on a tour with the U-22 team to Sri Lanka and England.

Debut

Not yet 17, he was a member of the Indian team that went against arch rival Pakistan in 1982-83.

Siva did not get to play in any of the Tests in the series as India already had Dilip Doshi and Ravi Shastri as prominent bowlers.

However, he gained experience as he played all tour games bowled against the likes of Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad and Wasim Raja.

He became the youngest player to play Test for the Indian team when he made his debut against West Indies at 17 years and 188 days.

Rise to Glory

Siva’s career rose to prominence in 1984-85, when he won a crucial Test match for India with 12 for 181 runs against England at Bombay and by the end of the series he had 23 wickets and the title of man of the series.

His figures of 3 for 35 led India to victory against Pakistan in the final of the World Championship of Cricket in 10 march 1985 in Australia and finished as the highest wicket taker of the tournament.

As the stats speak, Pakistan appears to be his favourite opponent and he yet again tormented the Pak’s batting veterans like Imran Khan and Ashraf Ali, in Sharjah amidst of the crowd chanting the name of their young hero, "Sheeva, Sheeva".

Low Points

Be it his inconsistent performance or extremely predictable variations, he played third fiddle to Shivlal Yadav and Ravi Shastri.

He did tried harder by his improving batting, but despite being one of the architects of Tamil Nadu’ s Ranji Trophy triumph in 1987-88, he was not in the reckoning at the international level any longer by the end of 1987.

He was perhaps the prime example in Indian cricket of talent going astray. Throughout his career he represented India only for 25 times, 9 in Tests and 16 in ODIs.

Retirement

By the end of 1985-86, he bid adieu to the Test side. His last Test was against Australia, in which he went wicketless in the batsmen favoured tracks of Sydney in both the innings.

By the end of the middle of India’s Reliance Cup campaign of 1987, he had played his last ODI as well. His last assignment was against Zimbabwe where he managed to take only 1 wicket.

As a Commentator

Post retirement, Siva turned towards commentary and earned much respected and longer career. Though at many times, he was accused of favouring his certain favourite teams in commentary in IPL but he is a well known as a fiery and bold speaker.

In May 2013, Sivaramakrishnan was named as a player’s representative on the International Cricket Council’s cricket committee.