Obituary: Ghulam Ahmed

GHULAM AHMED was a tall, slim off-spinner who, with the left-arm all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, formed a potent spin partnership for India in the 1950s. His smooth action enabled him to bowl long spells, while his clever flighting and shrewd variations of pace, length and line brought him comparisons, on helpful surfaces, with Jim Laker. He was also a useful tail-end batsman.

He made his debut, when 17, for Hyderabad, the Second World War interrupting his further progress so that he did not appear in Test cricket until 1948 when he was chosen for the Third Test in Calcutta on West Indies' inaugural tour. Ghulam Ahmed returned the respectable match figures of 6-181 in a high- scoring match and also had decent figures in the fifth Test in Bombay.

He next appeared when England toured in 1951-52, he and Mankad being chosen for the fourth Test in the hope of spinning out England on a turning pitch in Kanpur. The plan backfired, the Lancashire spinners Roy Tattersall and Malcolm Hilton bringing England an easy victory.

However Ghulam Ahmed did take 4-77 in England's second innings in Madras, where India were able to level the series. His place on the tour to England the following summer was assured. England appointed their first professional captain, Len Hutton, and it was Hutton who launched the new fast bowler, Freddie Trueman, upon the Indian order, second innings, downhill and with the wind, midway through the Saturday afternoon in Leeds.

Their first four wickets fell for no runs in 15 deliveries, Trueman taking three in eight balls. Ghulam Ahmed, batting number 11, was third highest scorer, stumped off the legspinner Roly Jenkins, for 14. He also had a successful tour as a bowler.

India went home to start their third series in a year in October as Pakistan made their first tour, Abdul Hafeez Kardar and Amir Elahi being the first to have appeared for both countries. Ghulam Ahmed contributed 50 to a stand of 109 for the last wicket, with Hemu Adhikari, in Delhi. India won the series 2-1, the last two matches being drawn, Kardar setting India 97 to win in 15 minutes in Calcutta.

The rise of the leg-spinner "Fergie" Gupte meant Ghulam Ahmed spent the rest of his international career reserved for home series, playing against New Zealand and Australia, taking 10-130 against the latter in Calcutta in November 1956.

Ghulam Ahmed had captained India against New Zealand in Hyderabad in 1955 and also led twice against West Indies in 1958-59, after which he retired, having taken 407 first-class wickets at 22.57. He was then appointed secretary to the Board of Control and when India won the World Cup in 1983 was the chairman of selectors. From 1951 to 1957 he held the record for the greatest number of balls bowled in an innings, 555 for Hyderabad against Holkar.

Ghulam Ahmed, cricketer: born 4 July 1922; married (three children); died Hyderabad, India 29 October 1998.