(M.L. Jaisimha)

Motganhalli Laxminarsu Jaisimha known as M.L. Jaisimha was the first Indian test cricketer to bat on all five days of a test match.

M.L. Jaisimha was born on 3rd March 1939 in Secunderabad, British India. M.L. Jaisimha was a right-handed batsman and bowled right hand off break and medium pace. M.L. Jaisimha often used to open the bowling for India. In the 1954-1955 Ranji Trophy, M.L. Jaisimha made his first-class debut at the age of 15 against Andhra Pradesh. M.L. Jaisimha represented Hyderabad and scored 90 runs. In the same match M.L. Jaisimha took three wickets giving away 51 runs. Three seasons later M.L. Jaisimha scored hundreds against Madras and Mysore, the two top teams from the South Zone. In the same season of the Ranji Trophy, M.L. Jaisimha claimed 20 wickets. This all-round performance of M.L. Jaisimha earned him a place in the national side. M.L. Jaisimha was part of the Indian team that toured England in the year 1959. M.L. Jaisimha made his debut for India at Lords. 

M.L. Jaisimha achieved the feat of batting on all the five days of the test match against Australia in 1959-1960 in Calcutta (now Kolkata). M.L. Jaisimha went into bat towards the end of the first day's play. The entire first innings of India was over by the second day and M.L. Jaisimha score was 20 not out. The second innings of India started before the end of the third day and M.L. Jaisimha started his innings as well. The Indian team batted the whole day on the fourth day of the test match and M.L. Jaisimha’s score was 59. M.L. Jaisimha was out on the individual score of 74 on the fifth day of the test match. This was how M.L. Jaisimha achieved the rare feat of batting on all the five days of a test match. 

M.L. Jaisimha played 39 tests for India making his debut against England on 18th June 1959. His final test was against the West Indies on 13th April 1971. M.L. Jaisimha passed away at the age of 60 on 6th July 1999 at Sainikpuri, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.