Pankaj Roy is no more

Pankaj Roy is no more
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

KOLKATA, FEBRUARY 4: Former Indian skipper Pankaj Roy, who held the World record for the highest first wicket patnership along with Vinoo Mankad in Test cricket, died at a city nursing home early Sunday following brief illness, his family said. Roy, 73, left behind his wife and three sons.

One of the most succesful Indian openers, Roy represnted the country in 43 Tests notching up 2442 runs in 79 innings remaining unbeaten on four occasions. Consistency being his forte, Roy had a Test average of 32.56 runs.He struck five tons, 173 being the highest, and scalped one wicket. The prolific cricketer also took 16 catches.

Roy, arguably the best batsman from this part of the country in the days of yore, made his Test debut in the 1951-52 series against England in the first Test at Delhi.

The dependable right-hand batsman reached the pinnacle of his career by scripting a still intact partnership of 413 runs with Mankad against New Zealand in the fifth Test in erstwhile Madras in 1955-56.

Mankad scored 231 while Roy amassed 173.

He led India in the Lords Test against England in 1959.

Born in 1928, Roy played his maiden first class match in 1946 and made 11,868 runs, studded with 33 hundreds, during his 22-year career till 1968.

He captured 21 wickets and took 74 catches in first class matches.

Roy, who was known for his cautious batting style, also had a respectable Ranji Trophy career piling up 5149 runs including 21 centuries.

As the mainstay of Bengal batting line-up, he reached his highest Ranji total of 202 not out against Orissa, in 1963-64.