Sri Lanka vs India: Stuart Binny to join India squad before 2nd Test

Stuart Binny miscues a shot during India’s 2nd Test of the tour of England in 2014

India have called up Stuart Binny to the squad before the 2nd Test on the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka. The fact that nobody has been injured suggests that Binny’s inclusion as the 16th member of the squad is a tactical decision – a modification required by the failure of captain Virat Kohli’s 5-bowler strategy in the 1st Test.

India played 5 specialist bowlers in the 1st Test – with Harbhajan Singh and Varun Aaron not being as effective as their captain would have liked. Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were already part of the 15-man squad, and so Binny’s call-up suggests that the team is looking for someone who can add value to the team with the bat as well.

Binny has played 3 Test matches in his career so far, with a batting average of 23.6. He has not picked up any wickets in the Test format yet. He was one of the better Indian performers on the recent tour of Zimbabwe though.

Some early reactions to the news:

News Alert: Stuart Binny will join #TeamIndia before the second Test match in Sri Lanka #SLvsIND

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 16, 2015

Also probably means Bhajji won't make the playing eleven for 2nd Test. Virat said in PC that he bowled only one good spell at Galle. #IndvSL

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 16, 2015

There aren't enough men to supply drinks for the Indian team in Sri Lanka. So Stuart Binny is upto the challenge! ;)

— Prashanth (@Me_4420) August 16, 2015

Stuart Binny included in the Indian squad so Sangakkara can face the legend before retiring from cricket.

— Kabir (@The_Sleigher) August 16, 2015