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[achutank]

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIM&login=default


Dwaipayan Datta | TNN



Chennai:
S Badrinath is tired. Tired of waiting, tired of switching on the TV whenever there’s a team selection going on, and tired of being disappointed every time. “Even today I was there in front of the TV with my wife, waiting for the team to be announced...I was numb when they finished reading the names,’’ he said.
   “I don’t know where to go from here.’’ The words said it all. It was a “crushing blow’’ not to see his name in the list, but Badri was not ready to miss training. But he looked drained out.
   “For the first time in my life, I’m feeling that I’m training out of duty,” Badrinath told TOI at Chemplast ground here.
   The 28-year-old has every reason to feel aggrieved. Virat Kohli, who has pipped Badrinath to the post, hasn’t done anything apart from scoring a 120 in one of the Emerging Nations Trophy matches for India ‘A’ in recent times. Badri, on the other hand, had a 37 and an 83 to his name in the same tournament, and both matchwinning efforts. “Forget Emerging Nations Trophy. I have scored heavily during the ‘A’ series against Australia and South Africa earlier... And the only player to have done better than me in domestic competitions is Gautam Gambhir,’’ the India ‘A’ captain pointed out.
   “When Manoj Tiwary went to Australia, I was intrigued. Still, I tried to keep my cool. Now it’s Virat Kohli... This is really going nowhere,’’ Badrinath fumed.
   “None of the selectors have told me where I stand. For God’s sake, allow me to fail. If I am unable to prove my worth, I will be a fringe player all my life,” he pleaded.

[achutank]

i did not know he is 28

now is the time to give him a complete run in test cricket even if it is at the cost of one maharathi

[pzd]

Selectors should have taken him to SL,they will never debut him against Australia even though its a home series

[LosingNow]

this story has tragedy written all over it.. come on, Virat Kohli ahead of him and Tiwary...bad decision

[justforkix]

This is really sad !!!! So many talented cricketers from TN have missed out because of selection criteria is not based on performance !!!! Seriously, there is nothing more Badri can do

[ramshorns]

http://www.cricketvoice.com/cricketforum2/index.php/topic,16924.msg224180.html#msg224180

We discussed this briefly yesterday.  I do not blame the guy for sounding bitter and looking dejected.  Shame on Dhoni and Vengsarkar/Raju for not getting him a place.

[justforkix]

this story has tragedy written all over it.. come on, Virat Kohli ahead of him and Tiwary...bad decision

all of them - Rohit and Yuvi ahead of him in tests !!!!!! Rohit averages 35 in FC and mid-20s last season. There would be no motivation left for Badri to perform - I think 3+ seasons of 60+ avg can't get you into the team, it is obvious that selections are not based on performance.

[ramshorns]

S Badrinath is tired. Tired of waiting, tired of switching on the TV whenever there’s a team selection going on, and tired of being disappointed every time. “Even today I was there in front of the TV with my wife, waiting for the team to be announced...I was numb when they finished reading the names,’’ he said.

The above quote sums it up.   It shows how much it means to him.  I am sure Kohli's of the world has a lot to look forward to at 19 but Badri has not much left at 28 an age where players like Kaif have already played 125 ODI's for India.  These are the players who will appreciate it more because of the wait.  Does the name Mike Hussey ring any bells to anyone.

[Libran]

I see another Sharath in the making... earlier it was V Sivaramakrishnan in the late 70s early 80s...then Sharath...now Badri...and the TN cricket fraternity has no say...

And next will be R Ashwin

[pipsqueak]

didn't dhoni send kapudake-iscoreslow-ra ahead of him even in the IPL final?

dumbo dhoni.

[ramshorns]

This is really sad !!!! So many talented cricketers from TN have missed out because of selection criteria is not based on performance !!!! Seriously, there is nothing more Badri can do

JFK:I do not like to look at this from a regional standpoint.  I am sure there are a lot of other cricketers too from other states in the past that did not make it despite being good who can make such claims.  Though some of your grouse is justified that does not get to the bottom of the exact reasons.

I do not think Badri did not make it because he is from TN.  Balaji and KKD did make it being from TN in the recent past.

This is how I look at it and the reasons.

Consider this: Yuvraj, Kaif, Pathan, Balaji, Raina, Rohit, Chawla, VRV, Uttappa, Ishant, Kohli, KKD, Rayadu (Touted as the best since SRT but he screwed it up bigtime) all made from the U-19 ranks or were spotted before they hit 20.

Badrinath to me was a little late to bloosom.  He only started to make a mark at around 24 pretty young to me but not as per the hype and trends in selection over the last 4-5 years.  He to me was lost in the mix niether here or there.  Very sad indeed.

