Badri ready to score as many runs needed for national berth

Kolkata, Jan 18 (UNI) Hard-hitting Tamil Nadu batsman Subramanium Badrinath, with two near misses, is ready to score as many runs needed in the domestic format to get his maiden national call-up.

Badrinath is in the 30-member list of World Cup probables and hopes to get into the top 16 of the World Cup squad. He is also awaiting a national call-up after two near misses.

''Since I have no hand in the selection process I will score as many runs required in the domestic season to get noticed. If fifties are okay I will score fifties, if its 100 then so be it...and if thats not enough I will have to score 150 plus...I am prepared to do that,'' a confidant Badrinath told UNI here today.

Badrinath is here to play for Chemplast in the Twenty-20 cricket tournament.

He feels that he is ideal for the shorter version of the game being a good bat, a fleetfooted fielder and someone who can chip in effective off-breaks for five-six overs.

''I am a good fielder and can bowl off-breaks. For the last three years I am working very hard on my bowling too,'' he said.

Badri, who has 450 runs from six games this Ranji season, feels through the selection is not in his hands, it feels 'sad to be overlooked after being considered'.

Waiting for his time in the sun, the 26 year old batsman said, ''An excellent India A tour to Australia where i scored 300 plus runs in four innings really brought me into the reckoning.'' ''Australia is tough. But the Ranji season before that where I scored over 600 runs with a double hundred also played a crucial role in getting me noticed for the A squad in the first place,'' he said.

Badrinath, who grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, is currently a big fan of Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting.

''It's all about his temperament,'' he said and added, ''I am prepared to step into the big league. its all about taking in the pressure, the expectations the people have. I think I have it in me.

''It's only a matter of time. I am confident about breaking into the big league by dint of my capability,'' Badri said.

Talking about his state team, he said, ''We are evolving. There are several new players and a new coach in W V Raman. Hopefully we will bounce back next season,'' he signed off.

UNI