SR Jagannathan's Egmore Excelsiors Completes 75 years - Son Parthasarathy presents Commemorative Bat and Ball to N Srinivasan
First Division runner up Trophy to be named after SRJ in recognition of his contribution, Best U19 cricketers to get 'SRJ Straight Bat' every year
Former TNCA and BCCI President and CSK's Owner N Srinivasan was a very good tennis player in the 1950s. He was in the first tennis camp when legendary TK Ramanathan launched one in RA Puram. After watching him play, Ramanathan had remarked ‘Whatever this boy does in his life, he will not give up easily. Even when he is back to the wall, it is likely he will fight till the end’, Ramanathan Krishnan had told this writer in 2015 on what his appa had thought of N Srinivasan and his fighting spirit (Ramanathan Krishnan).
This Monday evening, the former Chairman of the ICC was seen in cricket action at Chepauk. Treasurer of the TNCA J Parthasarathy who had led Egmore Excelsiors in his playing days was keen to celebrate the 75th anniversary last year but could not do so due to the Pandemic restrictions. Finally on Monday (Oct 17), he presented the specially made commemorative SRJ branded bat and ball to N Srinivasan who in line with the brand also played with a Straight Bat.
Parthasarathy’s appa SR Jagannathan along with his close friend JC Mohan, had started Egmore Excelsiors in 1946 bringing together a bunch of enthusiastic cricket loving youngsters to play in the TNCA league. SRJ as he was popularly known in the cricket circles was just 20 years old when he launched the club. The family resided in Egmore for several decades and that was probably a reason for the club to name as ‘Egmore Excelsiors’, says Parthasarathy.
He has now brought out a commemorative series of cricket bats and balls to celebrate the 75th year of starting Egmore Excelsiors Cricket Club. N Srinivasan received the bat, a red cricket ball and a white cricket ball. CEO of CSK KS Viswanathan (CSK CEO KSV) was also present on the occasion. The logo and design (an umpire signaling a six!!!) of the stickers on the bat have been done by Parthasarathy’s son and daughter.
SRJ missed out on Ranji
Parthasarathy recalls the 1950s when his appa came close to making a Ranji Debut “He was a dour batsman who did not get out and a leg spinner. One could hear the ball zip in the air after the release. While he came very close to a Ranji debut, he could not break through into the XI. But there were quite a few others from the club like Sarangapani, Balakrishnan, Krishnamurthy and Arul Das who did make into the Ranji team.”
Later, former Ranji Trophy winning captain and now Chairman of TN Selectors S Vasudevan (Ranji Captain Vasudevan) and TN left hand batsman from the 1980s R Madhavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/10/r-madhavan-tn-cricketer-1980s.html)were closely associated as teenage cricketers with SRJ and his club.
Was fearless in his actions
The Rajah of Pudukottai played for the club in the TNCA league when he was in the peak of his powers. Parthasarathy remembers his appa narrating an incident from a league match ‘When my appa cut short Rajah’s bowling spell, he wanted to go to the deep field, in anger. My appa asked him to go to third man!!!’
Unfortunately a motor cycle accident led to SRJ’s cricketing career being cut short on the field. However for the next five decades or so till his death a decade ago, he was active at the TNCA and fought for club members’ interests right through. He was fearless, worked selflessly with conviction and was a fighter all the way, says Parthasarathy.
A role in Annadurai's appointment
In the late 1980s, he mobilized the club members and called for a special general body meeting to and discuss and pitch for the appointment of Annadurai as the Secretary. A year later, Annadurai was appointed.
TNCA Tamasha in his cricket magazine
Just before the turn of the century, he launched ‘Straight Bat’, a one of its kind cricket magazine that had the who’s of who of cricket writers contributing. An interesting feature of the magazine was that it included a ‘TNCA Tamasha’ section providing insights on the happenings at the association.
SRJ fought for club members’ cause and was the one responsible for getting a free lunch during international matches at Chepauk that till then had been available only for select people. He was also the one who got the members the cark park at the stadium, which again until then had been at a premium. Rain Water Harvesting at Chepauk was another initiative that he was closely associated with.
He was the one who insisted on the gates to be named after AG Ram Singh and MJ Gopalan.
TNCA meetings - Record attendance
SRJ attended a record 60 consecutive general body meetings at the TNCA. He was also known for coming up with long lists for these meetings and many a time the meeting went into the 2nd day. When Parthasarathy presented the bat to N Srinivasan on Monday, CSK’s owner made a remark “Your appa would keep us locked in the meeting room for two days”!!!
SRJ Straight Bat to Best U19 cricketers
In memory of his appa, Parthasarathy has also initiated a presentation of the ‘SRJ Straight Bat’ to the Best U19 City, District and Schools cricket every year. The first of the presentations will be made at TNCA’s annual day celebrations next month.
SRJ had made a significant contribution to the TNCA and the runner up trophy in the first division league is being named after him.
TNCA’s Treasurer Parthasarathy, whose three year term is ending soon, is also hoping to give these high quality ‘SRJ’ bats to deserving batsmen at very affordable prices.