To me he should have made it during the 2006 WI Test series in place of either Kaif or Yuvraj both failures at the Test level.  We could have perhaps unearthed someone.

But the results in ODI's got carried over to Tests and players like Kaif/Yuvi were automatically selected when SRT and SG were not part of that team.

Also V.B.Chandrasekhar and Raju being the last two SZ selectors should have pushed harder for his inclusion.

In the IPL too VB and Krish Srikanth were very causual when it came to Badri who played for Chennai Superkings.  They could have made a case for him and forced Dhoni to send him at 3 or 4 come what may since IMO he is good. Badri despite coming good in IPL was even played at 7 few times.  What does that tell you???  Even his home team screwed it up for him.

I am as big a supporter as there is for Badri on this DG.  But there are various reasons that did it in for him.

I still think depending on how this SL Test unfolds, for the Aussie series he should be the first in line to be in the 15 replacing Rohit whos time will come. 

Also he needs to be quiet and not go public with his frustrations.  The last thing one would want in Indian cricket is to be branded.

At 28 if he can get into the Test team and prove his credentials he still can have a decent career.

Let us hope he does not lose heart and give up at this stage.

[achutank]

does the guy have an 'attitude' problem. you how it is in indian cricket, if you are not kowtowing to the "gods" you have "attitude"

[dextrous]

this story has tragedy written all over it.. come on, Virat Kohli ahead of him and Tiwary...bad decision

all of them - Rohit and Yuvi ahead of him in tests !!!!!! Rohit averages 35 in FC and mid-20s last season. There would be no motivation left for Badri to perform - I think 3+ seasons of 60+ avg can't get you into the team, it is obvious that selections are not based on performance.

well, when have they beem? saba karim used to average 60, 70+ playing for bihar but never got a lookin until he was past his best and started playing for bengal!

[poondu]

this story has tragedy written all over it.. come on, Virat Kohli ahead of him and Tiwary...bad decision

all of them - Rohit and Yuvi ahead of him in tests !!!!!! Rohit averages 35 in FC and mid-20s last season. There would be no motivation left for Badri to perform - I think 3+ seasons of 60+ avg can't get you into the team, it is obvious that selections are not based on performance.

well, when have they beem? saba karim used to average 60, 70+ playing for bihar but never got a lookin until he was past his best and started playing for bengal!

alteast saba karim got his indian cap, right?

[prfsr]

this story has tragedy written all over it.. come on, Virat Kohli ahead of him and Tiwary...bad decision

all of them - Rohit and Yuvi ahead of him in tests !!!!!! Rohit averages 35 in FC and mid-20s last season. There would be no motivation left for Badri to perform - I think 3+ seasons of 60+ avg can't get you into the team, it is obvious that selections are not based on performance.

well, when have they beem? saba karim used to average 60, 70+ playing for bihar but never got a lookin until he was past his best and started playing for bengal!

alteast saba karim got his indian cap, right?

Yes, but he almost should not have and I hope Badri does not get it that late. His (SSK) eyesight was failing. He was not a good keeper and was widely touted as a quota candidate who was from the same state as the captain, a quota candidate himself.

[poondu]

Monkey man interview before the ODI selection. I had no clue it was going to be Kohli..

Vengsarkar hints changes in ODI squad for Lanka
 
MUMBAI: National chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, back from Australia where he saw the Emerging Players Cup for the fringe players of four leading countries, says he has some pointers for selection of the ODI team for Sri Lanka.

He was wary of naming any names. For the record, India reached the semis of the event won by Australian Institute of Sport beating New Zealand. India's third place match with South Africa was rained off. If it is any consolation India beat the eventual winners after losing to them in the league where they finished third.

Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Badrinath, Virat Kohli had big scores. Among bowlers,Pankaj Singh, Dhaval Kulkarni, Ravindra Jadeja got among the wickets.

Excerpts from the interview:

How was the talent on view?

The Emerging Players Cup had the best talent available from India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. It was an excellent event and a great platform for the fringe players to parade their talent.

In which department of the game was the talent strong?

In all the departments. The wickets were true and lively. The grounds were in top conditions. The Allan Border field is breathtaking and the players really enjoyed the competition.

Who were the Indians that caught the eye?

There are quite a few who looked good. After all, how quickly one adapts to the conditions in Australia depends not only on one's skill but also mental make-up, for the other three teams were as strong as any and the competition was intense. Unfortunately it was a One-day competition. It would have been better had it been a longer version of the game.

