Step forward lads

A silver lining in the black clouds that seem to be hovering over India today: both Murali Vijay and Subramaniam Badrinath will get the chance to show their skills in testing conditions. I'd say Badrinath has already gotten off to a good start by his gritty display in the first innings. Murali made himself look a little silly by shouldering arms in the first, but he has gone on to thirty in the second innings, and if he can stay positive, he can grow by leaps and bounds in the course of a single day. Badri must have dreamed of a debut ton once he crossed the fifty mark, and perhaps he can go on today to do just that.

One of the abiding cliches of test cricket is that the greats seize the moment. Murali and Badri both have the chance to try and make an impression on a stage that is set for them. As before, they have absolutely nothing to lose. And everything to gain. That in itself should be liberating. Lets hope they see it that way.