I have never tried to be Roger Binny, says son Stuart

For Stuart, choosing the same career path as his father Roger Binny, former India all-rounder who was part of the World Cup winning squad in 1983, meant that he would have to live up to a bench mark and also carry the burden of a surname which in cricketing world is quite legendary.

When he started off his career in first class cricket as a 19-year-old, the task to make a name of his own was never easy. Even if he were picked in a squad, the attributes of it would perhaps not be his own talent but his surname.Though he made his Ranji debut in 2003-04 season, his much-needed recognition came during the controversial Indian Cricket League in 2007 where he shone as a all-round performer. But a tussle between the organisers of ICL and the Board of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) meant a two-year ban from domestic cricket for Stuart.In a free-wheeling interview with sportskeeda.com, the 27-year-old Stuart Binny talks about his transformation as a cricketer after the ban, his father’s role as his mentor and the current Karnataka Ranji Trophy team who are leading the points table in the present season.

I would like to begin this interview with a question related to your two-year ban. What did it do to your game?

Binny: It was hard not to get a chance to play the Ranji Trophy and just stick to playing the ICL. It was difficult at a point where I couldn’t even play league cricket. But I think what it did was that it made me forget about my past failures in Ranji Trophy. I was going through this patch where what ever I did, it brought back the memories of my third and fourth season which was quite bad. I was struggling with the bat. Those two years was a refreshing break and when I came back it felt like a debut again. It brought me back much fresher to Ranji Trophy.

What went into those two years?

Binny: It was absolutely only ICL. We did have a camp, but never got to play any league cricket. I think it was just like a break, but got to work with different set of guys, different coaches and trainers. There were players in the ICL who could help the young players quite a lot. I spent two years with them and came back to this system again.

How challenging was it mentally?

Binny: I did feel bad that I could not play the domestic circuit and I was also told that it would be very difficult to make a comeback. That was the toughest part about the two year ban, but I think I had enough runs to make a comeback and I took it from there then. I see it as a positive change in my career.

The previous two seasons have been fantastic for you. You got your maiden hundred last year and this year a ten-wicket haul. Tell us about the transformation?

Binny: It all started last year. It was a fresh start the previous year. Though I had made it to the team, I didn’t get a chance to play the first four games. I played with Baroda and then played the final. The loss in the final was quite hard to digest and for some of us we still haven’t been able to forget it. Last year in Dharamshala I got my first hundred. What was missing in my career was that first hundred and once I got it, it really made me believe like I belonged here.My bowling has gotten better that’s because I’ve gotten much fitter. Last year I struggled a bit and I had put on a bit of weight. Also I had never taken my bowling that seriously because we always had Mithun and Vinay leading the attack. This year, I have bowled much more so, I’ve got the opportunity to get more wickets. I think that’s the difference between last year and this year.

Watching you from the press box, there was a small discussion amongst the scribes with regard to your bowling action. Some argued that it resembles your dad. Your comments on that?

Binny: I think I’ve got 30 percent of his bowling action. I had a completely different bowling action in school cricket. I struggled back then and I had to get my action right so I did work with dad quite a bit. At that time, he would run a two three steps with me to correct my run-up. Just watching him I must have implemented the same into my rhythm I guess. I wish I could bowl like him. But I think at the end of the day, you do get some genes and perhaps that’s why the action seems a bit similar. (smiles)

What did your dad have to say about the ten-wicket haul against Orissa in your previous game?

Binny: He was excited. I did have a chat with him the previous night and I was on three wickets that day. So, he said why don’t you try and go for five wickets. I said, I would love to get five wickets but it depends on how the game goes because they (Orissa) were seven or eight down already.

In the second innings, I got out early and I had a chat with him again. He asked me what’s the wicket doing? I said it was more or less the same. But I think what happened in that match is that, I put in extra overs. I bowled a spell of seven, eight. It really sets up the batsman. Dad was not surprised but he was quite excited.

Being a legendary cricketer’s son, there must be some sort of pressure to live up to the expectations. Has that ever affected you?

Binny: In junior cricket there was a lot of talk that went around and it was a little disturbing. Especially at that time when I was trying to decide whether I want to take this up as a career or not. I guess what it really does is strengthens you as a player. It is difficult when you have a surname to carry at the same time it is crucial to not try and do some thing that you are not. I never once tried to be him. It’s not possible to be him. We are two different people and he explained that to me at a very early stage in my career. You need to play your own game and if it comes off well, it’s good. As long as you are enjoying what you do. It’s nothing like pressure or anything but you learn very early in your career having a father like that.

Speaking of the Karnataka team, there has been no stand out performer for the season as such. Each player has had his share of success this year. What’s the feel amongst the team?

Binny: The self-belief in the Karnataka team is really high now. You see two guys with whom we have played all our life playing for the country. It is obviously motivating. We don’t turn up with a mindset to just play Ranji Trophy. This year we entered the tournament setting a target to win it. This is all a process. Everyone has set their individual goals. I set a goal to play the South Zone this year. We are hungry to win.

Fact file:

Name: Stuart TR Binny

Age: 27 years old

Team: Karnataka, Rajasthan Royals

First class debut: 2003-04

Has scored 1341 runs in 31 first class matches

Has taken 29 wickets thus far

His recent best: 5/51 and 5/49 against Orissa in Bhubaneshwar

151 against Rajasthan in Udiapur