Who were the unexpected successes?

It's not fair for me to comment on individual performances. That, however, would be discussed when we meet to select the One-day squad for the Sri Lankan series.

Some big-scoring games suggest the pitches were a batting paradise?

The wickets were true and had a good carry that helped both the batsmen as well as the bowlers.

Have the pitches gone slower?

The competition was at the end of the season and obviously the wickets were overused to some extent. However, they played extremely well. It's winter all over Australia except in places like Brisbane and Darwin where the weather is still conducive to play cricket.

How the Indians cope against the pace of the other teams?

The Indian batsmen played very well and I was greatly impressed the way they approached the fast bowlers.

How was the learning curve for the players and you as selector?

As we all are aware that with so much international cricket it is almost impossible for the international players to participate in domestic matches and that's the reason it is difficult to assess quality of the domestic players. I strongly feel that the "A" team concept is very important and can unearth a lot of quality talent. Most of the countries have their A team program chalked out well in advance. However, India must tour only places like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, for these are the countries which would provide our players with great opportunities to excel and raise the level of their game.

More such tournaments should we enter?

Definitely.. 
 monkey man interview a couple of days before selection.

Vengsarkar hints changes in ODI squad for Lanka
MUMBAI: National chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar, back from Australia where he saw the Emerging Players Cup for the fringe players of four leading countries, says he has some pointers for selection of the ODI team for Sri Lanka.

He was wary of naming any names. For the record, India reached the semis of the event won by Australian Institute of Sport beating New Zealand. India's third place match with South Africa was rained off. If it is any consolation India beat the eventual winners after losing to them in the league where they finished third.

Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Badrinath, Virat Kohli had big scores. Among bowlers,Pankaj Singh, Dhaval Kulkarni, Ravindra Jadeja got among the wickets.

Excerpts from the interview:

How was the talent on view?

The Emerging Players Cup had the best talent available from India, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. It was an excellent event and a great platform for the fringe players to parade their talent.

In which department of the game was the talent strong?

In all the departments. The wickets were true and lively. The grounds were in top conditions. The Allan Border field is breathtaking and the players really enjoyed the competition.

Who were the Indians that caught the eye?

There are quite a few who looked good. After all, how quickly one adapts to the conditions in Australia depends not only on one's skill but also mental make-up, for the other three teams were as strong as any and the competition was intense. Unfortunately it was a One-day competition. It would have been better had it been a longer version of the game.

Who were the unexpected successes?

It's not fair for me to comment on individual performances. That, however, would be discussed when we meet to select the One-day squad for the Sri Lankan series.

Some big-scoring games suggest the pitches were a batting paradise?

The wickets were true and had a good carry that helped both the batsmen as well as the bowlers.

Have the pitches gone slower?

The competition was at the end of the season and obviously the wickets were overused to some extent. However, they played extremely well. It's winter all over Australia except in places like Brisbane and Darwin where the weather is still conducive to play cricket.

How the Indians cope against the pace of the other teams?

The Indian batsmen played very well and I was greatly impressed the way they approached the fast bowlers.

How was the learning curve for the players and you as selector?

As we all are aware that with so much international cricket it is almost impossible for the international players to participate in domestic matches and that's the reason it is difficult to assess quality of the domestic players. I strongly feel that the "A" team concept is very important and can unearth a lot of quality talent. Most of the countries have their A team program chalked out well in advance. However, India must tour only places like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, for these are the countries which would provide our players with great opportunities to excel and raise the level of their game.

More such tournaments should we enter?

Definitely.. 

[achutank]

why is vengya the monkey man? i am sorry i am abit late on this technicality

[OldPal]

Here are some generic observations abt Badri:
** The average’s and number of runs scored since last 3 seasons show he has scored enuff runs to be vested faith in.
** He was made captain of emerging players, showing being watched by the country and in scheme of things.
**  The chief selector was watching the games of these emerging players.
**  He was drafted after GG injury against aussies in ODI but did not get chance in PXI
**  Has playe enough at national level to consistently make into media sports page

Above points clarify , he is in scheme of things and the names keep coming up.
I am pretty sure his name must have come up in the selection meeting as VK made it from emerging players.

Now here is my personal take on the issue or Badri:
I suspect something Fishy is happening here and Badri realizes it, thus the lashing out at BCCI. Should I think it has to do with Dhoni ?

