I played against Syed Kirmani in five tests in India in 1976-7. India had at that time the wonderful quartet of spinners: Bishan Bedi, B. S. Chandrasekhar, Eripalli Prasanna, and Srini Venkataraghavan, so the quality of their wicket-keeper was absolutely vital to their team. Syed (or Kirri as his friends called him) was always quiet, calm and unshowy . In an age of high-quality keepers – Alan Knott, Wasim Bari, Rodney Marsh – Kirri was amongst the very best. Always tidily turned out, he played a huge role in the team. He was also a more than useful lower order batsman.
My colleague Knotty, writing to me from Cyprus where he has lived for many years, cannot remember Kirri missing a single chance during that series in 1976-7. He recalls being stumped by Kirri at Delhi, whipping the bails off in a flash, and a brilliant leg-side catch (ruled not out) off Prasanna when Knott was going for a pull.
Kirri was a great performer and competitor, and an entirely fair player. Knotty, a notorious worrier about infections and injuries, always remembers Kirri’s kindnesses with his tips on eating and drinking during his tours in India.
