Proudest moment of my career: Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny en route to his first Test match 50

With his debut for India in One Day International cricket quickly followed by his Test debut, against England in England, Stuart Binny has had a whirlwind last few months. He had been nowhere in the Indian scheme of things a year ago but has earned his chance through his performances in the Ranji Trophy and in the Indian Premier League.

India have never been keen on playing a seam bowling all-rounder simply because of their lack of faith in those around. So, when Binny was handed his Test debut in the 1st Test at Trent Bridge, it seemed to suggest that the 30-year-old enjoys the faith of the Indian captain MS Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher.

Close to being a dreadful debut:

Till day 5 of the Test match, though, not many were sure as to why Binny had exactly been picked. In India’s 1st innings with the bat, he batted at No. 8 below Ravindra Jadeja, who is yet to get a Test match fifty, reflecting how poorly the team management rated his abilities with the bat.

The main reason given for Binny’s inclusion in the playing XI was that he can contribute a few handy overs with the ball and thereby ease the workload of the specialist bowlers. With that being the case, it was baffling that he bowled a mere 10 off the 145 overs that the visitors bowled in the 1st innings. The conditions might not have been suitable to his style of bowling, but he was surely worth a go when the frontline bowlers were unable to dislodge England’s last wicket pair of Joe Root and James Anderson.

Given what had happened on the 1st 4 days of the Test, it looked like the Karnataka all-rounder, for no fault of his, would join that unwanted list of cricketers who were dropped after their Test debut. But the 30-year old’s exploits with the bat on day 5 of the Test might have just done enough for him to get him at least one more opportunity at Lord’s.

Career-saving innings:

Going into day 5 of the Test, the draw looked the most likely result with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane being the overnight batsmen; 3 blows in quick succession in the first session of the final day, which included that of Dhoni, as well, brought the much maligned Binny to the crease. India were in serious danger of losing the Test, with the scoreboard reading at 184/6: a lead of just 145 with more than 2 sessions to negotiate.

Binny was not only batting to save the Test but also his Test career. Given the amount of scrutiny that the debutant was under, he batted extremely well to make 78 from 114 balls, which included 8 boundaries and a six, and ensured that the series remains tied at 0-0 going into the 2nd Test at Lord’s.

Seeing through the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad from doing further damage to the Indian batting, he earned the right to make some easy runs against the likes of Moeen Ali later on in the innings.

Post match thoughts:

Speaking exclusively to BCCI TV after the match, Binny expressed his delight at playing a match-saving knock in his very 1st Test.

“I was a bit disappointed with the way it went in the first innings. I did the hard work for the first 10-15 minutes – which is the most crucial phase for a batsman – and then played a loose shot to get out. So today I just wanted to go in there and spend as much time in the middle as I could.

The ball was reversing and wicket started doing a bit especially with the new ball. There are not many players who get a chance to save the Test for their country on their debut. I did and I am really happy that I took it.”

Despite almost feeling ignored for a major part of the Test, he remained positive and was determined to make his 2nd innings with the bat count.

“The wicket didn’t suit my style of bowling and I had to understand and accept that quickly. I was told that a Test match lasts five days that so I will be required to play a part at some point. So, I went in to bat with a very positive mindset. I knew that if I survived the first 30 minutes, the wicket would ease out. I went with the mindset of playing out balls instead of scoring runs. When you get to 25, that’s when you realize, okay, a Test fifty is here for the taking.”

Stuart’s 78 in the 2nd innings was just 5 runs short of his father Roger’s highest ever Test score of 83, but he wasn’t aware of that stat while at the crease and hopes to surpass him at some stage in the future.

“Actually I didn’t know about it. When I went back to the change room, it was pointed out to me. Hopefully, there are many more Test matches to go for me and I will be able to overhaul his score.”