BOMBAY - Former Indian test player Ramakant Desai, who recently resigned as chairman of the national cricket selection committee, died late on Monday aged 59. Desai resigned last month on account of poor health. Raj Singh Dungarpur, president of the board of control for cricket in India, said on Tuesday he died of a heart failure. Desai, a fast medium bowler, took 74 wickets at an average of 37.31 in a test career which spanned the 1960s.

He also shared in a record 149-run ninth-wicket partnership with wicketkeeper P.G. Joshi in the fifth test in Bombay against Pakistan in 1960-61. The record still stands. Desai had close to a perfect bowling action with a smooth run up and a classical delivery action. His pace, late movement of the ball and a well-concealed bouncer were his weapons. He was nicknamed tiny because of his small stature a rarity among fast bowlers.

During his 10 years in international cricket, Desai played in 10 test series and toured England (1959), West Indies (1961-62), Australia and New Zealand (1967-68). I rate him among the four best fast-medium bowlers that India has produced along with Dattu Phadkar, Kapil Dev and Javagal Srinath, said Dungarpur.