Stuart Binny has said that few get the opportunity to play a match-saving innings on Test debut, and that he was pleased to have done so for India at Trent Bridge. Binny came in when India were struggling at 184 for 6 in their second innings on the final day and batted for nearly three hours to make 78 and help his side draw the match.
Binny had gone for 1 in the first innings playing an airy drive and was eager to make up for it. “I was a bit disappointed with the way it went in the first innings,” Binny told bcci.tv. “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 I just wanted to go in there and spend as much time in the middle as I could. The ball was reversing and the 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.”
In an England first innings that stretched for 144.5 overs, Binny bowled just ten wicketless overs. He said he was determined to make an impact in the match thereafter. “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 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.”
England were generating some reverse swing but Binny said he was used to tackling such movement when he plays for Karnataka. “I normally bat at No. 6 for Karnataka and so I tend to play a lot of reverse swing. I just used all my experience of batting for my state when we were under the pump, and in India the reverse swing comes into picture all the time. I tried to do what I do there – clearing the left leg and looking to hit a lot straighter.”
Binny’s selection was talked about leading into the Test but India found little use for his medium pace on the placid Trent Bridge pitch. While he called it a “funny wicket” Binny did not think India had misread the surface. “It was a hard wicket but there wasn’t much bounce. Even the English guys were surprised at how it played out. When we were batting, it felt like we were batting in India. It was a funny wicket.”
Binny said he was not aware that he had fallen five short of his father Roger Binny’s highest Test score of 83. “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.”
