India players and officials - select an initial letter: A -
B -
C -
D -
E -
F -
G -
H -
I -
J -
K -
L -
M -
N -
O -
P -
Q -
R -
S -
T -
U -
V -
W -
Y -
Z
Full name Abey Kuruvilla
Born August 8, 1968, Mannar, Allepey (now Alappuzha), Kerala
Current age 40 years 30 days
Major teams India,Cheshire,Mumbai
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
Batting and fielding averages
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
BF
SR
100
50
4s
6s
Ct
St
Tests
10
11
1
66
35*
6.60
164
40.24
0
0
0
4
0
0
ODIs
25
11
4
26
7
3.71
43
60.46
0
0
1
1
4
0
First-class
82
85
22
708
76
11.23
0
1
25
0
List A
63
25
8
55
9*
3.23
0
0
10
0
Bowling averages
Mat
Inns
Balls
Runs
Wkts
BBI
BBM
Ave
Econ
SR
4w
5w
10
Tests
10
15
1765
892
25
5/68
6/117
35.68
3.03
70.6
1
1
0
ODIs
25
25
1131
890
25
4/43
4/43
35.60
4.72
45.2
1
0
0
First-class
82
15295
7907
290
6/61
27.26
3.10
52.7
10
0
List A
63
3011
2077
70
4/21
4/21
29.67
4.13
43.0
5
0
0
Career statistics
Test debut
West Indies v India at Kingston, Mar 6-10, 1997 scorecard
Last Test
India v Sri Lanka at Mumbai, Dec 3-7, 1997 scorecard
Test statistics
ODI debut
West Indies v India at Port of Spain, Apr 26, 1997 scorecard
Last ODI
India v Pakistan at Sharjah, Dec 14, 1997 scorecard
ODI statistics
First-class span
1990/91 - 1999/00
List A span
1991/92 - 2002
Profile
Abey Kuruvilla was unfortunate to have been selected several seasons too late to the national team. Possibly the tallest player to play for India at 6'6",
Kuruvilla, in spite of his well endowed physique, was not an express bowler. Thriving on his ability to swing the ball and later developing variations such as a well disguised slower delivery, he had his grounding under the tutelage of Frank Tyson as part of the BCA-Mafatlal Bowling Scheme. Kuruvilla took 35 wickets in his first full season for Bombay in 1991-92 and although widely expected to make the tour of South Africa in 1992-93, was overlooked.
After trying out a whole flotilla of new ball bowlers without success in the
following years, the selectors finally gave the gangling Mumbaikar a break on the 1996-97 West Indies tour. Kuruvilla emerged as a key figure in the Indian attack and a haul of 5 for 68 in the second innings of the third Test at Bridgetown set up a winning position for India, but the batsmen contrived to throw it away. He played five more Tests against Sri Lanka at home and away in the following season where he did creditably considering the flat shirtfronts on offer but, surprisingly, he was never considered again. Soft spoken and self effacing, Kuruvilla had no regrets for the shabby treatment meted out to him.
"At least I played for a year. There are so many good cricketers who don't get to play even one game for India. I can't complain on that count", was his classic refrain in humility. He retired from first class cricket after the 1999-2000 Ranji Trophy final against Hyderabad.
Sankhya Krishnan
