Cotah Ramaswami
Encyclopedia
Cotah Ramaswami - sometimes written as Cota or Cotar - (born June 16, 1896, Madras
- presumed dead (possibly January 1990)) was a double sports international who represented India
in both cricket
and tennis.
, often considered the father of Indian cricket in Madras. His two brothers, son and four nephews all played first class cricket.
When the only brother of his mother died young, Ramaswami was given in adoption to his maternal grandfather, which led to his family name being different from that of his brothers http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/684/684.html.
He studied in Wesley High School, Wesley College and the Presidency. On one occasion while at Wesley, he put on more than 200 runs for the last wicket to win a match after his team was 50 for nine, himself scoring 188*.
in 1919 where he studied until 1923. In the summer of 1920, he won singles the Doherty Cup tournament open to all students in the university. He won a 'half blue' that year, representing Cambridge in the doubles, and earned a blue in 1921. On a tour of Holland, he won the singles and the doubles, partnering S. M. Hadi
- another future first class cricketer.
In 1922, Ramaswami represented India in the Davis Cup
with Dr. A. H. Fyzee and A. A. Fayzee. India defeated Romania in the first round at Bristol
but lost to Spain in Beckenham
. Ramaswami played only in the doubles partnering Dr. Fayzee and won both his matches. The Spanish pair of Comte de Gomar and Flaquer, whom they beat in five sets, went on to play the doubles finals at Wimbledon
in 1923.
Ramaswami is one of two Indian cricketing double internationals, the other being M. J. Gopalan
.
His two appearances in Test matches came in England in 1936 when he was already 40. He wrote later in his autobiography that he was picked for non-cricketing reasons. Though well past his prime at the time, he scored 40 and 60 on debut and ended his career with an average of 56. He was a left-handed batsman and an attacking player. Ramaswami played for Hindus against Arthur Gilligan
's MCC
team in 1926-27 and scored 83 against Jack Ryder's Australian Services XI in 1935-36.
After the end of his career, he served as a selector, and manager to the Indian team to West Indies in 1952-53. His Ramblings of a Games Addict is one of the earliest autobiographies in Indian cricket. Ramaswami married Lakshmi Chaya Devi in 1928. He had two sons, Ram Swarup and Lakshman Swarup, and a daughter, Shantha Devi. Ram Swarup represented Madras
and Andhra
in first class cricket.
listed him as 'presumed dead' from 1988 to 1991. When doubts were raised about his fate, this was removed in 1992 but brought back in 1996. In the more recent editions, he has the status 'd. unknown'.
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
- presumed dead (possibly January 1990)) was a double sports international who represented India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in both cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and tennis.
Family and early life
Ramaswami came from one of the leading sports families in India. He was the youngest son of Buchi Babu NaiduBuchi Babu Naidu
Buchi Babu Nayudu was an Indian Cricketer, known as the Father of Chennai Cricket, who established the Madras Presidency Matches.- Early life :...
, often considered the father of Indian cricket in Madras. His two brothers, son and four nephews all played first class cricket.
When the only brother of his mother died young, Ramaswami was given in adoption to his maternal grandfather, which led to his family name being different from that of his brothers http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/684/684.html.
He studied in Wesley High School, Wesley College and the Presidency. On one occasion while at Wesley, he put on more than 200 runs for the last wicket to win a match after his team was 50 for nine, himself scoring 188*.
Cambridge
He joined Cambridge UniversityUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1919 where he studied until 1923. In the summer of 1920, he won singles the Doherty Cup tournament open to all students in the university. He won a 'half blue' that year, representing Cambridge in the doubles, and earned a blue in 1921. On a tour of Holland, he won the singles and the doubles, partnering S. M. Hadi
Syed Mohammad Hadi
Syed Mohammad Hadi was one of the most gifted pioneering athletes of India. He not only represented India in cricket and tennis, but was also proficient in field hockey, soccer, table tennis, chess, and polo...
- another future first class cricketer.
In 1922, Ramaswami represented India in the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
with Dr. A. H. Fyzee and A. A. Fayzee. India defeated Romania in the first round at Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
but lost to Spain in Beckenham
Beckenham
Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is located 8.4 miles south east of Charing Cross and 1.75 miles west of Bromley town...
. Ramaswami played only in the doubles partnering Dr. Fayzee and won both his matches. The Spanish pair of Comte de Gomar and Flaquer, whom they beat in five sets, went on to play the doubles finals at Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
in 1923.
Ramaswami is one of two Indian cricketing double internationals, the other being M. J. Gopalan
M. J. Gopalan
Morappakam Josyam Gopalan was a sportsman who represented India in cricket and hockey....
.
Career in India
Ramaswami returned to Madras in January 1924 and joined the Agricultural Department as an Officer. He served in different parts of the Madras Presidency in the next 24 years.His two appearances in Test matches came in England in 1936 when he was already 40. He wrote later in his autobiography that he was picked for non-cricketing reasons. Though well past his prime at the time, he scored 40 and 60 on debut and ended his career with an average of 56. He was a left-handed batsman and an attacking player. Ramaswami played for Hindus against Arthur Gilligan
Arthur Gilligan
Arthur Edward Robert Gilligan was an English cricketer who played for Cambridge University, Sussex, Surrey and England....
's MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
team in 1926-27 and scored 83 against Jack Ryder's Australian Services XI in 1935-36.
After the end of his career, he served as a selector, and manager to the Indian team to West Indies in 1952-53. His Ramblings of a Games Addict is one of the earliest autobiographies in Indian cricket. Ramaswami married Lakshmi Chaya Devi in 1928. He had two sons, Ram Swarup and Lakshman Swarup, and a daughter, Shantha Devi. Ram Swarup represented Madras
Tamil Nadu cricket team
The Tamil Nadu Cricket Team ; , competes in the Super League of the Ranji Trophy, the top cricketing competition in India. The team finished as runners-up behind Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons establishing themselves as one of the strongest teams in the country...
and Andhra
Andhra Pradesh cricket team
The Andhra cricket team is an Indian domestic cricket team representing the coastal areas of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is, one of two teams representing the people of Andhra Pradesh, the other team being the Hyderabad cricket team, which represents the Talangana Telangana.It has...
in first class cricket.
Disappearance
Ramaswami left his home in Adyar on the morning of October 15, 1985 and never returned. There have been occasional rumours about him being sighted. WisdenWisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
listed him as 'presumed dead' from 1988 to 1991. When doubts were raised about his fate, this was removed in 1992 but brought back in 1996. In the more recent editions, he has the status 'd. unknown'.