S Badrinath replaces VVS Laxman for New Zealand Test series

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has included S. Badrinath in the Indian squad to replace VVS Laxman's replacement for the Test series against New Zealand, which commences at Hyderabad on 23 August 2012.

Badrinath is expected to join the squad at the earliest.

VVS Laxman, who won many a match for India with his wristy elegance including an epic 281 against Australia in Kolkata, on Saturday announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, bringing down the curtains on a glorious career spanning 16 years.

The 37-year-old Laxman, one of the finest batsmen in contemporary cricket, said that he felt it was the right time to bid adieu to the game which he played with "great pride for the country".

Badrinath, considered by many to be unlucky not to have got more games in for India at the top level, has finally got his due albeit a bit late. He is almost 32 years of age and has loads of first-class runs to back his credentials.

The TamilNadu middle-order batsman has played two test matches for the country, both against touring South Africans during the 2010 series. He got a best of 56 in the first test at Nagpur but India lost that match badly.

In the second test, Badri could not get going after the top-order flourished on a batting beauty.

He has also played 7 ODIs and a single T20 international for India.

With a tremendous first-class average of 60.74 in 104 matches, a lot will be expected of him. The biggest source of his inspiration could be Aussie Mr. Cricket, Michael Hussey. He too burst onto the scene quite late but has created a place of his own.

One can just hope that Badrinath gets a fair run this time around.

(Agency inputs PTI)