Jasubhai Patel or better known as 'Jasu' Patel was born on November 26, 1924. Patel bowled quickish off-spin with a whippy action. He could also bowl a decent drifter. He was known for his skills on matting wickets.

Even now fans fondly rekindle memories of Patel taking 14 wickets in a Test match against Australia in Kanpur in 1959. In fact, Patel, who until then had just played a mere four Tests was a surprise selection. It was Lala Amarnath, the then chief selector, who picked him as he believed that the deck in Kanpur which was watered would suit his style of bowling. However, for a period of time, the Australians, who had dominated that series continued to steamroll India in Kanpur.

Alan Davidson and Richie Benaud combined together to skittle out India for a paltry total in the first innings. Colin McDonald and Neil Harvey then took the tourists to a position of strength with the bat. Patel himself looked lost for ideas. However, once Patel started to bowl on the footmarks created by Davidson, the left-arm swing bowler, he started to bowl with vim and vigour.

He extracted a lot of turn and uneven bounce to account for the wickets of McDonald and Harvey. Australia soon collapsed in a heap and were bowled out for a score of just over 200. In the second innings, the off-spinner was again at it, as he took a five-for and returned a rich haul of 14 for 124 in that Test. Patel, who was already 35 then just played a couple more Tests for the country.

Patel was a fine performer for Gujarat in the domestic circuit and played for them until the 1961-62 season. Patel is also the first ever cricketer to be honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri.

By Bharath Ramaraj