Badani to open in second Test

Indian coach John Wright on Thursday confirmed that Hemang Badani will open the innings with Shiv Sunder Das in the second Test against Zimbabwe, starting in Harare on Friday.

"Badani will open the batting. He wants to," Wright said, adding that the Tamil Nadu left-hander was given the choice of batting either as an opener or at number seven and he opted to open.

"Looking at the wicket and other factors, I think it is a good opportunity for him. It will not be held against him as he is basically a middle order batsman. It is his first opportunity in this position," he said.

Badani, who will be making his Test debut, has never opened the innings in his first class career but possesses a sound technique. In fact, he impressed when he was given the opportunity in the three-day match against CFX Academy and scored an attractive 35 before retiring.

Badani will replace his state mate Sadagoppan Ramesh, who has not recovered from a back injury he sustained while fielding in the first Test.

Wright said Badani has it in him to make a transition from a middle-order batsman to an opener and expressed confidence that the stylish left-hander will make the most of the opportunity offered to him.

"In my point of view, he has the technique to open the batting. Some people can make the transition and some can't. There is this psychology of the whole position. But Hemang wants to do it and I think he would do a good job. He will put in his 100 per cent," Wright said.

"He is a quality player. It is an opportunity for him," Wright added.

"A person must want to open the batting. If he is going out in the middle at an unlikely position and is not comfortable, then it is not going to work. But we are in a position where we do not have an extra specialist opener on this tour. If something has to happen, this is the best option."

Wright informed that fast bowler Ashish Nehra has corrected his run-up and will feature in the second Test.

"In the two nets we had here, there was absolutely no problem with Nehra. He didn't tread on to the danger line. We are very confident that the problem will not arise again."

Nehra was stopped from bowling in Zimbabwe's second innings in the first Test after he was repeatedly found to be damaging the pitch on his follow-through.

There were some doubts about his participation in the second Test but the bowler corrected his run-up and the process was smooth.

"It didn't require much work. Not at all. It was very marginal in the first place. He is aware of all sorts of things about his bowling. He is also a very quick learner," Wright said.

The coach was diplomatic while commenting on Nehra's omission from the team for the triangular series, involving Zimbabwe and the West Indies, starting on June 23.

"Well, he is not in the squad. But he has been our best bowler. He has been a standout performer and I think everyone has been aware of it."

Asked whether the announcement of the one-day squad, ahead of the second Test, would affect the performance of those who have been dropped, Wright said, "Players have to be professional enough to take disappointment in their stride and still keep performing."

Captain Sourav Ganguly said India will once again go in with three medium pacers and a spinner.

"The three seamers have done pretty well and the wicket will help them. I don't think the wicket will turn much. Two spinners will be a luxury.

"There is so much less grass on the wicket this time than the one we played here in 1998. It will be a good wicket to bat on," he said.

Ganguly said he is unperturbed about his own form. "If you look at it, I have failed in only two Test matches -- in Mumbai and Chennai. Here I got a rough decision. I just have to back myself."

He said the team has chalked out strategy to contain Andy Flower, who is having a prolific run against the Indians.

"We must bowl in the right channels to get him out. He is due for a failure now."

Mail Cricket Editor