When A V Jayaprakash entered the record books along with Anil Kumble
Arani Velayudham Jayaprakash became part of the history when he officiated in the second and final Test match of the India-Pakistan series at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. The Test is widely known for Anil Kumble’s ten-wicket haul in an innings. Jayaprakash was at the bowler’s end when Kumble emulated Jim Laker and got all the ten wickets.
Jayaprakash played for Karnataka for 14 years from 1971-72 to 1984/85. He scored over 3700 runs with six centuries and 21 half centuries. His umpiring career began against England in 1993 at Gwalior in an ODI.
Standing in only his second Test, Jayaprakash witnessed Anil Kumble scythe through the Pakistan batting in their second innings. Set a target of 420 runs to win, Pakistan started well and reached 101 in the 25th over, without losing any wicket. Then, Anil Kumble had Shahid Afridi caught behind - a contentious decision them. Afridi was clearly unhappy while Jayaprakash claims he heard a big noise. Afridi was also pulled up by the referee for showing dissent.
Wickets were falling in pairs for Pakistan that day. Ijaz Ahmed was out leg before wicket the next ball and Inzamam Ul Haq and Yousuf Youhana were gone soon. Salim Malik and Wasim Akram tried to forge a partnership for Pakistan but they were eventually all out for 207, Laxman pouching a catch to dismiss Wasim Akram and the whole stadium erupted.
There are a few interesting anecdotes from the match though. Sachin Tendulkar had given Anil Kumble’s cap to umpire Jayaprakash before the over in which Afridi got out. Cricketers are generally known to be superstitious and such small things matter to them. Then it was decided that Tendulkar would give the cap to the umpire going forward and this ceremony was performed duly before every over Kumble bowled, till the last wicket fell. Meanwhile, the other bowlers were trying their best not to get a wicket (for a change) once they realized that there was a chance of the record.
A V Jayaprakash officiated in 13 Tests and 38 ODIs in total. He was not part of the Elite Panel of umpires though after its introduction. He retired in 2006 from internationals and continued to officiate in IPL. He was also part of BCCI’s Illegal Actions Committee which kept a watch on the actions of bowlers and was one of the five Umpires’ performance managers appointed by the ICC.