Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, born on December 31, in 1965, at Madras (now Chennai), is a retired Indian cricketer. He was primarily a right arm leg-spinner and a right-handed batsman. Currently, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has become a Cricket Commentator. Famously known as LS and Siva, he had represented India only in Tests. Laxman Sivaramakrishnan is one amongst those inopportune players, who instead of intrinsic talent could not sustain their skilled performance.

Early Life of Laxman Sivaramakrishnan
Sivaramakrishnan rose to prominence, at the tender age of 12, by capturing 7 wickets for 2 runs in a Madras inter-schools championship competition. When Laxman Shivaramakrishnan was only 15, he became the youngest player in the Under-19 India echelon that underwent a tour to Sri Lanka, supervised by Ravi Shastri in 1980. The 16 year old Siva entered the arena of first-class cricket, with valour. His debut against the Delhi cricket team in the quarter final of the Ranji Trophy held in 1981-82, catapulted him to the heights of fame. The dashing Sivaramakrishnan collected 7 wickets for 28 runs in the second innings. He pocketed all the wickets within a spell of 11 overs.

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan inevitably, became the choice of South Zone for their Duleep Trophy game against West Zone. Siva compensated for his inability to procure a single wicket in the first innings, in the very second innings. The second innings projected him as the prolific Sivaramakrishnan, obtaining 5 wickets. One of his wickets was of Sunil Gavaskar, who was rendered out by a baffling googly of this leg-spinner. Sivaramakrishnan, proving his caliber, paved his ascension into the Indian Team, venturing out for the tour to Pakistan in 1982-83.

At the age of 17, he emerged to be the youngest Indian player to play Test cricket against the tough opponents, West Indies at St. John`s in Antigua, somewhat later the same season. Siva could not earn a place of distinction for him. He could accumulate a meager of 17 runs and went without taking any wickets. He was one of the Young India members who went to Zimbabwe, in 1984. In the same year, he performed as one of the supportive pillars of Indian bowling, in India Under-25, against the English cricket team, that arrived in India.

Career of Laxman Sivaramakrishnan
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan made his second Test participation against England at Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1984-85. His first memorable wicket was that of Graeme Fowler, who was sent out of the crease being caught and bowled off by a full toss of Siva. He delivered a powerhouse performance, by plucking out 12 for 181 runs. On the whole, he annexed 23 wickets, and was awarded the Man of the Series. Much of the wickets were conquered by Laxman Sivaramakrishnan`s superb full-toss and half-volley bowling, which gifted the Indian team, its much desired success. Sivaramakrishnan`s contributions as the highest wicket-taker were indispensable to the victory of the Indian Team in the World Championship of Cricket that occurred in Australia in 1985. His remarkable achievement was the trapping of Javed Miandad. The veteran Pakistan player, Miandad, was stumped off a leg-break in the crucial final. Laxman Sivaramakrishnan continued in the same vein in the following four nations Tournament, held at Sarjah.

Unfortunately, Siva lacked consistency, with regard to his performance-level. Laxman Sivaramakrishnan showed little merit in the next season`s Test against Sri Lanka and Australia. There ceased his Test career. Laxman Sivaramakrishnan resumed back his career during the 1987 World Cup. He took part in only 2 matches. The wicket of the Zimbabwe`s John Traicos, was the single most wicket that could be attributed to his bowling prowess. Sivaramakrishnan tried his hand at batting as well. He sustained this spree for batting for another decade. His batting prowess provided him an opportunity to play for the Tamil Nadu team. He flaunted 3 dazzling centuries, gifting Tamil Nadu its much-coveted win during the Ranji trophy in 1987-88. His penultimate service was for Baroda. He left his legacy as the one of the most dexterous fielders of his time.

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