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Stuart Binny (standing 6th from left) along with Nagaland cricket team.[/caption]
Our Reporter
Dimapur, Nov. 1 (EMN): Once a hard hitting batsman and medium-paced bowler for the Indian cricket team, Stuart Binny is no stranger to the game. Now, he is part of Nagaland cricket squad, where he hopes to bring a big change to cricket scene in the state.
Speaking exclusively to Eastern Mirror, Binny admitted that it was a big change for him to shift to Nagaland team compared to the Indian Premiere League (IPL) and other international matches he has played.
“I would not call it a challenge but what I want is that the Naga boys understand international cricket,” he replied when asked about the move. He felt that it was not about just playing a good game but the team should also know about playing the process of rest and recovery in order to achieve success. He added that an honest and open team was part of the process and that he was confident in the team.
“I want to pass on my experiences with the Nagaland team to further better themselves in the game,” Binny shared.
While being a star player for the Rajasthan Royals at the IPL, Binny was in India A squad for the tour of South Africa in 2013 and was rewarded with a national call-up later that year to be in ODI squad for New Zealand. He also surprised the cricket world during the ODI tour of Bangladesh with his figures of six (wickets) for four, the best by an Indian bowler.
Now in Nagaland for the pre-game sessions at Sovima cricket stadium, the all-rounder played his first practice match with the Nagaland team on Friday. He shared that Nagaland team is a talented bunch and were keen to play.
“The only thing required is exposure and how to keep strategies in place,” said Binny.
The newly inducted member, who is son of former Indian test cricketer Roger Binny, said that he has played many matches with the state’s cricket team captain, Jonathan Longkumer especially at the Karnataka Premiere league (KPL). “With this connection, I have now joined the Nagaland team,” informed Binny.
“Cricket is very competitive; we must wake up every day and try to be one step better than the previous day,” the cricketer said.
With six test matches, 14 ODIs, and three T-20s under his belt, Binny is one of the most prominent players to join the Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA) till date.
As of now, Nagaland senior team is preparing for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a T-20 domestic championship scheduled to begin on November 8 in Surat.
