Stuart Binny’s bowling average of 14 wickets at 16.07 in ten matches will explain why he gets chosen in the Indian team for One-Day Internationals. His economy rate is only 4.82. The Karnataka seamer, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohit Sharma and Punjab’s Sandeep Sharma are the members of India’s pace pack which skipper Ajinkya Rahane will depend on against the Zimbabwe batsmen in three ODI matches and two Twenty20 matches to be played at Harare.
By his own assessment, how much has Binny improved as a bowler?
“I was always a batting all-rounder for Karnataka; but when I came into the Indian team, I had to bowl a lot to survive as an all-rounder. I have found out that the lengths in international cricket is different. It’s all about bowling hard lengths there. I don’t need to bowl in the 140s; some guys have to bowl at 140-plus speeds to get wickets, which I am never going to do. For me it’s all about accuracy. I used to float (swing) the ball playing for Karnataka; in international cricket, I have never tried to swing the ball; it’s always been bowling hard lengths.”
When asked if he sees more responsibility coming his way on this tour, Binny said: “It’s not about responsibility. I opened the bowling against Bangladesh. I had never done this for Karnataka in one-day matches. It’s a challenge. We have the guys to take ten wickets in a game. We are all strike bowlers in our own way.”
Binny’s Karnataka teammate, Robin Uthappa said it’s a great opportunity with the possibility of playing in all five matches very high, not just because he’s an opener, but also due to the fact that he’s going to keep wickets. “I am the only one among three (the other two being Kedar Jadhav and Ambati Rayudu). I will be definitely keeping wickets.”
Uthappa has realised that it doesn’t pay to be a “flash in the pan” like the batsman he admitted he was initially.
“It’s good for the gallery. But one has to be consistent. I went through the rigours and began to construct my batting. I know when to accelerate at will. I am grateful I am getting a full series. I played five matches last year. The efforts I have put in the last three or four years have come to fruition.”
Want to do wellIndia’s Test opener Murali Vijay is also looking forward to a profitable tour of Zimbabwe. “I have got an opportunity to play in ODIs after two seasons. I love to play ODI matches. But I am not looking too far ahead. In seven seasons I have played only 14 matches. I am not blaming anyone, but when you don’t have a specific role to play, it becomes difficult. I am not cribbing. I want to do well on this tour,” said Vijay who played his last ODI series in the West Indies in the first week of July 2013.
