Positive: Bhuvneshwar and Stuart Binny shaping up as all-rounders
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is effectively progressing with every passing match and his valiant effort in the first test with both bat and ball saw him become only the 16th player to score two fifties in a Test with a 5-wicket haul. He played a valuable knock of 58 in the 1st innings showing his caliber to stay on a wicket and not only hang around but score as well. Done with batting he returned to his original job and bowled well to keep England batsmen tied down and claimed five-wicket haul on a wicket which had almost nothing for seamers. Bhuvi again found himself in the middle with bat and continued exhibiting his skills with the willow, notching another half-century. He remained unbeaten on 63 off 138 balls again showing his willingness to spent time in the middle.
Binny's selection for the Lord's Test was uncertain. But he forced his way in to the XI with a match-saving effort of 78 from 114 balls. The 281st debutant got little opportunity to make a difference in the match being ignored with the ball by the skipper. It came down to the last day and Binny's composed innings made the difference. Now the dilemma for Dhoni would be inclusion of Ravichandran Ashwin for Lord's test.
A 91 run stand between the two in the second innings saved the test match for India. Bhuvi also breaks into the top 50 for the first time in his career. He now sits in 46th spot after jumping 27 places. In the all-rounders' list, India's Ravindra Jadeja retained his number two position.