I started following him only after JFK started bringing his name since over past two years.
Apart from IPL had watched a few of earlier matches followed some CI scorecards.
My first observations were: He was more of test mould( IPL changed that stance), there were however a couple of innings I felt like SB keen on scoring runs for himself rather than interested in taking the team to victory. 
MSD playing along with Badri was his best chance to make into India team, as an Indian captain may see your talent.
In stead look at the batting order at which he was send,  mostly  No 7( apart from couple of shaky situations with 2 or 3 early wickets down when he came up). Almost all the players(including Dhoni) were send up the order in solid situations, but not Badri to score some runs in better situations.  This is where my fishy conspiracy theories started.
The latest trend of getting a player in ODI’s of captains preference may have something to do with it.  But in that case how do we explain his exclusion from tests. I thought he was a perfect fit there with his zeal for scoring runs. Does it means it is more than Dhoni ? Whatever the case may be, I think cases like these need some explanation from BCCI, why a player like VK is preferred over a seasoned performer like Badri.

[prfsr]

I think cases like these need some explanation from BCCI, why a player like VK is preferred over a seasoned performer like Badri.

Hmm. Someone has not been reading my posts. Maybe I should summarize in a separate thread....

[OldPal]

I think cases like these need some explanation from BCCI, why a player like VK is preferred over a seasoned performer like Badri.

Hmm. Someone has not been reading my posts. Maybe I should summarize in a separate thread....

[gouravk]

duh it is for a meaningless odi series. badri should feel happy that he is not picked for a game which is not worthy of talented players like him.

[Cover Point]

duh it is for a meaningless odi series. badri should feel happy that he is not picked for a game which is not worthy of talented players like him.

you are right God. He should be satisfied only playing in his Gully or maybe in the Madras Team. You know best

[RicePlateReddy]

He should find some oblique connection to Muralitharan's Tamil Nadu wife and fast-track emigrate to Sri Lanka. After a few years he will captain Sri Lanka and score a century on captaincy debut too. Pity he couldn't do it earlier.

This guys Indian team chances are now practically zero. The Money Man will make some conciliatory statements like they understand his frustration and he is about to make it, but the bottom line is he will never get a run as a result of this statement.

[ruchir]

For God’s sake, allow me to fail. If I am unable to prove my worth, I will be a fringe player all my life,”

What an anguished cry from a player!!! And it echoes my point to the core. If you select a player, take him on a tour, and he does not get even one game to play while failing seniors keep on strutting off their failed stuff, how is it fair to him? To Badri, it is even worse because he isn't even selected!!

[OldPal]

He should find some oblique connection to Muralitharan's Tamil Nadu wife and ****

Are you recommending he becomes Doosra of Murali 

[Cover Point]

For God’s sake, allow me to fail. If I am unable to prove my worth, I will be a fringe player all my life,”

What an anguished cry from a player!!! And it echoes my point to the core. If you select a player, take him on a tour, and he does not get even one game to play while failing seniors keep on strutting off their failed stuff, how is it fair to him? To Badri, it is even worse because he isn't even selected!!

lekin fir thakur ki budhauon ki fauj ko kaun poochega

[xiexie]

Gutless selectors and a direction less board are the cause of ruination of many a talent. This guy seems to be a complete package(but then again we said so about a lot of them) and now is the time for him.

But what he has done is to invite the wrath of the selectors and BCCI on him he will be selected and played in the most difficult of circumstances and one failure will result in eternal consignment to the waste bin.

[LosingNow]

He should find some oblique connection to Muralitharan's Tamil Nadu wife and ****

Are you recommending he becomes Doosra of Murali 

ROFL!!

[ganavk]

Looks like RD will be out for Aus series with Badri getting chance in middle order!

[LosingNow]

didn't dhoni send kapudake-iscoreslow-ra ahead of him even in the IPL final?

dumbo dhoni.

Agree.. lost the match due to that dumb move

[ruchir]

He should find some oblique connection to Muralitharan's Tamil Nadu wife and ****

Are you recommending he becomes Doosra of Murali 

I thought Murali was way ahead, already looking for the Teesra!!

[gouravk]

duh it is for a meaningless odi series. badri should feel happy that he is not picked for a game which is not worthy of talented players like him.

you are right God. He should be satisfied only playing in his Gully or maybe in the Madras Team. You know best

No .. he can aim for the test team no ...

[xiexie]

duh it is for a meaningless odi series. badri should feel happy that he is not picked for a game which is not worthy of talented players like him.

you are right God. He should be satisfied only playing in his Gully or maybe in the Madras Team. You know best

No .. he can aim for the test team no ...

After this outburst he isnt getting any chances soon....It will be Kar/Andhra boys that will rule in the team for sometime to come.

