'I just tried to be positive'

Raina makes new beginning with a strokeful innings

Suresh Raina held his pose till the ball reached the ropes after driving New Zealand offie Jeetan Patel elegantly through the covers in the 35th over on Saturday. It was a shining slice taken out of one of his fine innings in one-day cricket.

Raina has always painted some pretty pictures in the shorter versions from the moment he cut his teeth in international cricket seven years ago, but he failed to replicate the magic in Test cricket.  

His glorious 120 against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2010 on his debut promised a successful career in Tests, but that remained an isolated spark as Raina gradually faded away after a clutch of inadequate outings home and abroad.

The nadir came in England when the left-hander tapered off after a brilliant 78 at Lord’s. The door was shown, and a return seemed far away. But the retirements of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in the aftermath of a disastrous tour of Australia opened vacancies in the middle-order, and the number six slot came into the equation once again.

Rohit Sharma’s modest form and the unfortunate circumstances of Yuvraj Singh prompted the selectors to give Raina a go in the series against New Zealand.

Did that less than satisfying outing in the first Test at Hyderabad add pressure on him?  Wasn’t his desperation transpired through that quick start he made to his innings on the day at Chinnaswamy?

Raina explained the reason behind his fiery approach. “There was no pressure on me. I was just trying to be positive. Whenever I got the ball in my area I made sure to bat positively. This is the style I would like to play in Test cricket, but at the same time I need to control my aggression, and need to judge the line and length. I am getting better at that.”

It was the fluent, stylish Raina who was on display against New Zealand here, ruling out any mental block while playing the Test cricket. “It’s not so difficult to graduate from limited overs to Test cricket. I have been playing Test cricket and trying to get better.

There were times when I was batting well but just that I didn’t get that big knock. I would like to score one soon.”

This could be a defining season for Raina as India are poised to play eight more Tests at home, and a few good outings against England, right now he’s the first choice to walk in at number six against the Old Blighty, and Australia can cement his place in the Test side.

Raina was well aware of that. “This is the time to score as many runs as possible and book my place in the side, as there are a lot of Test matches coming at home and abroad in the next year or so.”

He has taken a step in the right direction with a well-crafted 55 here, and if he can build on that India can end their search for a worthy number six.