Lala Amarnath, the first cricket captain of independent India and one of the game`s more flamboyant characters, died in New Delhi on Saturday after a long illness. Amarnath, 88, was confined to bed for the past month after surgery to repair a hip fracture, family members said. He is survived by three sons, two of whom, Surinder and Mohinder, played Test cricket for India. A dashing all rounder who bowled with a unique wrong-foot action, Amarnath played 24 Tests on either side of India`s independence from British rule in He scored 878 runs and claimed 45 wickets, starting his career in 1933 with a superb 118 against England, the first three-figure knock by an Indian in Test cricket.Amarnath`s tactical genius -- his ability to read wickets was legendary -- was matched by his ferocious temper and outspoken nature. Amarnath walked out of an England tour in 1936 after clashing with his captain, the ruler of Viziagram, a mediocre player whose only claim to the captaincy was his royal ancestry. He returned as captain for the Australian tour in 1947 where he notched up a double century against Victoria. Amarnath led India to a 2-1 win in their first clash against Pakistan in 1952, before retiring at the end of that series. He later became a popular radio and television commentator while grooming his three sons for international cricket.
Report : Zeenext Bureau