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S Badrinath,
the Tamil Nadu batsman, has been called up to the India squad for the
Tests against New Zealand as a replacement for VVS Laxman. Laxman, who
was in the 15-man squad for the two-Test series, announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect on Saturday.
Badrinath, 31, has played two Tests for India, the last being in early
2010 in the home series against South Africa. He has a Test best of 56
in his three innings. His most recent international appearance was
during the limited-overs leg of India's tour of the West Indies last
summer.
A consistent performer on the domestic circuit, Badrinath was the
highest run-getter in the 2010-11 Ranji Trophy, where he amassed 922 runs at 131.71. However, he had a middling 2011-12 season: he had picked up
a shoulder injury during the Challenger Trophy in October last year
and, as a result, missed the first three rounds of the Ranji Trophy.
When he returned, he scored 292 runs in nine innings.
When Rahul Dravid retired in March, Badrinath's name floated around as a
possible replacement for him in the India Test middle-order. But, at
that point, a BCCI official had told ESPNcricinfo
that the odds were against Badrinath. "Not only is he 30-plus, but he
has been tested already," the official said. "He is a good player at
domestic level but unfortunately does not seem to fit at the highest
level."
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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