[LosingNow]

duh it is for a meaningless odi series. badri should feel happy that he is not picked for a game which is not worthy of talented players like him.

you are right God. He should be satisfied only playing in his Gully or maybe in the Madras Team. You know best

No .. he can aim for the test team no ...

After this outburst he isnt getting any chances soon....It will be Kar/Andhra boys that will rule in the team for sometime to come.

?? which Andhra boy(s)?

[xiexie]

duh it is for a meaningless odi series. badri should feel happy that he is not picked for a game which is not worthy of talented players like him.

you are right God. He should be satisfied only playing in his Gully or maybe in the Madras Team. You know best

No .. he can aim for the test team no ...

After this outburst he isnt getting any chances soon....It will be Kar/Andhra boys that will rule in the team for sometime to come.

?? which Andhra boy(s)?

VVSL shall remain for sometime

[poondu]

Selectors mum on Badrinath's exclusion

Mumbai: One of the most prolific scorers in domestic cricket over the last few seasons and the captain of the India-A team to Australia during the Emerging Players Tournament, S Badrinath, wondered what more he could have done to impress the Indian selectors, even as one of them refused to comment on the issue terming the selection committee meetings as 'confidential'.


"I don’t know what Badrinath has told the media but I can’t discuss the outcome of the selection meeting with the press because it is 'confidential' and not for the public," Bhupendra Singh (Sr), the selector from North Zone, told Cricketnext.com on Friday.


A disappointed Badrinath, who feels he has been dealt a raw deal by the selectors, had lashed out in the media that despite scoring heavily during the India-A tours to Australia and South Africa and despite being the second top scorer in domestic cricket, behind Gautam Gambhir last season, he didn't get a chance to represent his country.


"Forget about the performance during the Emerging Players Tournament. Even before that I scored heavily during India-A series against Australia and South Africa and the only player to have done better than me in domestic competition was Gautam Gambhir," Badrinath said.


"It baffled me when Manoj Tiwary went to Australia. But still I kept my cool. Now it is Virat Kohli. This is really going nowhere. None of the selectors have told me where I stand. They should allow me to fail by picking me in the side. If I am unable to prove my worth, I will be a fringe player all my life," he dared the selectors.


Badrinath has a point here as he has averaged 66.00 from 12 first class matches with four centuries (highest 200 not out) and three fifties for a total of 990 runs last season. In Ranji Trophy, he has an average of 65.90 from seven matches playing for Tamil Nadu.


Badrinath’s frustration is quite understandable as his efforts during the Emerging Players Tournament were better than the player who got the nod in the Indian One-Day team - Virat Kohli.


Badrinath scored two match-winning knocks of 83 and 37 while Kohli had one score of 120. Even during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Badrinath performed better than Kohli in the limited chances he got.


Delhi lad Kohli himself expressed surprise on being selected for the five-match One-Day series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September when he spoke to Cricketnext.com on Thursday after the selectors announced the two teams.

http://www.cricketnext.com/news/selectors-mum-on-badrinaths-exclusion/33411-13.html

[WicketView]

It has always been hard to break into the Indian middle order. Then, India tends to play way more ODI than tests. So, opportunities are more forthcoming in ODI. Further, the players who do well in ODI facing international quality bowling automatically impress everyone, and get ahead of people like Badri who have only played the domestic bowlers on Indian pitches. Thus not being a natural ODI player has hurt Badri the most. From our perspective, this also shows what is so wrong about this whole system. There will be players who will be capable of doing well in tests but not in ODI, and if we continue with this system, we will keep losing these guys.

[LosingNow]

Thus not being a natural ODI player has hurt Badri the most.

Not.
this guy has the strokes ... and is a brilliant fielder.. and can bowl few overs.

[WicketView]

Thus not being a natural ODI player has hurt Badri the most.

Not.
this guy has the strokes ... and is a brilliant fielder.. and can bowl few overs.

I believe the strokes used to be much more infrequent earlier in his career. He has changed his game to suit this, but he seems to have been branded by then. The point is that such a system which tends to pick ODI players for tests may be missing out on useful talent.

[kban1]

It has always been hard to break into the Indian middle order. Then, India tends to play way more ODI than tests. So, opportunities are more forthcoming in ODI. Further, the players who do well in ODI facing international quality bowling automatically impress everyone, and get ahead of people like Badri who have only played the domestic bowlers on Indian pitches. Thus not being a natural ODI player has hurt Badri the most. From our perspective, this also shows what is so wrong about this whole system. There will be players who will be capable of doing well in tests but not in ODI, and if we continue with this system, we will keep losing these guys.

Excellent point-- right on the money.