Youth is traditionally associated with impetuousness, brashness and a risk taking that borders on the irresponsible

Anand Vasu12-May-2001Youth is traditionally associated with impetuousness, brashness and a risk taking that borders on the irresponsible. Hemang Badani is 24 years old and is none of the above. He’s the kind of polite, unassuming young man who will surprise you by his levelheadedness and maturity. “In the next two years, God willing, I’m confident my chance to play Test cricket for India will come," said Badani, speaking to CricInfo from his Chennai residence over the telephone on Saturday.And his statement was not based on any wishful thinking. “I think I’ve done well in the one-dayers so far. When I did consistently well in the domestics I was picked to play the one-dayers. Similarly I’m sure I’ll be picked to play Test cricket for India,” reasoned the Tamil Nadu southpaw. With an average of over 40 at a healthy strike rate in the 13 one-dayers he has played, Badani has every reason to feel he has done an adequate job. Not unexpectedly, Badani went on, “Obviously I’d love to play Test cricket right now if I’m given the chance. But I’m not one to be impatient.” With most young cricketers these days, impatience seems to be a huge problem.A man who has played one-dayers against arguably the best team in the world, the Australians, is not one to be too impatient. Whenever he has got his chances, Badani has grabbed them with both hands. His maiden one-day ton, scored against Australia in the second one-dayer at Pune is a case in point. “I don’t say that they are one of the world’s best teams simply because of their record. It’s not just the fact that they keep winning. The way they keep coming at you is phenomenal,” began Badani. Elaborating on how different it was playing against a team like the Aussies, Badani went on, “With most teams, they tend to have a word with you when you come in to unsettle you. With the Aussies, this isn’t the case. Whether you’re batting on 60 or 80 or even a 100 they’ll keep trying to wind you up.”Even on the count of sledging, or perhaps the more mild mannered ‘chirping’ Badani maintains a cool composure, “Different people deal with these things differently. Personally I have decided to simply concentrate harder on the batting and let my bat do the talking.” While that seems like a perfectly sound approach, Badani does not fault others for resorting to different tactics. “Some others like to give back in good measure what they get in terms of on the field chirping. I see nothing wrong with that. At the end of the day, if that’s what works for a player, you can’t really find fault.”The difference is stark when you take the case of domestic cricket. With 42 first class matches under his belt and an average of almost 50, Badani sure knows a thing or two about the set up. “Playing domestic cricket is different. It’s not that those games are not competitive. But if you get your eye in, be patient and play carefully the runs will come. That is not the case when you are playing a team like the Australians,” explained Badani.What’s more, Badani goes on to add that sometimes even a good shot does not fetch you runs, “As the level of cricket gets higher and higher, the loose balls quickly dry up. When you’re playing a team like Australia, sometimes even a good shot off a loose ball is fielded spectacularly and a batsman is left stranded.”Looking forward to the tour of Zimbabwe, Badani was keen to do well abroad and prove himself. “However much you’ve played against pace and swing bowling here it’s bound to be different in a place like Zimbabwe. I admit that. But it’s nothing a good batsman can’t adapt to,” says Badani confidently. “If your mind is not ready and you’re not concentrating hard enough, then you’re bound to struggle. Mentally you have to be ready to implement some technical changes,” concedes the youngster. On a purely cricketing note Badani concluded, “You have to learn to let the ball go more and more often. You can’t play through the line of the ball as easily as you do here in the subcontinent.”Traditionally Indian batsmen have failed in conditions that help seam and swing bowling. Badani is confident, has a plan and the wherewithal to pull it off. Perhaps the Zimbabwe tour will provide Hemang Kamal Badani the window of opportunity he need to establish himself as a Test cricketer.